Twenty‑four‑year‑old Andrew Martins, a New Jersey native who moved to West Palm Beach in 2025, is turning a life‑saving miracle into a community‑wide fundraiser. Following a celebratory gunshot that struck him in the head on New Year’s Eve 2026, Martins emerged with only five staples and no surgery required. He now feels “alive, blessed and well,” and wants to give back to the city that welcomed him.
From a near‑fatal wound to a 100‑plus‑mile challenge
Martins recounts the moment after the clock struck midnight at a North Palm Beach restaurant. “I was in a moment of solitude, just existing, when I felt a quick, hot flash pour down on me,” he said. He heard the gunshot, touched the back of his head, and discovered a bullet hole in his hat and blood on his scalp. First responders identified the wound as likely celebratory gunfire, though they could not confirm the source.
Rushed to a local hospital, Martins required only five staples and avoided surgery. He believes his positioning at the time of impact – head turned away from the bullet’s trajectory – was “divine” and saved his life.
Running for Urban Youth Impact
Martins’ next mission is a grueling ultra‑run of more than 100 miles around Lake Okeechobee, scheduled for next month. The effort aims to raise money for Urban Youth Impact, a nonprofit private school in West Palm Beach that provides free education, counseling, and after‑school care to inner‑city youth. Martins grew up on the same street as the school and says the incident felt like “the ultimate foreshadowing.”
He estimates the run will take between 28 and 35 hours, but he and his friends plan to take it at a steady pace rather than rush to the finish. “I wanted to be a vehicle for something greater than myself,” Martins explained. The fundraiser will support the school’s programs that benefit families by offering no‑cost services, reinforcing the community’s commitment to strong families and faith‑based values.
How to support the cause
Donations can be made through the Urban Youth Impact website or the Perimeter Project’s site. Community members are encouraged to follow Martins’ progress on social media and consider contributing to a cause that directly uplifts local children.
Why this matters to West Palm Beach
The run highlights the power of personal testimony and community service. By turning a traumatic experience into a charitable endeavor, Martins embodies the resilience and generosity that many West Palm Beach residents cherish. The event also brings attention to the vital role of nonprofit education providers in nurturing the next generation.
As Martins prepares for his ultra‑marathon, he hopes his story will inspire others to recognize the blessings in their own lives and to act as lights in their neighborhoods.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
