Join us to run the

2025 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, March 16th.

 We are an official team with the lowest fundraising minimum of $1,000.  Run with us as we build a cancer hospital in Kenya!

The United Airlines NYC Half is a very popular half marathon. Starting in Brooklyn, crossing the Manhattan Bridge and through Times Square, Manhattan before finishing in Central Park, the United Airlines NYC Half takes you on a wonderful journey through the closed New York City streets. This year, you can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festivities on the Saturday and race on the Sunday. A great time to be in New York City! Attracting more than 24,000 runners from across the globe demand for places is high but as official charity for this event you do not need to wait or worry about the entry drawing process, instead we can guarantee your place in this wonderful event. We are a proud charity partner of the United Airlines NYC Half and the TCS New York City Marathon.

Lowest fundraising minimum charity: Raise $1000 before March (matching company gifts accepted, and, donations are tax deductible).   >CLICK HERE FOR SIGN UP<

Why Choose Us? Because with us, your impact is monumental. Every dollar you raise becomes a cornerstone in the construction of the first ever Children’s Cancer Hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. To be constructed in Eldoret, Kenya—a city known as the Home of Kenyan Running.  Construction is in progress at 30%, right now!

Here, you are not just a fundraiser; you are an instrumental force in the life-saving journey for impoverished kids having to battle cancer in Africa. Make your run be the driving force behind Saving Kids’ Lives and pioneering a new era of hope and healing.  CLICK BELOW for the signup page! Our charity KNOWS running; marathon world record holders are our ambassadors. The winners of EVERY single Men’s World Marathon Major 2022 is affiliated with Shoe4Africa, as is the fastest marathoner of the year 2024! Our coaches have ran this race numerous times, wrote the book on this race(!), and have coached well over 1,000 happy finishers!

Above, the Boston Marathon Champion of 2023, 2022, and the TCS New York City Marathon 2022, Evans Chebet (center) attends our Pasta Party along with the World Record holder for double amputees in the marathon, Marko Cheseto (Nike sweatshirt).

TEAM-PERKS; Ultimate VIP service team (was Hugh Jackman’s choice!)

• The knowledge that every dollar of your fundraising is going to build Africa’s 1st Kids Cancer Hospital.  In 2015, we opened East & Central Africa’s 1st Public Children’s Hospital; we’ve treated over 1.2 million kids since.
• Full training plan from real coaches – not online generic plans.  Qualified comprehensive coaching support by great team of experienced coaches for runners of ALL abilities. Our coaches (Former official NYC Marathon lecturer, and 15-year board member) have decades of experience with this race (wrote the Essential Guide to Running the New York City Marathon), with all levels of runners, from beginner to world elite.  We’ve coached thousands to finish this race since the year 2000.  Webinar, email, and phone support for out of towners.
• The ONLY team endorsed by The Simpsons! Well, Emmy Award Winner screenwriter Joel Cohen who chose our team to represent!  Check out his wonderful book, (with Shoe4Africa comments) How to Lose a Marathon!
• Weekly emails where you get to learn more about the kids you are saving, and our charity, and bond with our team. Tips, stories and more.  Multi-week training plans to get you prepared.
• Group runs with our team in NYC.
•  Fantastic Pre-race Pasta dinner.
• Fundraising tips from our experts (who have raised millions) and 24/7 help/advice to get you to your goal.  Support all the way. Your own FUNdraiser page: Using one of our fundraising pages is quick, easy and free. And it means that more of the money you raise online goes towards beating cancer sooner.
• An invite to join us when you are in Kenya for a once-in a lifetime trip and join some of the very best runners in the world as they hand out gifts, with you, at our hospital and visit one of our schools with our world champ ambassadors.  Several team members have done this, having the trip of a lifetime.  If you are on our team, we’ll help you make it happen.
• Cool tech Shoe4Africa (brand name) running shirt as worn by our CELEBRITY AMBASSADORS. In 2021, Actors Kristine Froseth and Ben Ahlers ran the marathon for our team.
• Your name on our Wall of Fame at the hospital for all time.  We will have a flatscreen displaying the names of the people who made this hospital a reality.

Have your own entry?  Join our team us for a low $250 fund raising minimum!

SCAN THE QR code here to save the sign up form on your device.

BONUS: Run on the Team of Champions.  Runners such as Eliud Kipchoge (1:59:40), Evans Chebet 2:03:00 (New York City & Boston) and Amos Kipruto 2:03:13 (London Winner), Benson Kipruto 2:02:16 (Tokyo Winner), and Mary Keitany (2:17:01) are visitors to our hospital and part of our team to help Kenyan kids.  Will you join the running team that supports the East African kids?

WATCH OUR 2-minute RECRUTING VIDEO BELOW

Actors;  Hugh ‘wolverine’ Jackman, Tom ‘Flash’ Cavanagh, Anthony ‘Goose’ Edwards, & James Legros.
All and any ability of runner are welcome with us – we’ve had NYC marathon race winners run and represent us and absolute first-time beginners too. Actress Kristine Frosoth, ambassador for us, celebrates with her finishers medal!

Testimonials:

Above: Melina, one of our Shoe4Africa Team Runners, at a post race lunch with the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon winners!

I am finally gathering my thoughts and processing what an incredible Marathon Sunday it was. I am so grateful and proud to have been able to run for Shoe4Africa. While I wasn’t able to make it to any of the team events because of living in Boston, I could feel the full support of you and the team through your weekly emails. I am so appreciative of all of the work you have put into the team and resources you have provided for the runners. I ended up coming down with a little fever/sore throat the Saturday before the marathon that continued to plague me on race day, but I did the best I could and despite not feeling my best, I still had THE best time. NY was incredible – I feel like I had chills the whole time I was running and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I did not want it to end. I was able to see my friends/family at mile 8, 17, and 24 and that was truly a gift! So I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you!!! That really was one of the best days of my life! I will absolutely be back to run NY again, and would love to stay in touch for any other races Shoe4Africa is involved in.  Kathleen K. ’23 finisher.

I wanted to write and thank you again for having me as part of the Shoe4Africa team! Sunday was such a special day, and made all the more meaningful by my connection with the S4A cause…. The last piece I wanted to share is a more personal note. I ran this year in honor of a friend of mine who was both a marathoner and a New Yorker, who would have loved the Shoe4Africa cause, and who passed away last year. The whole process from training through the race has helped me to continue to feel connected with her, and that’s been a huge gift for me. I hope to have the chance to run for Shoe4Africa again in the future and that our paths cross again! Rick R. 2023

Thank you for letting me be part of your team again!  It was a tough race for me but I was SOOOOOOO happy that I finished.  I wore a shirt with my name on it this time and loved the cheers from the crowd.  I actually didn’t even listen to music.  I was so happy to do this again and to be on your team! Erin A. 2023

Thank you so much Toby for such a great experience while on the Shoe4Africa Team. It has been a pleasure telling all my friends and family about the amazing work that the team does. The stories and the notes every week were so helpful and watching the video you sent out the night before really calmed my nerves. I am really looking forward to keeping in touch and hopefully seeing you all at the half marathon. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. I had some minor issues while on the course but nothing that could stop me from finishing. Connecting to the crowd and meeting the gaze of so many different people while running was something I will never forget-I truly think marathon’s showcase humanity’s finest moments.  Alexis W. 2023

“I wanted to thank you for all the weekly emails you sent in the lead up to the New York City marathon this year! They really helped with training and motivation. And thank you for all the work you do for Shoe4Africa… it is an amazing charity and it was an honour for me to run and raise money in aid of Shoe4Africa.” Sean C. 2022

Thank you for all you’ve done over the past year to help me with the fundraising tips and resources and the beautiful stories you’ve shared. This past weekend was one I will never forget. Being my first marathon and running in one of my favorite cities it’s hard to put into words all the emotions and feelings I’ve been feeling, and to run for an incredible organization, Shoe4Africa made it even more special. Beth P. Nov 2023

Thank you Toby, for letting me race with your amazing team. The marathon in those conditions was humbling to say the least, but amazing and surreal. Excited to follow along on Shoe4Africa’s amazing mission in the future!
Anna S. Nov 2022

I wanted to thank you for all the weekly emails you sent in the lead up to the New York City marathon this year! They really helped with training and motivation. And thank you for all the work you do for Shoe4Africa… it is an amazing charity and it was an honour for me to run and raise money in aid of Shoe4Africa.  Sean Brendan C. Nov. 2022

Just wanted to say thank you for letting me be part of the Shoe4Africa team this year. It was all an amazing experience from fundraising to meeting everyone at the dinner to then finally running on the day.  Grant F. Nov. 2022

Hi Toby,
I recently got back into running two years ago for many reasons, health, hobby and just for enjoyment of it. But when I heard about a cause that I could apply my love of running for, how could I say no?
Running for Shoe4africa changed my life in ways I never thought possible, It opened my eyes to things I’d never see myself doing. I look at life differently now, and it has enlightened me as a person. It’s a beautiful thing what the charity does for the children in Africa.
To know that I can help children in need by doing something I love. It was them who pushed me through the training, the pain, the moments of giving up. I did it for them.
It was a honor to run for Shoe4africa. I always look forward to your emails about the children and ongoing projects. I can’t thank you enough! I would love to continue to be apart of the charity, and of course try to raise as much as we can for future projects. If so, would it be possible to run again for Shoe4africa in the 2021 NYCMARATHON?
Sincerely, Labinot M. 2019 & 2021

Hi Toby, Words cannot begin to describe the elation I have felt since completing the 26.2. The buildup to raceday over the past 10 months has been an incredible experience: periods were grueling, but many were enlightening. To see what the human body has the power to do is incredible and to push myself to the limit has given me new perspective on endurance and training.
Participating under Shoe4Africa made me feel proud to be a runner, proud to tell everyone about you and the differences you make on a daily basis. I am excited the donations rolled in, and I appreciate that final push to bring me over $6000 from you!
Ashlee has been my rock through this process, supporting me when needed, and kicking me in the ass when necessary. She ran by me for 26.2 and walked when i walked and ran when I ran.
This charity means a ton to me and I feel personally vested in your mission. I hope that we cross paths in Kenya in the near future! That picture you sent from your hospital means the world to us, and every time I open the fridge (which is often! Haha), it reminds me of 11/3.
Throughout school, the Jesuit mission was always to ‘go out and set the world on fire.’ You do that everyday and fuel us to be better not only runners, but human beings!
All love,
Tom Conway Team 2019

Dear Shoe4Africa, Firstly thank you for allowing me to be a part of team Shoe4Africa and raising money for such a worthy cause. The marathon was such an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. I even beat my previous time by 11 minutes, completing in 5 hours 42 minutes. The spectators were so supportive and generous (although I got many “come on South Africa” instead of shoe4africa). I think I enjoyed it more than London. I hope to come back again soon and do it all over again. Alireza D. 2019

“I thought I’d drop you a quick line to let you know how my marathon went.

In a word, brilliantly! I couldn’t have enjoyed the day and the race any more, it was beyond my expectations. The organisation, the crowds, the support, the atmosphere, even the weather, was simply fantastic. I think I spent the first 20k’s with a big grin on my face, hardly believing I was actually running the New York Marathon! I never hit the wall, just a general fatigue with about 10k to go. My watch ran out of battery at just under four hours, and as my goal was to finish in under 4:30, I just kept running and made it in at 4:28, so I was super pleased with that. I had a few last minute sponsors too, so my total was well over $3,000 which I’m thrilled about as I know it’ll be spent well. Thanks again for allowing me to participate for Shoe4Africa and have THE BEST running experience of my life. Very warmest wishes to you and the rest of the team and I hope everyone else did well and enjoyed their day too. Jane D. (Aus). Team ’18

‘Thank you for allowing me the experience to run for Shoe4Africa in New York! The whole event was incredible and one that I will never forget, for an incredible charity.  Thank you!

Lara R. March 2019 NYC Half ‘

“Hi Toby, I wanted to reach out to you just to thank you for letting my brother and I in on an absolutely amazing experience. I learned so much through all of your communications and watching the mini documentary you did [found on YouTube]. As I’m reflecting back on the weekend, I keep thinking about all of the people cheering in support for all of the runners. It reminded me of a video my father took of the children who were there to greet him on his visit to Acra. Over the past few days, I have really been trying to put into words what just happened. So far, I haven’t been able to come up with the right words to express how I feel! Just so happy to have helped those in need, and to have accomplished a goal on my long list.

Many many thanks to you and the Shoe4Africa team. Please let us know if you need anything at all, or how we can continue to partner with you in the future, to help those in need.

Thanks again, Joshua W. (Team 2018)

Shoe4Africa Kids at the hospital make Thank you Cards for our runners!

“Why Did I select Shoe4Africa?  I looked at every charity in the race.  I wanted a team where my donation would make a difference, the money would be spent helping save the life of a child.  I wanted a team where my donation wasn’t lost in charity expenses, but 100% of what I raised would go to save that child.  I check out this team’s financials.  I wasn’t disappointed (I will run again!).  Selena L.

TOBY!!!! I used the script that you provided in addition to the picture of the child from Kenya and received several more donations in addition to one for $1000!!! I’m almost at my $3000 goal!!! Thank you so much. I can’t wait to meet you next week at the race. God bless.  Jesse White.

“It is a selfish thing a marathon, but I felt running for Shoe4Africa was a way to change the world and fulfill a life time dream.  I did it!!  And then I went to Kenya for a trip of a lifetime to see the work I had read about that we are doing.  Thank you Shoe4Africa, my life has changed from this experience.”  L. Jackson.

“Still taking in all of the excitement from race weekend!  The whole season was so incredible and I am going to really miss your Thursday emails.  I do look forward to hearing about the success of the hospital and please keep sending updates!  I would love to come down and visit next year, could you send more info on how I could do so?
Thanks you so much for everything you do for NYC’s running community and more importantly for the children of Kenya.  It was a weekend I’ll never forget and I truly think that last stretch through Central Park might have been my life’s proudest accomplishment.  I really hope there aren’t any lingering photos of me crying my eyes out in the finish area!
Please do stay in touch, and I hope our paths cross again soon!”
Tim Wind

“Thank you so much for all you’ve done and continue to do. You are a true inspiration! Being a part of this team has been an absolute honor.” Hadly O.

Recognize our Shoe4Africa Ambassador in the picture?  He’s run a MARATHON in 1:59:40!!  Eliud Kipchoge.

“My donors just adored this cause.  We fell in love with Africa with all your weekly emails and you putting us in touch with the Kenyan runners.  We promise to visit soon.  We will fund raise for life.  Marathon day was the ultimate… I cried the entire way, with happiness.”  Anne F.

“Can’t believe I saw Natalie Portman at our pasta party and she was so cool.” Marius S.

“I wish I would have found your organization sooner, as it truly speaks to me as a person, however, I’ve found it now! Fundraising is arduous, yes, and surprising in many ways? People you thought would support you don’t, and strangers change your life. Thank you for all of your support along the way. I’m so excited to meet everyone and have a wonderful race day!” Alexa P.

“What an event. I was so proud to be a part of this charity.  Thanks for allowing me to participate.  And of course, I am very proud on my finish.” Gary W.

“Thank you so much.  I had such an incredible time training, fundraising and running the NYC Marathon with Shoe4Africa!  Truly such an amazing charity and I am proud to have been part of it and help contribute to the public children’s Hospital in East Africa.”  Nicole L.

“I think the work you do is kick ass & felt very proud wearing that shirt today. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it!”  Amy G

“Many thanks for the opportunity you gave us to run with the shoe4africa team. I had a (very) slow but ultimately happy marathon.” F. Shiantarelli

“I look forward to meeting all of you on November 4th when we have a great carbo loading dinner and celebration!  Good luck and have fun!”  Anthony Edwards

“Thank you for the allowing me to run the marathon on your team, if was a great fun.” Shaun D.

“Thanks sooo much for letting me be a part of your wonderful team. I felt so inspired the whole way, not only because I kept hearing cheers from the crowd for, “shoe4africa, yeahh!!” but also because I knew I was part of such a meaningful cause. I PRd by 20 min in my second marathon ever, and clocked a 3:19 even though I didn’t think would make it past mile 23 when I started getting dizzy and lightheaded. Something “otherworldly’ seemed to push me through those last three miles, and perhaps it was the sheer knowledge that I had the support of my donors, the team, and all the people we helped in Kenya. I pushed through that wall and collapsed at the finish line- probably the most emotional and physically demanding race I’ve ever run (heck, Thing I’ve ever DONE!). Thank you for letting me be a part of this team, and I will gladly race more in support in the future! All my best.” Zoe J.

“I have to say, I am so happy I ran for charity. In many ways I feel like my run would have very little significance if I had not.”  Melissa E.

“Many thanks for the opportunity you gave us to run with the shoe4africa team. I had a (very) slow but ultimately happy marathon. I want to thank everybody who generously donated to Shoe4Africa for their initiative of constructing and equipping a children hospital in Kenya and to build the associated health and education programs. With your help I reached the 3000 $ mark.” Fabio S.

Recognize our Shoe4Africa ambassador Mary Keitany?  She’s won the NYC marathon FOUR times and London three times too… and holds the women’s world marathon record of 2:17:01

“What a beautiful run yesterday. Thank you so much for having me a part of the team. I felt so proud wearing the S4A jersey those 26.2 miles.” Matt W.

“Sunday was so much fun! Thank you for the opportunity to run with Shoe4Africa. It was a blast.  I had an absolutely perfect day and I would not have changed a thing. I planted myself at the start w/ the 4:30 pace group hoping I’d be able to hang with them for a while. My previous personal best time (Fargo Marathon, May 2011) was 4:35:48. 4:30 was a bit of a stretch, but with race day magic in NYC in play, I thought I might stand a chance. I had a few pangs of fear that I had started too fast and would burn out, but with my wonderful friends and family planted throughout the course and the amazing people of NYC along the way, I propelled myself to a 4:26:56 finish. A personal best by nearly 9 minutes and a faster pace than any of my long training runs!” Alison S.

“I got lots of shout outs along the way for Shoe4Africa including a finish line shout out by the announcers who called my name and mentioned the charity by name too. What a moment that was! The photo I sent of me just after the finish was just after that announcement. I wanted to memorialize that moment in a photo!  Thank you again, so very much, for all your work in making Sunday the day it was. It has been a true pleasure to work with, and run for, you.” Margaret W.

“Because of you, I did this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I truly cannot express to you how thankful I am for your support. As for me? Ibuprofen, ice, gentleness. Love,” Michelle W.

“Thank you soooo much for allowing me this opportunity!  At around mile 24, as I was running though central park, I began to cry and my pain level was pretty intense.  As tears rolled down my face, a lady by the name of Makia, from NY, came up to me and took me by the hand.   She asked me, “Do you know what you’re doing”.  I said, “Yes”.  She said, “You are running the NYC Marathon…you will not be doing this tomorrow…it will be over with”. Together, Shoe4Africa finished strong.  Together all NYC Marathon charities finished strong.  Together our country will stay strong.  Together, we can initiate global strength.  TOGETHER.  We can not do this life alone and I am happy to do life with all of you amazing partners in the race of life!  Such an AMAZING life experience!!!  Thank you!!!”  Alison Y

“The experience of learning about Kenya, your organization, raising money, and meeting all of the special people involved this weekend made it an experience both of us will never forget. ” Brett H.

“I’m honored to be a representative of the charity.  Helping the less fortunate is how I keep grounded.” Abena M.

“I am so happy to have been a part of the Shoe 4 Africa team. It was such an amazing experience. Running the NYC Marathon was one of the best days of my life! Pretty cool that we also got to meet the Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai just before he went on to win the race and break the course record at Anthony Edwards house pasta party!” Kelly D.

“It was fun, hard, and exhausting running the marathon but very glad I did it and to raise money for Shoe4Africa!” Ashlee R.

“Thank for you for the opportunity to run the NYC Marathon! Despite it not quite being my day, I loved the race and really enjoyed the experience. Great cause and happy to support all your efforts!” S. Ryeom.

“Last weekend was another amazing marathon experience and I’m so grateful to have been a part of the S4A team again. My biggest fundraising year yet! But 3:01-3:02 is really more what I was expecting, especially given the warm temps, wind, and rain. Thanks for organizing the party and getting such a great group of people together for this team. It’s really very special!” Melina B.

“THANK YOU for this amazing opportunity. I feel so fullfilled. I ran and it was a beautiful experience.” Natalie A.

“I wanted to drop a note of thanks for the opportunity to run for and learn about S4A. I will never forget yesterday and look forward to more runs.” H.M.

NYC marathon champion and former course record holder (2:05) Geoffrey Mutai, Caroline Kilel, Boston Marathon winner, at our Pre-race Shoe4Africa pasta party with team runner Melissa Evanson.

COACHING – team

We have a team of experts to join you – this is a charity run by marathon runners! –Meet our coaches who have around 20 NYC marathon finishes between them and served years on the NYC marathon’s board of directors : [Link] We will be proving you with….Tips to train better.  Strategies to get you to starting line healthy. Ideas and ways to fund raise in a fun, successful manner.  Of course constant access to us, and mentorship.  Read our own coach Toby’s The Essential Guide to Running The New York City Marathon.

Related articles on the Marathon

Huffington Post – 5 things I learned running the NYC marathon article

26.2 things you never knew about the NYC marathon.  Shape magazine article

Celebrities at the NYC marathon.  Runner’s World article

NYC Marathon.  The NY Times article

NYC Marathon. Wikipedia article

5 Inspiring NYC marathoners. ABC article

NYC marathon by Numbers.  Forbes article

Guaranteed Entries.  TCS NYC marathon.

Time Magazine.  New York Marathon runners lowing down article

TCS New York City Marathon help website

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*For people winning free air tickets: As mandated by the IRS, Shoe4Africa is required to report any “perks” valued at $600 or more paid by S4A on a runner’s behalf. To comply with this mandate, runners (winners) must complete a W-9 form in order to confirm the flight benefit. Please note: A 1099 tax form will be issued based on flight reservations made and confirmed through our team.  Must raise over $3,000 USD

NYC MARATHON–NB:  All runners get free race day marathon transportation courtesy of the NYRR.