2026 Citizens Miles that Matter Award Winner Spotlight

Miraj Mehta

Citizens Miles That Matter is a community-driven platform, launched in partnership with New York Road Runners, that recognizes purpose-driven New Yorkers whose marathon journeys create meaningful impact across their communities. The program celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of the race, grit, resilience, leadership, and generosity, and who use the marathon as a platform for service, leadership, and giving back, not just personal achievement.

For Miraj Mehta, running is about far more than fitness. It's about creating access, building community and helping others discover opportunities that can change the course of their lives.

Representing Brooklyn, Miraj is running to support Beginning with Children. The organization is dedicated to expanding educational access and long-term opportunities for underserved students. The connection is deeply personal. Throughout his life, Miraj has seen how access — whether it's to education, mentorship, guidance or community — can influence a person's trajectory. Today, he is committed to helping create those opportunities for others.

That commitment extends into nearly every aspect of Miraj's life, including how he approaches running.

Growing up, Miraj did not have access to structured programs that might have introduced him to sports when he was young. As a result, he did not discover running until his thirties. Yet what began as a personal challenge eventually became something much larger. Running provided a source of clarity, community and purpose, offering a new way to connect with others and support causes that matter to him. As his relationship with running evolved, so did his understanding of the role it could play in bringing people together.

In the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, Miraj has focused on creating entry points for people who may not see themselves as runners. That includes immigrants, adult beginners, and others who might feel intimidated by the idea of joining a running community. Rather than viewing running as an exclusive pursuit reserved for experienced athletes, he believes it should be accessible to anyone willing to take the first step.

Miraj's perspective is rooted in his belief that opportunity often begins with access. Sometimes, all it takes is an invitation, a supportive community, or someone willing to share knowledge and encouragement. The same principle that encourages someone to start running can also help them build confidence, pursue an education, or discover a new path forward.

For Miraj, creating those pathways has become one of the most rewarding aspects of running.

Each mile represents more than personal progress. Running has become a vehicle for supporting causes Miraj cares about—encouraging others to begin their own journeys and helping people find the guidance and support that can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Whether someone is training for a race, exploring a new hobby or pursuing a long-term goal, Miraj understands the value of having a community that believes in them.

"To know that I can do it and I can push my own limits and improve is also very rewarding," Miraj shares. "The feeling that you get at the finish line is just something that I'd never felt before, and it was just so rewarding that I was like, I do want to feel more of this. So I think that motivates me to run the New York City Marathon, and especially now to connect that with the cause as well."

That understanding is one reason Beginning with Children resonated so strongly with him.

The organization's mission centers on expanding educational access and creating opportunities for students who may face barriers to success. By supporting young people and investing in their futures, Beginning with Children helps open doors that can have a lasting impact both inside and outside the classroom.

Having grown up without access to sports or structured programs, Miraj recognizes how transformative those opportunities can be when they are available. He also understands what can be lost when they are not.

"I personally do not come from a lot of money. I feel like I've gotten really lucky with the people that I've met and the resources that were given to me, and I am who I am because of those resources," he said. "So I feel like there's definitely a lot of power when it comes to getting the right resource at the right time, especially when you're young."

Educational resources, mentorship, structured programs, and supportive communities all have the potential to shape futures in powerful ways. By investing in young people, organizations like Beginning with Children help lay the foundation for long-term growth and success.

That belief aligns closely with the work Miraj is doing in Brooklyn today.

Whether by helping newcomers feel welcome in a running community or supporting initiatives that expand educational opportunity, Miraj's focus remains consistent. Making sure more people have access to the resources and encouragement they need to thrive.

As he takes on this challenge representing Brooklyn, he is doing so with a clear purpose: Every mile supports a cause he believes in and reflects a commitment to creating opportunities for others. Through his work in Crown Heights, his advocacy for educational access, and his dedication to building welcoming communities, Miraj is helping ensure that more people have the chance to discover what becomes possible when the right doors are opened.

Most importantly, Miraj has shown that it's never too late to start something new, and that a single opportunity can open the door to many others.

What started as a personal pursuit has evolved into way more than just a sport. It's a story about access, community, and the belief that opportunity can change a life. By helping create those opportunities for others, Miraj is making an impact that reaches far beyond the racecourse.