Every journey begins with a single step. What started as one man’s path to healing after cancer – running endurance events to stay healthy and honor those affected by the disease – has grown into something bigger. Our founder turned his personal recovery into a mission: raising funds to support children who have lost parents to cancer.

Now, we want to expand our reach. The goal was always to have more runners than just Phil. This year, we’re excited to announce that our goal is finally being realized. In 2025, we are introducing our new Running for Dreams Ambassador Program.

Meet Samuel Hunter

Samuel, 19, is a sophomore at LSU and already well into his running journey. Having spent years doing cross country at Jesuit High School, he developed a love for running at an early age. Since then, he has run both Phil Phest 5k’s, the Turkey Trot, the Rocket City Marathon, and the Crescent City Classic. In 2023, he even qualified to run the Boston Marathon. When his Uncle Phil approached him about

his idea for Running for Dreams Ambassadors, Samuel was all in!

“Running has taught me so much more about life than anything else I have ever gone through. Bad days are inevitable, you are going to have them. But life isn’t about the bad days or the good ones, it’s about the choices you make to fight against the world seeming to pull you down.”

Samuel Hunter
Read Samuel’s full story here!

Want to Become an Ambassador?

Our ambassadors choose their own endurance challenges – from marathons to ultra runs, triathlons to trail races. They combine their love of endurance sports with fundraising, turning personal athletic achievements into lasting impact for families affected by cancer.

Want to join us and make your miles matter? Learn how you can become a Running for Dreams ambassador below.