Meet Matt Hill, a Vancouver, BC actor, speaker, marathoner and Run for One Planet ambassador and his (Hill’s) mission statement, which can be found on his website is profound and bears repeating:
“To inspire in the world, with my energy and my love of people, running and our planet.
Accomplishing this mission with every word, every character and every single step I take.”
In a Q & A interview he shares his thoughts and goals for making our planet healthier.
His dream to inspire through running first occurred while on a flight to Detroit in late 2006.
While cruising at 28,000 feet, he received answers to questions he’d been asking since seeing his childhood hero, Terry Fox running his marathon of Hope across Canada in 1981.
Here is our Q & A:
Q: How did the idea for Run for One Planet begin?
A: It Started on May 4th 2008 with myself and Steph Tait, co-founders who ran across Canada and around the perimeter of America, totaling 11,000 miles.
For 369 tour days, we ran a marathon each day, supported by an amazing dream team of 30 volunteers (that were) spread across the continent.
We spoke to over 50,000 incredible kids in more than 220 school presentations, destroying 30 pairs of ASICS, burning over three million calories and raised $130,000 for our Legacy Fund for Kids.
On May 8th 2009, we took our final steps on the final marathons – unlacing this last pair of runners, when the mayor (Gregor Robertson) declared May 8th official “Run for One Planet Day” in the City of Vancouver – their epic North America expedition was complete.
The mayor told us we’d become the first couple to run around North America. We smiled and unlaced our 30th pair of destroyed Asics running shoes.
Run for One Planet is partnered with the Vancouver Foundation, (which is) Canada’s largest, and one of North America’s oldest, community foundations – to ensure our Legacy lives on.
Q: Congratulations on your 10th anniversary with Run for One Planet. Can you tell us what their mission is for the future?
A: The Run for One Planet is an ongoing run endeavor focused on “inspiring environmental action, one step at a time”.
Q: Tell us about the Fit for Kids and what do you hope to achieve?
A: May 4th this year marked the tour’s 10th birthday and so in R41P (Run for One Planet) fashion I spoke to my first elementary school where we learned how to run and I ran with the kids at Sacred Heart school in Ladner, BC and then to my home town of Tsawwassen to speak and run with the kids at Beach Grove elementary.
I (had to) speed-walk this year due to a hip flexor injury healing up and covered a marathon a day until Run for One Planet Day May 8.
Here’s the tour’s Top 10 Action Steps. We ask you to choose one, committing to a single, powerful change, for the health of our beautiful blue Planet.
- Eat Local and Organic
- Turn off your car
- Eliminate plastic bags
- Use green cleaners
- Turn off the lights
- Turn off the taps
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (from a 6th grader in Texas “re-think”)
- Compost
- Bring your own bottle
- Teach your children well (R41P kids’ magic tip #10: kids teach your teachers and your parents)
Q: What is next for you?
A: Run for One Planet’s evolution and next mission to reach, inspire and empower the youth of the world is called Fit Kids for a Fit Planet – will launch next May!
www.runwithit.ca
