Alex Ramsey, FUMC Youth, successfully ram 30 miles in an effort to raise awareness and over $3,000 for Heifer International. Alex was featured in Claremore’s Progress News Paper. His story follows:
While it’s not uncommon for people to want to make a difference, a Claremore teen next week plans to take steps towards ending world hunger — 29 miles worth of steps, to be exact.
Alex Ramsey, 17, plans to run from Claremore to downtown Tulsa, a total of 29 miles, to benefit his charity of choice, Heifer International.
“Even though a lot of people around here may not have heard of Heifer (International), my church has been helping them for 14 years through garage sales, the last of which raised more than $7,000,” Ramsey said. “Essentially, what Heifer does is provide livestock, like cattle, goats, chickens, etc. to people living in impoverished countries as a way for them to have food — not in that they eat the animals, but they use what the animals provide for them — eggs, milk, cheese, and so on.
“The people can use the things provided from the animals to eat, to sell which helps them to have an income or even a small family ‘business’ or they can pass along the animals’ offspring to their friends, neighbors, children, etc. — they truly changes the lives of people,” he said. “It’s an awesome organization.”
Based in Little Rock, Ark., Heifer International is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty by providing gifts of livestock and plants, as well as education in sustainable agriculture, to financially-disadvantaged families around the world.
Ramsey described his decision to run for charity to be “a total God thing,” occurring to him during the final weeks of his junior year at Claremore High School.
“A few weeks ago, I was sitting in class and pretty much out of nowhere, I started thinking about and wanting to do something to help people — to make a difference,” he said. “I already knew about Heifer because of my church, so I decided to do something to raise money for them, and a run seemed like a good idea.
“And, besides, I thought the ‘Center of the Universe’ really sounded cool,” he laughed.
Although Ramsey said he’s never run the distance he’s established for himself — 29 miles from FUMC to the “Center of the Universe” (20 East Archer Street) in downtown Tulsa — he said he used to run track in junior high and still “loves running.”
“This will be the longest run I’ve ever done in my life, and I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m going to keep telling myself why I’m doing it — to help others — and that will keep me going,” he said. “It’ll be tough, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Those interested in helping sponsor Ramsey’s run to the “Center of the Universe” to benefit Heifer International may contact him at (918) 606-3695.
Ramsey is heavily involved with his church’s youth group, Generation Next. He plays guitar for the praise band, and is co-chair for the youth council, having previously held an elected position on the district youth council. Ramsey also plays in a praise band for FUMC’s 11 a.m. service, and is in a praise band called “The Saving Motion” which plays for a college age service called “Groundfloor” on Saturday nights.
Ramsey’s band, “The Saving Motion” is currently signed to Tate Music Group and has plans to produce a CD of praise music this summer, the single for which is available on iTunes. Ramsey is the son of Mark and Cindy Ramsey of Claremore, and the brother of Ben Ramsey.
To learn more about Heifer International, visit them online at www.heifer.org.
