Student to run half-marathon in support of ‘homeless friends’
A 17-year-old Warwick Academy student will run a half-marathon on Sunday to raise money to help put a stop to homelessness in Bermuda.
Nate Snelling, who has already secured $15,000 in pledges, is running the Hannover Re race to help the charity Home.
He is taking on the challenge as part of his school community service project.
His appeal letter said: “As I complete my last IB year at Warwick Academy as a 17-year born Bermudian, my project is to support the registered charity Home in its quest to end homelessness in Bermuda.
“The community action group in which I am involved, The Grateful Bread, partners with Home in this mission.
“I am writing to ask for your support to help Home end homelessness in Bermuda. Ending homelessness means having a stable and sustainable place to live and call home.”
He added: “I will be running Hannover Re’s half-marathon on November 24, which takes runners along 13.1 rolling miles that feature views of Bermuda’s beautiful beaches and coastline.
“What I will not see when I’m running are our homeless friends who sleep in cars, sheds, in the trails, on relatives’ couches or under tarpaulins.”
The Royal Gazette, in conjunction with stakeholders including Home, has launched its Ending Homelessness campaign to remind the community that people affected by homelessness matter.
Home, and others, want to end homelessness. So do we. We want your support. We want you to change your perception of members of the unsheltered population. We want you to help lobby for simple changes. We want you to show compassion.
Homeless people want to work so that they can be self-sufficient. They did not choose to be homeless, and in many cases their plight was brought about by systemic failings in this country.
In 2010, the Bermuda Census identified 82 people experiencing homelessness. By 2016, that number had risen to 138.
According to Home, the Department of Statistics developed those estimates based on counting rough sleepers and the population housed in the Salvation Army emergency shelter.
As of December 31, 2023, Home recorded Bermuda’s homeless population as 811.
The teenager’s appeal letter added: “Please will you support my run to help those in need to get back on track to lead meaningful lives again?
“No contribution is too small, even $2 per mile gets us past $25 to help end homelessness.”
Nate told The Royal Gazette: “I am excited to run on Sunday. Despite Bermuda being a super-rich reinsurance hub, 10 per cent of our people live at poverty level and over 1 per cent, 811 people, are homeless.
“For my community service project, I thought, ‘how can I combine two things that I love, sport and my community, to help the people around me?’.
“That led me to signing up for Sunday’s half-marathon to benefit Home, whose mission is to end homelessness here.
“I met with the case worker at the shelter, as well as some of the guys in residence there to understand their needs. Their stories will motivate me to run with energy and hope.”
His mother, Juliana Snelling, added: “Our family is proud of Nate’s decision to run on Sunday to benefit the wonderful charity Home.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has made donations to Home in support of Nate’s run.
“As a community working together, we can surely end homelessness on our beautiful Island.”
A spokeswoman for Home described Nate as an “inspiring young leader” and thanked him for his “incredible fundraising efforts”.
She added: “His compassion and dedication make a profound difference and we are truly grateful for his commitment to creating a brighter future for those in need.”
Little is in his thirties, here is his story:
“After a break-up I found myself with no job and no insurance. I have never asked anyone for anything so I refused to work with him, but every week Home’s case manager kept coming back.
“They would not leave me alone.
“One night the weather was so crazy and I called in for a bed for one night and 110 days later I am still here.
“The case manager has helped me stay in touch with my family and especially my daughter. It’s early days still but I know I will find an apartment and I know Home will be there for me.”
Chris, who is in his fifties, tells his story:
“I lived outside for over ten years because of a surgery gone wrong. I had plans to leave Bermuda, explore the world with my family but instead I ended up homeless.
“My family didn’t give up on me. I gave up on me.
“Home helped restore my faith in myself. They moved me inside and helped me so much.
“They have respect for us guys and that helped me to respect myself. I’ve been inside for 119 days, the longest I have been in for years. I got a job and I’m on my way to independence. This is the most anyone has ever done for we guys. Thank you.
“I am not going back outside.”
• Donate to Home here: home.bm/donate
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