Hi there!

My name is Joey Young. I'm running the Big Sur International Marathon on April 26, 2026 in support of American Red Cross. I've been a volunteer at the Red Cross since June 2022, where I work in Disaster Services. 

Let me first start by describing what the Red Cross does to aid our communities and what I do in my role.

In American Red Cross, I work primarily as a duty officer and as a caseworker. I do my duty officer shifts on Wednesday nights from 6PM - midnight. Let me tell you what a duty officer does. 

First, there is a disaster which displaces people from their homes. Usually this is a fire. Then, an agency, like a fire department, notifies Red Cross of the disaster and the need for our assistance with the displaced individuals, who we call the clients. Sometimes the clients themselves call the Red Cross instead of the agency. This is where it can get complicated. But in a nutshell, my job is to determine 1) if the disaster is legitimate and qualifies for Red Cross aid based on our policies, and then 2) determine which responders are available and try to dispatch responders on scene to meet the clients, and 3) follow up with the responders to ensure their safety and make sure the clients get the aid they need. The responders, who we call "DAT," or Disaster Action Team, meet up with the clients and provide them with immediate assistance. This is financial aid to help get them through the first few nights. Then, they open up a case for the clients, and a caseworker calls them shortly afterward (in a day or two). The caseworker, which is also a job I do, speaks with the client on the phone or via email and determines their recovery needs. The caseworker then finds resources to meet those needs.

This is one of the many ways the Red Cross aids communities in need of assistance. In addition, there are many other programs where the Red Cross provides aid. For example, larger scale disasters may necessitate opening up a shelter to house displaced individuals. The Red Cross may work with the county or other agencies to provide aid, such as the Salvation Army, for clothing needs. 

In addition to Disaster Services, which is where I work, the Red Cross also provides aid to individuals in need of blood, plasma, and platelets through blood donation centers. There is a thorough screening process to ensure that donor blood is safe to provide to patients, including testing the blood donated. The blood ends travels from the donation centers with our logistics team to the patients who need it most.

There also many other ways the Red Cross aids our communities, but these are the ones I have the most experience with.

Your financial donation to this fundraiser can help those in need when they need it most. Please consider a donation to support the Red Cross so that a family in need can make it through a challenging time.

Now let me tell you about my running background.

This will be my fourth marathon. I ran my first marathon 11 years ago, with a finishing time of 5:09:19 called the Crystal Springs Trail Run. It was a bucket list item for me to cross the finish line, and I didn't run for several years later, until recently. In January 2025, I started training for my second marathon, the 2025 Santa Rosa Marathon, which took place on August 24, 2025. I trained quite a bit for that race, and I ended up with a finishing time of 3:31:34, which for me was a good time. My next marathon was the 2025 Honolulu Marathon, which I ran on December 14, 2025, and finished with a 4:22:11. It was a much slower time, but I did it more as a fun run and didn't really push myself as hard as I could have. Big Sur's course is fairly hilly. I told myself a 4:00:00 finishing time would be a good time, but I hope to try and beat my Santa Rosa time with a good amount of interval and speedwork training.

I hope you consider donating to this fundraiser to support American Red Cross and help me run the 2026 Big Sur International Marathon for Team Red Cross. Thank you once again for your consideration!

Best wishes!

- Joey

Contact: Joey.Young@RedCross.Org

The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Your gift will directly support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross.Because of YOU, when a disaster strikes, the Red Cross is there to provide food, shelter, relief supplies, and hope to individuals displaced by a disaster.  At the same time, communities are receiving Red Cross training in First Aid, CPR, and disaster preparedness to help save lives.When military recruits prepare to leave for military service, the Red Cross is there with them, explaining how we will support them and their families throughout their military career and beyond.When the international community calls upon us, the American Red Cross is there alongside our Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to provide relief and hope around the globe.And, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we provide hospitals with lifesaving blood products from volunteer donors.Thank you for generously supporting the American Red Cross!