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Health & Fitness

'Like Finding Cinderella'

These shoes, unlike the shoes in the Cinderella fairy tale, are not simply part of a happily-ever-after story. They may mean the difference between life and death for their recipient.

Peggy Howell and her team from Minnesota had the task of fitting 1,000 pairs of shoes on the people of Tanzania

“It’s a little like finding Cinderella,” she said. “Each pair of shoes has just one person they fit perfectly. It was our job to match them up.”

These shoes, unlike the shoes in the Cinderella fairy tale, are not simply part of a
happily-ever-after story. They may mean the difference between life and death for their recipient.

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Tanzanians of all ages are susceptible to intestinal worms that enter through their feet, causing debilitating and life-threatening illnesses. They can literally die because they do not have shoes.

The solution is fairly simple. It doesn’t require nurses, doctors, or long-term medical treatments; it requires only education on the benefits of cleanliness, and volunteers like Peggy to deliver and distribute shoes. Lots and lots of shoes.

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Peggy has made four trips to Tanzania and her passion for the mission is obvious.

“On my first visit to Tanzania, a local pharmacist told me that 85% of the villagers in the Mlangali area suffer from intestinal worms that enter through the people’s feet,” Peggy said. “I not only want to see the people in Tanzania survive, I want to see them thrive! I want children to focus on education and not pain in their bellies. I want mothers to not be afraid to let their children play outside for fear of worms invading their bodies. I want adults to be strong enough to work, not too weak to move.”

Running4Soles, a 5K run organized by the Alley Church in Cottage Grove, raises awareness and funds to help deliver shoes to the people of this poor African nation. The organization has set a 2012 goal of 5K ($5,000) in preparation for their 2013 trip to Tanzania. All donations will be used to purchase shoes.

Peggy estimates they can buy 833 pairs of shoes if their goal is reached. Last year, Running4Soles delivered and distributed more than 1,000 pairs of shoes.

You can be a part of Peggy's "Cinderella Team." 

The 5K run is open to people of all ages (families welcome) will be held on Saturday, September 29, at 4:45 p.m. at Como Park in St. Paul. Registration is from 2-4:15 p.m., and the fee is $25/individual, which includes a T-shirt and dinner, or $45/family, which includes two T-shirts and two dinners.

For more information, or to register or donate, go to www.theAlley.org/5K or contact Jennifer Petersen, 612-636-0139.

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