About the Meal Milers
WCK acts with the urgency of now. We are first to the frontlines providing fresh meals to families impacted by crises worldwide. To highlight the work of the people that make our work possible—staff, partners, volunteers—a group of new and experienced runners has come together to represent WCK in the 2024 Boston Marathon. Together, known as WCK’s Meal Milers, this group from all backgrounds has set personal fundraising goals to support WCK’s work. Learn more about our relief efforts here.
Meet the Runners
Nadia Ghulam Dastgir
Originally from Afghanistan, Nadia has worked alongside WCK in Spain supporting families impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and Afghan refugees. Nadia is running the Boston Marathon to bring awareness to the power that food has to bring hope to women and children in conflict zones. As a new runner, this will be Nadia’s first race ever. She’s excited to begin her running journey and cross the finish line in April!
Nargis Alsadiq
Nargis started running in 2010, and her passion for the sport has only grown since. She joined a running club, entered many local middle distance events, and eventually became inspired to run her first marathon in London in 2021. Nargis is driven to run more and has set herself the ultimate goal to run all six world major marathons—Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, and Tokyo—to earn the coveted Six Star Medal.
Jonathan Echeverria
Jonathan serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Global Markets Technology department at Bank of America. He has held many technology leadership roles in the nearly two decades he has been with the institution and is a passionate advocate for Latinos in technology spaces. In his freetime, Jonathan enjoys distance running and is on a quest to complete all six World Marathon Majors—Boston 2024 will be marathon number four!
Alexandra Owens
Alexandra was introduced to WCK in 2020 at the start of our Covid-19 response. Barely a week after the shutdown in New York City began, Alexandra and her colleagues quickly established a food distribution site alongside WCK and served over 250,000 meals in six months. She was responsible for packing meals and distributing food to residents in need in addition to her role as Director of Communications. This race will be Alexandra’s third marathon after NYC and Chicago and plans to run Berlin in September.
Taunya Cook
Taunya has been an avid marathoner for over a decade, and this race will be her second time running Boston. She first ran this race in 2013, the year three people were tragically killed when two explosive devices were detonated near the finish line. Taunya had plans to run the 2023 Boston Marathon but had to opt out after her husband, pictured above alongside Taunya, tragically passed just months before the race. Taunya is running the Boston Marathon to honor her late husband and to share WCK’s mission of providingmeals in times of crisis.
Nadia
I’ve never run, nor have I ever dreamt of the possibility of one day being able to run a marathon, let alone the Boston Marathon. Training is already a significant struggle for me because of all my war injuries. But on my runs, my mind is with the courageous girls and women in Afghanistan.
Nargis
I’m excited to be running for WCK to make a positive impact on the lives of people who have been displaced [in Gaza] as more people are forced to flee their homes, and have restricted humanitarian aid and nowhere to go.
Alexandra
I’m incredibly thankful to have been able to work side-by-side with World Central Kitchen to ensure the safety and longevity of my community. It’s an honor to continue to carry on the relationship through the Boston Marathon and run on behalf of World Central Kitchen.
Taunya
I love the idea of not just providing service but learning, listening and working side by side the people you serve. I love that about WCK!
Jonathan
I’m thrilled to support World Central Kitchen and their remarkable mission to provide meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Support the Meal Milers
- Donate to a Meal Miler. Each runner has set a fundraising goal to support WCK’s work—fuel their efforts here.
- Track our runners on race day. Can’t make it to Boston? You can still follow our runners through the official marathon app!