When I started Still I Run on October 10, 2016, World Mental Health Day, I had no idea what it could become. Really, I just wanted to find people near Grand Rapids, Michigan, who ran for the same reason I did... for their mental health.

Running had become an important part of my life after I was hospitalized for depression and anxiety in 2011. Alongside therapy and medication, it gave me a way to move forward, even when moving forward felt hard. I wanted to find people who understood that feeling.

What I discovered was a need that stretched far beyond my own community. People across the country were looking for connection, encouragement, and a place where they could talk openly about their mental health. Still I Run became a way for us to find each other.

Today, the organization that began with that simple hope helps people take their first steps into running, find community, and feel less alone. As the founder, I get to see what your support makes possible.... someone receiving their first pair of running shoes, crossing a finish line they never imagined reaching, or showing up to a group run and realizing they belong.

Now, I’m taking that mission with me to the 2027 Saturday London Marathon.

Leading Still I Run also means leading by example. Every year, we ask our community to take on challenges, share their stories, and raise funds so others can experience this support. I want to show up and do that work right alongside them. By training, speaking openly about my own mental health, and asking for your support, I’m putting the mission I believe in into action.

For me, these 26.2 miles carry so much! It carries my own journey, the people who helped me over the years, and everyone who is still trying to find their own way. I know how much courage it can take to ask for help, to show up, or to try something new when you’re struggling.

By donating to my fundraiser, you’ll help Still I Run make running and its mental health benefits more accessible through supportive programs and free, welcoming running communities.

I started Still I Run hoping to find a few people who understood. With your donation, you can help us reach the next person who needs that connection.