Every race medal tells a story of perseverance, dedication, and triumph. For many runners, these medals are cherished symbols of personal achievement, proudly displayed on walls or inside keepsake boxes. But what if these tokens of success could serve an even greater purpose?
If you have half marathon and longer distance medals, consider donating them to Medals4Mettle. It is an organization that awards donated medals to children and adults with debilitating illnesses and diseases.
About Medals4Mettle
Medals4Mettle was founded in 2005 after Dr. Steve Isenberg ran a marathon and awarded his medal to a dear friend battling cancer. The medal was given as a symbol of the courage and resilience his friend displayed throughout his illness. Since then, this nonprofit organization has awarded thousands of medals worldwide. It partners through area chapters with children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, and children’s camps.
About the Wichita Chapter
In 2014, Sophia Stepien became the first Kansas recipient of the program. Sophia was then four years old and a new cancer survivor. She was awarded a Disney Princess medal and a White Rock medal, which she was so excited to receive. Sophia’s mother, Tiffany, never forgot the joy those medals brought to her daughter. When the previous coordinator of the Wichita chapter moved away in 2021, Tiffany felt it was an opportunity to revive it and continue its mission.
“COVID shut down so many things. We wanted to get Medals4Mettle back up and running for the Wesley Children’s Hospital patients,” Tiffany said. “Our biggest concern at first was having enough medals to give away. We have formed great partnerships with Fleet Feet and Run Wichita. Because of these partnerships, we have never run out of medals when there are kids to visit.”
Since December 2022, more than 240 medals have been awarded locally and the need continues. Medals are distributed monthly at Wesley Children’s Hospital throughout the various pediatric units like dialysis and physical therapy. The organization also partners with Just a Kid Like Me camp and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides Walk to distribute medals there.
Tiffany has donated many of her own personal medals, as she is a runner herself and a member of Run Wichita. She’s completed seven half marathons to date, but her favorite distance is the 10k. Her favorite races are the Disney Princess races and the Ukrops 10k.
“I could not do this without the support of the Wichita area and running community, including Run Wichita,” Tiffany shared. “Don’t leave those medals piled up in a closet or in a box. Definitely donate them and let them cheer up kiddos and their families!”
Ways to Volunteer
There are several ways you can support this organization:
- Donate medals at Fartleks Running Shop, Fleet Feet east and west Wichita locations, bring to Exploration Place ParkRun on Saturdays, give them to any Run Wichita board member, or by contacting Tiffany at swrunningmom@gmail.com.
- Donate funds to cover the cost of ribbons for the medals, which are $2.50 each. Monetary donations can be sent via PayPal to Medals4Mettle.org (put “Wichita Ribbons” in the comments section).
- Volunteer in person to support larger distribution events so that kids don’t wait in line too long.
- Follow their Instagram page @medals4mettlewichita for the latest news and information.
Join us in making a difference! Don’t let your medals gather dust. Transform them into sources of inspiration and give hope for children going through some of the toughest times of their lives. Your contribution can bring a smile to a child’s face. Whether it’s a medal, a donation, or your time, it provides much-needed encouragement. Let’s turn our personal victories into collective triumphs and spread love, kindness, and encouragement to those who need it most.
Est. 1976 