Chief Change Officer #368 Chris Schrader: From Rainy-Day Idea to Global Movement—The 24 Hour Race Story–Part One
Sometimes the biggest movements begin with a simple question: What can I do?
In Part One, Chris Schrader, founder and executive chairman of the 24 Hour Race, shares the unfiltered origin story behind the world’s largest student-run movement to fight human trafficking. What started as a walk across England in memory of a friend became a 24-hour endurance race, then a global platform that’s raised over US$20 million across 25 cities.
But Chris doesn’t romanticize it. He breaks down how it all came together—messy, accidental, and fueled more by belief than a master plan. From skeptical school principals to six-figure fundraisers, this episode explores what happens when students stop waiting for permission and start building real impact from the ground up.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
The Walk That Started It All
“Six months after a joke about walking across England, we were actually doing it—and raised HK$200,000 for rare diseases.”
From Expedition to Endurance Sport
“We turned a 150km trek across Hong Kong into a run-swim-row challenge—just to prove what students could really do.”
The Birth of the 24 Hour Race
“A simple idea: teams running a 24-hour relay. No elite athletes, just anyone willing to push themselves for a cause.”
Why He Chose Human Trafficking—Without Knowing Much About It
“It wasn’t the topic at first. It was the intensity. We needed a cause strong enough to power people through the pain.”
Ignored by Schools, Backed by Students
“Principals laughed us out of the room. So we went straight to students—and they built the movement themselves.”
From One-Off Event to Global Force
“What was supposed to be a one-time race exploded. Within a year, we were oversubscribed and scaling city by city.”
Beyond Fundraising: Creating Life-Defining Moments
“It’s not just money. Over a million young people have done the race. We want them to remember it when they’re 80.”
Why They Treat Charity Like a Marketplace
“People come for the music, the sleepover, the fun—and that’s fine. We win them over without preaching.”
Raising Future Leaders, Not Just Dollars
“Student directors interview NGOs, ask hard questions, and learn how to be real fiduciaries—not just fundraisers.”
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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Schrader
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