Eastern Area Health Education Center, Inc.

This Giving Tuesday, please consider donating to the Freedom’s Run GoFundMe.

Since 2009, our mission is to keep our community healthy, but we need your help. Donating to our page will ensure we keep providing these programs for the public, and create more programming and funding we can then share with other worthwhile organizations.

As a thank you, if you donate $50, we will send you a custom Freedom’s Run Buff or hat! After you donate, just be sure to leave a message with your mailing address, and we’ll be sure to get you the custom Buff!

C&O Canal Classrooms Education Program 

West Virginia is often viewed as an unhealthy place to live. Much of this opinion, unfortunately, comes from real data. West Virginia is #1 when it comes to obesity and diabetes (CDC 2022) and #50 when it comes to trails. With an idea to change our state’s image and reverse these statistics, Freedom's Run was born. 

Freedom’s Run was developed with the intent of putting on an event that gives citizens awareness of healthy living, promotes outdoor activity, and highlights the rich history of the area - an Event for Health and Heritage. A collaborative group between leads at the Eastern Area Health Education Center, WVU Health Sciences Center - Eastern Division, University Healthcare, the National Park Service, Shepherd University, local citizens and businesses, and Canal Towns Partnership, teamed to create Freedom's Run. Offering 5 events for all ages and athletic abilities - 1 mile kids fun run, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon.

Since 2009, Freedom’s Run, through the guidance of Eastern Area Health Education Center, has given over $230, 000 directly back to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia as well as neighboring communities. We have assisted with matching grants to bring the total well above $350,000. But with your help we can fund even more projects.

Page Jackson Elementary School Trail

Some of the projects that have been funded through Freedom's Run Community Grant Funds include:

- Potomac Valley Audubon Society Nature Center

- Catholic Charities Healthy Head Space Program

- Shenandoah Community Health Fitness Trail

- Blue Ridge Primary & Elementary School Trail

- Brian O'Neill Jr. Foundation My Village Program

- Eastern Panhandle Indigo Children's Blue Ribbon Recreation Program

- For love of Children's Leaders in Action Program

- Antietam Battlefield's Civil War Day Camp