Draft:Run for Their Lives

Run for Their Lives

Official logo of Run for Their Lives
Founded	October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)
Founder	Shany Klein
Type	Grassroots movement
Focus	Peacefully raising awareness for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
Location	Silicon Valley, California, U.S.
Area served	Global
Website	https://run4lives.org

Run for Their Lives (R4TL) is a global grassroots movement launched in October 2023 in response to the hostage crisis following the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel. Following a brief onboarding process, R4TL leaders organize weekly 18-minute walks in cities around the world to raise awareness of the hostages still held in captivity in Gaza. The movement is peaceful, non-partisan, and international, aiming to unite people from all backgrounds, religions, and walks of life through a shared humanitarian cause.

History

Run for Their Lives began in Silicon Valley, California, in the week following the October 7th, 2023 attacks. The idea originated during a personal run by Shany Klein, who was struck by the thought of running or walking for those who could not—a moment she associated with Forrest Gump, but running not aimlessly, rather with purpose. She initiated a symbolic neighborhood walk to advocate for the release of hostages. The 18-minute duration—based on the numerical value of the Hebrew word chai (חַי), meaning "life"—became a defining feature of the movement, with participants dedicating 18 minutes of their week to honor and raise awareness for the lives of the hostages. What began as a local gesture quickly expanded into a global campaign, with hundreds of walking groups forming across six continents.

Mission and principles

The central mission of Run for Their Lives is to raise awareness of the hostage situation and to call for the safe return of all captives. The movement highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis and urges global moral responsibility, calling on individuals and governments to reject silence and normalization of the captivity of innocent civilians—including babies, children, women, and the elderly.

Key principles

Peaceful expression: The walks are non-political and conducted with calm and dignity, framed as symbolic acts of humanity rather than protests.

Inclusivity: Participation is open to all—regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity. The only symbolic requirement is "a red, beating heart."

Symbolism: Participants wear red shirts for two symbolic reasons: first, to reflect that their own hearts are broken and bleeding in solidarity with the hostages—the pain continues until all are brought home; second, to express that the only requirement to join the movement is to have a red, beating heart—symbolizing a shared humanity. It emphasizes that one does not need to be Jewish or Israeli to walk; simply being human is enough. A central visual symbol of the movement is the red footprint of baby Kfir Bibas, the youngest known hostage, who was abducted at nine months and later killed. His footprint has become a universal emblem of the campaign.

Global solidarity: Participants often carry flags of the 24 countries whose citizens were among the hostages, emphasizing that the crisis extends beyond national or political lines.

Activities

Local groups are encouraged to organize walks within their own neighborhoods, typically covering a one-kilometer route. Safety, accessibility, and community sensitivity are guiding principles for each event. Although decentralized, local leaders coordinate logistics such as time and location, with family-friendly participation strongly encouraged. Safety is the top priority.

Each walk is documented through photos and videos, which are shared on social media platforms to amplify the movement’s reach. At the end of each walk, participants are encouraged to film a group message: “Run for Their Lives, [to] Bring Them Home Now” followed by the name of their location (e.g., “Johannesburg, South Africa”).

Public response

The movement has garnered support from a broad range of communities around the world. While rooted in the context of the Israeli hostage crisis, Run for Their Lives has framed its mission in universal terms of human dignity, compassion, and the protection of innocent lives. Its message has been amplified through social media and covered in international media outlets, contributing to growing global awareness of the hostage issue.

Boulder attack (2025)

On June 1, 2025, a violent attack occurred during a "Run for Their Lives" solidarity walk in Boulder, Colorado. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to target participants advocating for the release of the hostages held by Hamas. The attack injured 12 individuals, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. Soliman reportedly shouted "Free Palestine" during the assault and later stated his intent was to harm those he identified as "Zionists." He faces multiple charges, including federal hate crimes and attempted first-degree murder. Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

See also

Run for Their Lives main site

Run for Their Lives outfit

Shira Weiss, R4TL Global Coordinator, Talks About the Boulder Attack

Run for Their Lives Colorado Leaders Share Harrowing Story on Anderson Cooper 360

Parents of IDF soldier murdered in Oct 7 attacks react to Colorado terror attack

FBI investigating attack in Boulder, Colorado, as 'act of terror'

Run For Their Lives Denver leader discusses group's mission