SEATTLE — Setting out to run 100 miles is no simple task.
Brandon Morales, of Seattle, set that goal to benefit a nonprofit he started in 2020.
It's called Food Intentions.
The mission of Food Intentions is buying meals from Black-owned restaurants and delivers them to unhoused community members.
"Nothing happens unless action is taken," Brandon said. "Whatever it is that you want to do or are thinking about doing, just go for it."
They started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, so they could finish the charity run on the morning of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on the anniversary of the order issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Running the 100-mile route in under 24 hours - Brandon and his brother, Tyler, toured several cities and parks.
They started in Seattle's Seward Park. Then, the duo ran a full lap around Lake Washington before running toward West Seattle. The second half of the route also took the brothers north of Downtown Seattle and Lake Union before they headed back to Seward Park to finish slightly more than 103 miles with the full route.
"It's awesome to be able to I guess properly celebrate the holiday by doing something, that's meaningful," Brandon said. "Kind of wanted to combine two things I'm passionate about which are long distance running and serving the community."
In an Instagram post - Brandon talked about how running has opened a new chapter in his life.
"Although I only started taking running seriously about a year ago, it has intertwined harmoniously with my sobriety journey which is coming up on six and a half years," Brandon said. "It is amazing what we can accomplish if we just go for something and don’t give up."
Tyler's brother flew in from California to support his brother's charity effort and run every mile alongside him.
"I think the holidays, you kind of think about it the day of and it kind of goes away you know the few days after," Tyler said. "So, this kind of gets everyone really riled up about it a little bit more and really thinking about what it's all about."
Along with a full day spent with his brother logging the miles - Tyler said he hopes an effort like this for a good cause inspires others to reflect on what they can do to help community members.