Capracare organizes marathon fundraiser for Haiti

Capracare, a Haiti-based non-profit organization, has organized a marathon on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Queens to raise funds to assist it in providing needed services to the community.

The organization urges the community to unite and support the Half for Haiti Half Marathon and Half Mile to sustain its mission.

In 2009, Jean Pierre-Louis embarked on a journey driven by courage and a commitment to positively impact the Haitian community, which led to the founding of capracare.

Capracare has become a significant source of hope for approximately 20,000 residents of Les Cayes, Haiti. Since its inception, the organization has focused on supporting the rural area.

Through its five core programs, which are Healthcare Prevention, Education, Mental Health, Youth Education, and Disaster Preparedness and Relief, capracare has profoundly enhanced the well-being of its community.   

Some members of the capracare team in Haiti. Photo courtesy capracare

Half for Haiti is a response to the pressing issues confronting Haitians, such as famine, violence, homelessness, and severe physical and mental health challenges.

Capracare created this initiative to address these critical needs. The upcoming marathon aims to raise funds that will be allocated towards various necessities, including:

Ensuring access to clean water and food.
Providing necessary medications, sanitary items, diapers, and eco-latrines.
Offering training for community health workers and first responders.
Providing mental health counseling and support for both children and adults.
Conducting cervical cancer screenings, treatment, and prevention.

Through these targeted efforts, the goal is to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those facing adversity in Haiti and to foster a healthier and more resilient community.

Capracare’s mission is to provide access to medical care, preventative health care, mental health services, and health and nutrition education services regardless of people’s ability to pay. Therefore, this call to action echoes the community’s support for this race.

Half for Haiti offers two distance options: the Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and the Half Mile (.5 miles).  The Half Marathon starts at 8 a.m., and the Half Mile starts at 8:45 a.m. at Flushing Meadows Park.

For more information on how to get involved with this initiative, visit www.capracare.org.