Stratford Teen Runs 24 Miles In 24 Hours For Virus Relief

STRATFORD, CT — A Stratford teen recently took a long run for a good cause.

Ryann Wiltsie, a 17-year-old junior at Stratford High School, ran 24 miles in 24 hours to raise money for the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA’s coronavirus relief fund.

“I’ve ran pretty much my whole life,” said Wiltsie, a member of the school track team, although its season was canceled due to the virus. “I just love long-distance running.”

Wiltsie’s effort raised about $1,400, and every cent was hard-earned. The day of the run brought fierce rain and winds, but Wiltsie soldiered on. She started 2 p.m. April 24, running 12 miles in the rain through her Lordship neighborhood, and completing the challenge early the following day.

“It was tough,” she said. “I was freezing.”

Wiltsie said she got the idea for a charity run from a friend who did something similar to raise money for another organization. Wiltsie’s mother, Amy Wiltsie, is the annual campaign director for the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA and helped her daughter set up a link to a fundraising campaign and circulate it on Facebook. Amy Wiltsie is also vice chair of the Stratford Board of Education.

“I realized that the YMCA was really struggling, and they were giving back as much as possible,” Ryann said.

The YMCA has waived membership fees while its branches are closed due to the virus outbreak, but it continues to provide community services, including child care for health care workers, overflow homeless shelters, and meal and grocery pickup and delivery, according to its website.

Additionally, the YMCA is hosting food and blood drives as the virus spreads across the state and damages the physical and financial health of many Connecticut residents who have contracted the illness or lost their jobs as businesses have closed in connection with the outbreak. Nearly 1,000 Fairfield County residents have died after getting the virus, according to the most recent state data, and government leaders have urged people to stay home and limit their contact with those outside their household.

But, as Ryann put it, “We can still all give back even though we’re staying home.”

To donate to the coronavirus relief fund for the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, which has locations across the Bridgeport and New Haven areas, visit this site.