Now that we are in the last days before Bane starts his run, we asked him what the past weeks have been like. “It's just been going to different businesses, getting sponsorships, and so we're raising quite a bit of money,” he said.
He has also been preparing for the athletic feat. “I’ve been running a lot and trying to build up endurance. Not too long ago, I went running 10 miles with my neighbor,” Bane said.
He said he was inspired by his older sister Hailey Rae Bane’s winning of the 2025 Youth Leadership Award at April 14th’s Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Banquet. She created the nonprofit H.R. Sweets, which sells dessert items and gives the proceeds to missionaries for her church. Just as Hailey chose to serve using a favorite activity, Heath has done the same with running.
“I was just good at running. I like to run,” Heath Bane told us. He has also made discoveries about the act of long-distance running. “Whenever you start thinking you need to stop or you need to quit, you just kind of push it away. You're like, ‘I can do a few more miles or something’ till you're in, till you're just done, and then you don't have the urge to quit because you're already done.”
Bane, the son of Pastor Toby Bane of Victory Baptist Church and wife Ruthie Bane, said his peers have been complimentary about him taking on the challenge of 14 miles Saturday. “They think it's cool that I'm doing it. And I’ve got some friends who might come show up that day.”
Ruth said this round of fundraising will do wonders for Heath’s education since he is meeting and communicating with adults in many walks of life to ask for pledges. “He's had to learn to talk to people and learn how to hear the word no several times. For every yes of sponsorship, there will be a no, and that's fine. But it's been good. It's been teaching him just some basic life skills,” she said.
Heath, who is homeschooled, plans to play baseball and to run cross-country for Garrett Memorial Christian School this coming school year.
Those wishing to contribute can donate amounts per miles Heath runs. He has been asking for $1 per mile but would no doubt welcome higher or lower amounts. Cash, check, CashApp ($RuthieBane) or GoFundMe are welcome. The contact number is 1-870-397-1986. Bane said 100 percent of donations will go to The Call.
