Hi Friends! 

I am running in the Baltimore Running Festival on behalf of Team H.U.M. I will be running the half marathon in an effort to raise funds for the Helping Up Mission. While my intention was to run the full originally- I have not trained through the summer. Although the 13 mile half is not physically daunting- I am not running it to break time or distance records- I just want to raise money for H.U.M. Also- I love running and I love Baltimore!

As some of you know my story- I celebrated 15 years clean this year. My sobriety date is 2/24/06. At the end of my using- I had burned every bridge. I had nothing. I was nothing. My life was a nightmare and the only reason I am alive today is that I am fortunate to have been given one last chance and place to stay and the tools to learn how to live. I was gifted with grace and unconditional love. 

H.U.M is so dear to my heart and I will always jump on the chance to volunteer and raise money for them. The Mission is the last stop and the last chance for many. While some of you might pass a homeless person on the street and think of them as a junkie, or scum- they're more. That is someones child, and Brother, someones Mother. If you believe that anyone wants to live like that- you're wrong. That is a human being- trapped. There is still a chance for redemption. A homeless perseons life is still valuable. An addicts life is still worth saving.  As my life was worth saving- so is theirs. The Helping Up Mission saves lives. I have seen them save and change and transform people.

The H.U.M has just built a new facility for Women and children! They are doing the hard work on the ground floor. If you watch the news or live in the City and feel overcome by despair- or feel as if it is all a tragedy- donating your time or money to this organization is a way that you can help.

Thank you for reading and for your support.