In track and field, talent and training can take you far, but Matthew Dunsworth - a 10-time state champion in high school, now competing for Arkansas State- realized that for some young runners, the biggest obstacle wasn't effort, but the shoes on their feet.
As Dunsworth spent more time in the sport, he noticed several teammates and competitors were running in shoes not built for distance running - Jordans, Hey Dudes, or whatever they had access to. Knowing how much the right footwear could impact performance and prevent injuries, he set out to change that.
He started reaching out to his community, asking for donations, and speaking at conventions to spread awareness about the need for proper running shoes among young athletes. The funds Dunsworth raises go directly towards providing cross country and track & field athletes at Clarksville High School in need with the proper shoes.
"It's been fun to leave a legacy bigger than me for our program," he said while reflecting on the impact he's been able to make in his community.
What advice do you have for other athletes who want to give back to their communities? Don't be afraid to start; to me, that was the hardest part. I always wanted to help people but didn't know where to start, but I took the leap, and things started to fall into place.
How has the community responded to your efforts and have you seen a difference in the athletes you've helped? The start and growth of this foundation would not be possible without my community, from my community in high school with my athletic director supporting me in every step of this journey, to my community in Clarksville helping support it from local buisness such as Kasper's that donate every year to people who call and want help they deserve a ton of credit for this as well. Since the start of this foundation, the Clarksville team has been able to grow in size with my runners running than ever, and I hope to soon be able to spread it to more schools.
What role do you think the right footwear plays in preventing injuries for young athletes? Running all starts from your legs and shoes are what makes your legs happy, if it feels like you're pounding the pavement or your feet are burning from blisters or your shoes are sliding around you're not going to be able to push your body and push yourself and in the end running is supposed to be fun and it's hard to have fun while enduring that. There's a lot more to running than shoes, but have good shoes is a good start.
To learn more or donate, visit Shoes for Success.
