Barefoot runner thanks donors, promises to continue advocacy

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines — After distributing 1,000 pairs of new shoes to pupils of six elementary schools in the towns of Palompon, Hilongos and Bato in Leyte, from August 18 to 19, Eddie Vega thanked the donors, people and organizations, who supported his cause.

Vega, also known as the Barefoot Bandito in the marathon community worldwide, had set Guinness world records for running barefoot in at least 50 marathons around the world, while soliciting donations to buy shoes for the less privileged children.

“A huge heartfelt thank you to Soles4Souls, Inc., Peter Cowles of Seeds of Dignity Ministries and, most especially, to the generosity of the many donors for making this happen,” Vega told The Freeman.

To date, Vega has raised $7,241.60 to support his cause and he is continuously asking for the kindhearted donors to help him in his mission of providing poor children with pairs of shoes via the symbolic gesture of running barefoot in marathons.

“Please continue to support this good cause by making a small donation via www.gofundme.com/barefootbandito so that we can continue our mission to provide shoes for the less privileged children who lack adequate footwear. Thank you,” said Vega, adding that 87 donors from the Philippines and other countries have responded to his call to date.

The latest distribution of new pairs of new shoes were done to pupils of the public elementary schools of Santiago, Rizal, Tambis, Cambinoy, Cantandog and Tugas, all barangays in the three towns of Leyte.

“Providing school children with footwear reminded me of my mother, Rita Vilbar–Vega, who was a teacher,” he said, adding that a foundation in her mother’s name was also established to help poor schoolchildren.

The Rita Vilbar–Vega Foundation has already donated a total of 81 laptops (with six more turned over this week in Bato, Leyte), on top of the school supplies and a two-classroom building at Barangay Lunang in Hilongos, Leyte he also gave.

“I was hurt several times by broken glasses, pointed and other harmful objects when I was a child because of the lack of foot-protective gear, I even got sick when I step someone’s phlegm. I don’t want other children to experience that,” Vega said.

“If they (children) are healthy, they can study well and absorb the lessons faster,” he added. (FREEMAN)