Joshua Riley
By MARK MAYNARD / Amy For Africa
ASHLAND, Ky. — One of the top runners in eastern Kentucky has decided to join Team Amy For Africa.
Joshua Riley, a 2014 Russell High School graduate who currently attends Morehead State University, wanted to run for a cause. He hopes to join three other AFA runners in the 2016 Boston Marathon. Riley will try to qualify on September 13 at the Erie Marathon in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Riley has some lofty goals that don’t include running, including being a candidate for the U.S. Congress some day. He is studying marketing at MSU.
Here’s why he chose to run for Team AFA: “I I was really in a running funk and decided to train on my own and then also decided to train for a marathon to qualify for Boston 2016. Since I decided to go this route with my running, I thought, ‘Hey, why not run for a great cause with some awesome people from my area, all while publicly serving Jesus!’ So, I went to Amy (Compston) and here we are!”
Compston, who has run in the past three Boston Marathons and five world marathons overall, was excited to add Riley to the running team.
“He’s going to be one of our fastest runners,” she said. “What an honor that he chose to run for AFA. We want to support him in reaching the Boston Marathon in 2016. Praise the Lord for willing servants.”
In his spare time, Josh said he enjoys watching Netflix, listening to music, earning money for myself by working, and of course, running.
AFA runners ask friends and family for support during events with the money going to the two-year-old organization to help the children and others in Moyo, Uganda.