For 24 straight hours at the legendary Homestead-Miami Speedway, skaters circle the track in the only ultra skating event of its kind in the United States — the Miami Ultraskate. No breaks. No shortcuts. Just grit, wheels, and a ticking clock.

And this year, our board member Matt Smedley is back at it.

On February 23, 2026, Matt will Stand Up Paddle Skate with his team, SUPSkate, to raise critical funds for ECHO Systems — powering the shift away from single-use plastics and toward a circular, reuse-based future.

Last year, Matt skated 127 miles.
This year, he had his sights set on 200 miles.

But life had other plans. After gallbladder surgery last week, he’ll be skating smart and seeing how his body responds. The new goal? 100 miles of pure determination. Still bold. Still brave. Still very Matt.

And here’s why it matters.

The U.S. generates roughly 40 million tons of plastic waste each year, and only 5–9% of it is actually recycled. Microplastics are now found in about 90% of global drinking water — bottled and tap. This isn’t just a waste problem. It’s a public health crisis.

ECHO Systems is a small but mighty nonprofit working in the Philadelphia region to reduce reliance on single-use plastics across food service, events, hospitality, and schools. Our team has already prevented tens of thousands of pounds of plastic from entering the waste stream by helping businesses and institutions switch to durable, reusable systems.

But we’re not stopping there.

In the coming year, ECHO will host six consecutive community workshops, bringing together restaurants, government agencies, Community Development Corporations, Business Improvement Districts, and Chambers of Commerce to accelerate real systems change — especially in communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and disinvestment. Environmental justice isn’t a side note in our work. It’s central.

Matt isn’t just skating for miles.
He’s skating for momentum.
For policy change.
For public health.
For a future where reuse is the norm — not the exception.

As a board member, this is one way he shows up for the organization he believes in.

Now we’re asking you to show up with him.

Whether you sponsor a mile, five miles, or cheer him through every lap, your contribution directly fuels practical, community-rooted solutions that cut waste at the source.

If a 24-hour skate sounds intense — that’s because it is.
But transforming a broken system? That takes endurance too.

Thank you in advance for sponsoring Matt’s 2026 Ultra Skate and investing in a cleaner, healthier, more just future.