BCS coffee shop owner using Boston Marathon to spread awareness on climate change

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) — Tavo Coffee Co. owner Gustavo Román Jr. is lacing up his running shoes for a good cause.

Outside of operating his coffee shop, Román runs marathons and has qualified to take part in the Boston Marathon for the second year in a row.

What is different this year is that he was one of only 100 runners asked to be apart of the first ever Boston Athletic Association climate crew.

“I’m very honored to be part of this. I didn’t even think I was gonna get selected,” says Román.

He says sustainability is very important to him and his family.

As a fifth-generation coffee shop owner, he gets all of his coffee beans from his parents coffee farm in Guatemala.

We really try to help with sustainability efforts at the farm doing nutrition programs for the kids of the farmers who work there. We can see how climate change has affected even just production at the farm. We have less coffee year after year due to disease or just harsher conditions happening,” says Román.

The Boston Athletic Association supports initiatives that promote health, fitness, and environmental responsibility.

As a part of the climate crew, Román and the other members will be raising money to use electric buses to travel around Boston for the race, and purchasing clothes to donate a goal of 600 tons of clothing to organizations in the area.

Click here to make a donation and support his journey.

The last day to donate is on Thursday.

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