More than 100 runners and supporters came together on Venezuela’s Independence Day, proving that running can do far more than cross finish lines—it can unite communities, inspire hope, and help change lives: They ran 50K charity run for Venezuela earthquake relief.
Editor’s Note: This story includes reporting based on coverage by The Boston Globe, along with exclusive comments provided directly to Marathon Journal by event organizer and Marathon Journal field correspondent Manuel Rendón.
For most runners, a 50-kilometer race is a personal challenge. For the Venezuelan community in Massachusetts, it became something much bigger.
On July 5, as Venezuela marked its Independence Day, more than 100 runners and supporters came together for a 50K charity run from Beverly to Boston’s Fenway Park. The event wasn’t organized to celebrate finish times or personal bests—it was created to raise funds and awareness for victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
The two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction across parts of the country, claiming thousands of lives and leaving countless families without homes. For many Venezuelans living abroad, watching the tragedy unfold from thousands of miles away brought a feeling of helplessness.
Instead of standing still, they chose to run.
A Mile for Every Million Venezuelans
The event, called 50K Venezuela, was organized by Venezuelan expatriates Juan Salcedo and Manuel Rendón, who have lived in the United States for nearly three decades. The symbolic 31-mile (50-kilometer) route represented Venezuela’s approximately 31 million residents.
“We’re running every single mile for every single person in Venezuela,” Rendón said during the event.
The run began early Sunday morning in Beverly, with additional meeting points allowing runners to participate in shorter distances. Some completed the full ultramarathon, while others joined for a 10K or individual segments, creating a relay of solidarity stretching all the way into Boston.
At the finish near Fenway Park, dozens of supporters welcomed the runners waving Venezuelan flags before everyone joined together to sing Venezuela’s national anthem—a moving moment that transformed a running event into a powerful expression of unity and resilience.
Running for Those Who Can’t
For Rendón, who also occasionally contributes as a field correspondent for Marathon Journal, the day carried a significance that went far beyond the distance.
“This past Sunday I ran 50 kilometers—over 31 miles—for one reason: to give a voice to people who, in many cases, had lost everything.
I wasn’t running for a medal or a personal best. I was running for children who no longer have a school, for families who have lost their homes, and for the people of Venezuela who are facing unimaginable hardship after a devastating earthquake.
With every mile, with every checkpoint, more people joined the journey. Complete strangers cheered, donated, and ran alongside us.
As we reached the final stretch into Fenway Park, more than 100 people were waiting with Venezuelan flags. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life because it reminded me that even in the face of tragedy, compassion has the power to unite people and create hope.”
Throughout the day, strangers became teammates, spectators became supporters, and every mile carried a purpose far greater than the distance itself.
When Running Becomes More Than Sport
Running has long been associated with fundraising efforts—from marathon charity programs to community fun runs—but events like 50K Venezuela demonstrate something even deeper.
A run strips away many of the barriers that often separate people. It requires no shared language, no political affiliation, and no professional background. One foot in front of the other becomes a universal expression of support.
Participants weren’t simply logging miles; they were carrying the stories of families, friends, and entire communities affected by disaster.
For co-organizer Juan Salcedo, whose hometown of La Guaira was among the hardest-hit regions, the motivation was deeply personal. Several members of his family died in the earthquakes, while others remain missing. He described each mile as insignificant compared to the work rescue teams, volunteers, and families continue to endure in Venezuela.
A Lesson Beyond the Finish Line
While the event successfully raised money for the Massachusetts United for Venezuela Fund at The Boston Foundation, Rendón says the greatest takeaway wasn’t financial.
“The biggest lesson that will stay with me forever is that earthquakes do not kill people—unsafe buildings and failing infrastructure do. Every life lost reminds us of our responsibility to build a safer world.
But I also learned something else: that running has the incredible power to unite people, communities, and even complete strangers around a common purpose. That’s exactly what I experienced last Sunday, and it is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
It is a powerful reminder of what makes the running community so unique. Whether you’re chasing a marathon personal best, training for your first 5K, or simply running for your health, the sport has an extraordinary ability to bring people together when it matters most.
More Than a Race
The finish line in Boston marked the end of 31 miles, but not the end of the effort.
The funds raised support the Massachusetts United for Venezuela Fund, an initiative of The Boston Foundation that provides immediate humanitarian assistance while helping communities recover and rebuild after the devastating earthquakes.
More importantly, the event reminded everyone involved that running can be far more than competition.
Sometimes, it becomes a language of compassion.
Sometimes, it becomes a way for people thousands of miles away to tell those suffering that they have not been forgotten.
And sometimes, a single run can remind the world that while disasters may divide landscapes, they can also unite humanity—one mile at a time.
How You Can Help
The recovery effort in Venezuela is far from over.
If this story inspired you, please consider supporting the families and communities affected by the June earthquakes. Donations to the Massachusetts United for Venezuela Fund provide emergency humanitarian assistance today while helping communities rebuild for the future.
You can learn more or make a donation here:
Every contribution—no matter the size—helps provide hope to families facing unimaginable loss. As this remarkable 50K run demonstrated, when runners and communities unite around a common purpose, every mile and every dollar can make a meaningful difference.
Sources
- Photo by @GirasolesPhotography
- The Boston Globe. From Beverly to Boston: Mass. Venezuelans mark Independence Day with run for earthquake relief. July 5, 2026.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/05/metro/50k-run-benefit-venezuelans-earthquake-victims/ - The Boston Foundation. Massachusetts United for Venezuela Fund.
https://www.tbf.org/venezuela - Exclusive comments provided directly to Marathon Journal by Manuel Rendón, event organizer and Marathon Journal field correspondent.
