Around the world: Leyteño runs barefoot to buy shoes for kids

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines — Without much fanfare, a Filipino long distance runner, who hails from Leyte and is now in this hometown, has completed 68 marathons in various places around the world, on barefoot to generate donations of shoes for shoe-less children of the Philippines, Micronesia and Ethiopia.

Eddie Vilbar Vega, who earned the monicker "Barefoot Bandito" from co-marathoners, ran barefoot in a marathon in the U.S. last June 22 to complete his 68th marathon, a goal that he started since five years ago. "I did not aim to win, but only to finish every marathon I participate in," he said.

Vega told The Freeman he was doing it to raise awareness for the 300 million poor children, without footwear, around the world.

"My goal is to generate enough donations for 262 pairs of shoes for every marathon I run barefoot in each of the 50 states in the U.S. and seven Continents for a total of 14,934 pairs of shoes," Vega said, adding that he had no corporate or big sponsors for his mission.

Soles4Souls Charity, an organization created by Vega, has been accepting $1 donation for a pair of shoes to be given to the children of the Philippines and Micronesia and, recently in Ethiopia where he ran barefoot in a marathon alongside running children who also had no shoes.

Last August 23, a total of 500 pairs of shoes were distributed, via the Seeds of Dignity Ministry, to as many children in Davao City. There will be more recipients soon, he said.

"This inspired me to continue my quest of running barefoot in marathons, worldwide, to raise funds for shoes of the millions of children, especially in the Philippines. Please find it in your heart to donate to this good cause. Go to Soles4Souls.org and search for Barefoot Bandito to make a small contribution," said Vega.

Last July in Tanzania and then Micronesia, Vega finished more marathons to start another of his 5-year barefoot run, set until 2018, aiming to cover every 50 states in the United States and in seven continents.

Vega was the first person to run barefoot in Antarctica last Feb. 27, and had ran, also without shoes, in marathons in Tanzania, South Africa, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti and even in Tacloban City in Leyte in October, last year.

Vega hails from Leyte—his mother Rita Vega nee Vilbar was from Hilongos town and father Charlie Macuto Vega was from Bato town—who migrated to Guam years ago.

An accomplished businessman, both in the Philippines and abroad, Vega had donated a two-classroom school building in Barangay Lunang of his hometown Hilongos, and laptops and PCs to schools in various barangays in this town where his late mother used to teach. (FREEMAN)