We Run because They Walked

The Active Witness Challenge is a virtual fundraiser that we host in commemoration of the 1965 March on Selma. We invite participants to walk, run, bike, swim or make an active donation. The 1965 March on Selma was successful because participants made a public activation of their faith. Whether they stayed back to provide meals and prayer or they marched mile after mile, the success of the March on Selma can be attributed to a community effort. During the entire month of September invite you to be a part of a community looking to continue this holy legacy. 

Here at The Witness Inc., we continue this witness through our podcast suite, articles, and signature Fellowship Program through The Witness Foundation. We know the fight for racial justice is not complete, but each of us can make a contribution. Our goal for this event is to have 1,000 participants. We invite you to take the challenge today!

Signups begin Spring, 2025.

How to Participate

  • Step 1. Register

    Register to participage. Registration is free.

    Register Now

  • Step 2. Set Up Your Fundraising Page

    When you have completed your registration, click the Fundraise button to start your fundraising page. Next, you will solidify your fundraising goal and send your customized link to friends, family, and coworkers who want to join the community of witnesses advancing racial justice.

    Fundraise

  • Step 3. Invite Someone

    Most people want to make a difference and get healthy this year. Here is your opportunity to help them do both. Invite your friends, family, church, and place of employment to participate. To create a team, click the button right below the registration section. Click the button below to learn more about church sponsorships and corporate sponsorships.

    Track Results Here!

  • Share Your Progress

    Track your results and share your daily progress with your personal network and with us using social media by using the hashtags #ActiveWitnessChallenge and #WeRunbecauseTheyWalked and tag @thewitnessbcc on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter.

    Follow us

Partnership Opportunities

The success of the March on Selma can be attributed to a community effort. The Active Witness Witness challenge is open to corporate and church partnerships. We invite your organization to join us as we walk, run, bike, swim, or donate to commemorate the 1965 March on Selma.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Witness Inc. exists to make sure Black Christians are equipped to flourish. We accomplish this through education and philanthropic endeavors to meet the modern challenges of Black Christians today. Our mission is to empower Black Christian leaders and organizations to proclaim and embody God's historical, social, and biblical faithfulness within the Black community in the United States through the creation of credible content on our multi-media platform (BCC) and the provision of financial resources (TWF).

  • In 1965, civil rights activists marched 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to support the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Active Witness Challenge commemorates this passage as a means to celebrate the success of our ancestors and the passing of the torch to those advancing justice today.

    The protest to support voting rights for African Americans had taken the form of a 87-kilometer (54-mile) walk between the Alabama town of Selma and the capital, Montgomery.

  • Wherever you are! The Active Witness Challenge takes place virtually around the country and it can be done as a "virtual race" where participants get their race kit in the mail or through participating churches. Beginning September 1st, you can join Christians across the country right from your own front door, in your neighborhood or on a treadmill—you can get creative! Visit our corporate partnerships page for more information about leading an Active Witness Challenge team for your ministry.

  • This is your opportunity to invite your family and friends from across the world to join you in sharing our mission to advance justice and equip Black Christians to flourish. Tag them on social media, give them a call, or send them an email with the link to donate and/or participate. Let’s celebrate the impact of the past and your contribution by sharing a picture with the hashtags #Activewitnesschallenge #Werunbecausetheywalked #BeAWitness

  • The money raised will be used to strengthen capacity within our organization. This includes but is not limited to funding our podcasts, articles, conferences, and more.

  • Yes! Courageous children participated in non-violent marches along U.S. Route 80 in March of 1965. We want families and children to participate in this event. Children of all ages can register as a participant to run or walk the 54-mile distance or even just a stretch. Plus, kids 18 years and younger get to register for $25!

  • You can register all the way up to (and on) race day!

  • Send us an email at Daniellew@thewitnessfoundation.co and we'll get you a new one!

  • Keeping your time is up to you! We won't be collecting times, but you can share photos from your day on social media using the hashtag #activewitnesschallenge #werunbecausetheywalked

  • You can use a website like Map My Run to plan your route ahead of time. If you have an iPhone, the Apple Health app can help keep track of your 54 miles.

  • Checks can be mailed to :

    The Witness Foundation

    2093 Philadelphia Pike #1031

    Claymont, DE 19703

    Please write “Active Witness Challenge 2023” in the memo line.