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Expanding limits and inspiring lifelong fitness through the sport of running.

Team Verge is a 501(c)3 nonprofit athletic organization that conducts inclusive team running programs and supplemental fitness and educational programs throughout the year. Members also have opportunities to participate or compete in team meets, track, road races, cross country, and trail running.

Team Verge was founded in 2015 to bring the magic of running and the team sport environment to those who could benefit from it most, yet have the least access to it - to reflect the founder’s own experiences with the positive effect that running and sport has had on her throughout life, and to also provide the supports she didn’t have. Our runners are people with and without social, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and motor skills challenges. Expanding limits is the core of Team Verge's goal. We strive to help members break through barriers and make physical, social, and mental connections so that they are always growing...always on the verge of the next level.

While open to all youth and young adults ages 7+, and their families, over 80% of our runners are on the autism spectrum. This revealed a massive demand for a quality program like this among children and young adults alike. We are responding by working on developing the capacity to provide for completely, not only in our club, but in the communities at large through exposure, experience, inclusion, and additional programs through collaborations, partnerships, and education.

Our inclusive culture of communal support, compassion, and flexibility, combined with fun, expectations, setting goals, and working with each athlete “where they are”, fosters an environment where our runners not only feel a sense of belonging to a team, but are also able to successfully achieve greater fitness and social skills. Some go on to join school teams or other mainstream sports and programs, and others develop more healthy lifestyles and fitness routines.

The Verge experience has been life changing for all, both with and without special needs. The impact goes beyond the participants. As our challenged runners become more fit and more independent or social, anxieties and behaviors improve and parental stresses reduce. 

Much of what we do is also about spreading awareness and acceptance in the community. The middle school and high school students who volunteer with us get experience with people who are different from them and learn not only how to communicate and work together, but that beyond their differences they are the same. In the running/fitness environment a lot is exposed that is not typically exposed in other social and participation based programs. Our runners are challenged and grow, and their typical peers see this and are a part of it. Those student volunteers then graduate and go out into the world with this understanding. The public also sees us out there and is often surprised at the abilities and at everyone working together, forever changing their misconceptions.

Our challenged runners CAN. They just need support. We ALL CAN. We all just need support. Imagine a world where all humans support each other and appreciate and value our differences and work together. At Verge, we are doing what we can in our community to contribute to a better world by exposing our value as humans, the joy and necessity of connection, and the importance of equal challenge and support, through sport and community. 

Your contribution will help us impact so many more and spread goodness throughout communities.

Want to get involved? Contact us! We are growing our organization and looking to fill a variety of roles so that we can build the capacity to serve all and expand. Learn more about us on our website www.teamverge.org, Facebook page @teamverge, and instagram account @teamvergerun.

Thank you for your support!