“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” –Steve Prefontaine
Ambitious doesn’t begin to describe it. After speaking to Scot DeDeo, a 33-year-old software engineer from Belmont, Massachusetts, I’m never again going to use the excuse of being too busy to commit to a goal. This champion is incredible- and here’s why.
Scot first heard of Invisible Children and LRA atrocities through following the acting career and charitable initiatives of our long-time supporter and friend, Kristen Bell.
In regards to LRA violence, Scot says, “It is hard to believe these things are real sometimes when we are so far away. My philosophy is that we all need to find a way to help: whether it’s by donating money, volunteering your time, or anything else. I truly believe that we do make a difference and if everyone can pitch in, even a little, we will all see the results of our actions.”
Our entire team here at Invisible Children agrees with him, but none of us can claim to be doing the same unique method that Scot chose in order to pitch in, give back, and make a difference.
Having been heavily involved in sports his entire life, he finished graduate school in 2006 and picked up cycling and triathlons. After building his first real endurance base and taking on his first trail race, he fell in love with trail running.
Scot continues, “I began reading books about trail running and ultra running and started to believe that these people were no different than me. I began to ask myself what I might be truly capable of.”
With that in mind, he took on his first ultra-marathon in April 2011, which was a 50K trail race just north of Tampa, Florida.
He concludes, “The possibilities after that seemed endless.”
Scot with his son Neil at the Reykjavik Marathon in Iceland (Neil did the 550m kid run)
Scot decided he would, from then on, donate a dollar for every mile ran within a month’s time to a charity of his choice as a tangible way to ensure he was giving back more. This past July, Scot chose Invisible Children as his charity and donated a total of $235 (having ran 235 miles that month).
He elaborates, “The motivation behind this is bidirectional; the more I run the more I give. If I want to give more, then I need to run more. In the end I am better shape and have hopefully made a contribution that has made a difference.”
Scot chooses his charities each month somewhat at random, but often donates to charities that are associated to specific months. For example, in September, he selected Cradles to Crayons, as children were going back to school. In October, he selected the Komen Foundation in recognition of Breast Cancer awareness. Scot further explains, “Other times, I feel that choice is made for me. After the horrific events surrounding the Boston Marathon this past April, I selected the One Fund as my next beneficiary.”
Scot concludes, “All I am really trying to do is give back. I have had a pretty good life and many opportunities afforded to me and I am hoping to be able to make a difference. I have seen the difference that running can make in peoples lives. Whether it’s coaching and mentoring people through their first events, or raising funds to help a local high school team, you get to see the results firsthand and how much it helps people.”
Scot (right) at Virgil Crest 50 Mile Ultramarathon, Virgil, NY
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