In March 2022, the Dallas Muslim Running Club (DMRC) and Ma’ruf Dallas made a collective effort and hosted a race, raising over $20,000 to benefit the refugee community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Impelled by this success, the two organizations repeated this race event in March 2023 and raised more than $30,000, earning it the name “Run for Refugees.”[1] The Run for Refugees race was held in September 2024 and altogether raised nearly $42,000.

      The 2024 race integrated different race lengths – 5 kilometers and 1-mile run/fun walk– for youth, adults, and families, as well as awards for the top 3 runners in eight different age groups, spanning over 60 years. Different groups who band together and raise the most money leading up to the race can also win the top fundraiser trophy, The Yousef Award. Furthermore, the race site boasted a vendor area, food trucks and a kids zone, making the event welcoming, entertaining, and family-friendly – as well as the ideal setting to bond with the greater Dallas Muslim community and raise funds for a good cause.[2]

      Ma’ruf Dallas is a nonprofit organization that aims to “strengthen faith (إِيمَان‎ in Arabic) through action,” serving individuals, families, and communities in need with their activism-inclined approach to humanitarian volunteering. This is done through their various initiatives including neighborhood cleanups, drives for food, clothing, and hygiene, education programs, and even job placement.[3]

      On another note, Dallas Muslim Running Club, established in 2021, provides a path for Muslims to be part of a larger community of people who want to push themselves to their limits or simply begin their fitness journey through running. The DMRC has three coach-led groups based on a runner’s experience level, ranging from beginner to advanced. They also have weekly meetings as well as monthly “cross training” sessions. The DMRC fosters companionship, hard work, and a sense of achievement through consistency and a passionate community.

      Ma’ruf’s partnership with Dallas Muslim Running Club fuses the values of two passionate organizations to engage the Muslim community of DFW – a small group, yet representative of the steadily-growing Muslim population in America. Sponsors, vendors, runners, and families of all ages alike are gearing up in anticipation for what future Run for Refugees will bring, and how they will turn faith into action to serve the broader cause of improving the lives of refugees.

Sources

“2024 - Run for Refugees 2024, Hosted by DMRC.” 2024 - Run for Refugees 2024, Hosted by DMRC - Race Roster - Registration, Marketing, Fundraising, https://raceroster.com/events/2024/91503/run-for-refugees-2024-hosted-by-dmrc

“@RUNDMRC.” @RunDMRC, www.muslimrunningclub.com/.

“About Ma’ruf Dallas.” MARUF DALLAS, https://marufdallas.com/about/

Run for Refugees (@r4rrace), instagram.com/r4rrace

Footnotes

[1] “@RUNDMRC.” @RunDMRC, www.muslimrunningclub.com/.

[2] “2024 - Run for Refugees 2024, Hosted by DMRC.” 2024 - Run for Refugees 2024, Hosted by DMRC - Race Roster - Registration, Marketing, Fundraising, https://raceroster.com/events/2024/91503/run-for-refugees-2024-hosted-by-dmrc

[3] “About Ma’ruf Dallas.” MARUF DALLAS, https://marufdallas.com/about/