Team Chanje is Running Reebok Ragnar So Cal!

What is it?

One of Ragnar’s biggest running event of the year, Reebok Ragnar Road So Cal, is taking place on April 3-4. A team of 12 people pile into a van and run "relay style" on a 200-ish mile overnight adventure. Yes, I repeat, overnight. The journey starts in Huntington Beach and finds its way to the finish line at Silver Strand Beach in Coronado. Each runner is given three legs of various lengths to complete over the duration of the relay. This is the 11th anniversary of the relay and the 2nd year in a row that Team Chanje is sending runners out for this cause, and this year we are sending two teams! 

I recently joined this team of awesome people through a colleague and friend who are all running and fundraising for The Chanje Movement. A movement of individuals and communities bringing change to the world. This organization is focused on making a difference in the lives of the people of Haiti, particularly the youth. Over the past few years, they became deeply involved in community reconstruction, leadership training, spiritual formation, and micro-enterprise, all while helping orphans and providing food and safe drinking water.

They began in January 2010, after a devastating earthquake rocked Port au Prince, Haiti. This earthquake resulted in the deaths of more than 250,000, the permanent displacement of more than one million, and complete social, economic, and political disruption.

In the last year, through the Chanje Movement in Haiti, thousands received continuous access to clean water and emergency meals, 500 leaders received training, 75 youth received regular primary and secondary school education, five homes were built, new businesses were launched, and many jobs were created. The Chanje Movement has also had a significant impact by replacing temporary housing and failing structures with permanent homes that are earthquake proof and storm proof. With local Haitian laborers training in modern construction techniques, the Chanje Movement has been responsible for employing, equipping, and empowering local workers to help stabilize the economy. 

Yeah, but why tho? Tell me more. 

Chanje is the Haitian Creole word for change and transformation.

Change is also the word of the year that I chose for 2020. 

Rather than setting a New Year Resolution, I was inspired by one of my friends who shared their "word of the year" with me, which was used to set their awareness and intention for the year. There are many areas in my life where I want to improve and shift my standards on. Most people will experience it at one point in their life; whether they accept it or deny it that is completely up to them. 

“Transformation begins with me – We can’t expect our world to change if we’re not willing to start in our own lives. As we experience transformation, we share that with our family, our friends and our neighbors. We want to encourage you to grow as a person and become someone who experiences life change and lives it out in your community and your world.”  – The Chanje Movement 

My participation in Ragnar is my way of helping and supporting the people of Haiti.

Haiti, like much of the world, is in need of change. Join me in this movement of change, whether you start with yourself, this community, or other parts of the world. 

I'm setting a goal to raise $1,000 with all proceeds being donated to the Chanje Movement. Any amount helps! Thank you for your time on reading this if you've made it this far :)


-Eric Sim