Why I'm running the Disney 1/2 Marathon

While I wanted to run the Disney Dumbo Double Dare, I'll have to settle for the 1/2 marathon this year because it sold out before I could register for it.. but I wanted to take a few moments to tell you why I registered because

This isn't just some race for me... 

As many of you may know, I should have been put into foster care when I was growing up. If you have been following the blog for some time, you know my story.

If your new, you can check out the "About Me" tab at the top for all the details, but the truth of the matter is that my father was both mentally and physically abusive. My father's addiction and dependency on alcohol and other substances made living in my home unbearable because his rage filled every day... we walked on egg shells, never knowing when he would snap. 

I grew up living a life surrounded by fear.

I remember one night sitting on my bed, wishing someone would come and take me away from this nightmare. I had already watched my father throw a plate at my mom's head in a drunken rage because dinner was cold. As I went to my room to hide from the madness, I saw him shove her up against the wall and choke her as she cried and apologized. As I sat back and heard the yelling and death threats continue, I knew I was going to have to slip out and escape through the window in my bedroom and go down to the store with my sister to use the pay phone to call 911... again. 

...

I remember multiple times where I sat in the back of a police car... not because I did anything wrong, but because I had to run down to the store to use that payphone... and no child should have to do that. 

Through it all I somehow survived my childhood... but only a small percentage of kids like me do. 

In college I found The Child Share Program, Inc., a non-profit group that finds homes for kids like me. Kids that need love and stability... a place to learn who they are and above all, a place to feel love and safety. 

For over 28 years, Child S.H.A.R.E. has found safe and loving homes for over 3,100 abused and abandoned children in California. Working through a diverse network of over 450 faith communities and volunteers, Child S.H.A.R.E. recruits foster and adoptive parents and provides support services in 3 languages (English, Spanish and American Sign Language).

Child S.H.A.R.E. finds safe, stable and loving homes offering long term solutions for children in foster care. Impressively, two out of three children placed in a Child S.H.A.R.E. home stay with the same family until they are reunited with relatives or adopted and over 500 children have been adopted by Child S.H.A.R.E.families which is almost TRIPLE the national adoption rate.

and I'm going to Run the Disney Half Marathon in August on their behalf. 

On average it takes $2,500 to recruit and help place a child in a home (a fraction of what it takes the government to do the same thing)... They train and offer support services to families and provide the best solution to the problem that I have ever found. 

I'll put in the training, I'll run the miles, but I can't do this without you. Together we can change a life. Please consider making a donation online on my fundraising page and sharing this message with those you know.

Our "giving" for this month...

If you have been following the blog, you know that my church isn't taking offering/tithing this month...

For those of you who don't know... Last year I did what I believed was the impossible. I walked 26.2 miles to find homes for children abused and abandoned in the foster and adoption system right here in Orange County, LA County, and Riverside County... and lived to tell the tale...

And I did it again on March 20th... in 7hrs, 23 mins, 28 seconds.... in a torential rain storm... and I raised $1,354.28!

Yes, I was one of the few crazy people who participated in the LA Marathon on behalf of Child S.H.A.R.E, a nonprofit agency that helps solve the solution for every beat up, bruised, and abandon child.

To date, Child S.H.A.R.E. has provided stability to over 2,700 children, has recruited over 900 families to open their homes and their hearts, and has crushed the national adoption rate by providing families that are adopting children at double the rate of the state system... at a fraction of the cost. In fact, Child S.H.A.R.E. families are consistently honored, featured, and recognized throughout the country as models of healthy foster parenting.

Child S.H.A.R.E. exists to offer hope and wholeness and to work toward healing, empowerment and justice for foster children by equipping families, individuals, volunteers and faith communities to provide and support foster and adoptive homes.

This month, Child S.H.A.R.E. got to participate in the Pasadena Marathon and bike tour (no i didn't run it!) but since my church isn't collecting offering this month, my fiance and I decided that we would sponsor someone. We originally wanted to sponsor 2 people for $1 a mile, but no one registered for the daunting 26.2 mile marathon... and of the 2 people signed up for the half marathon, only one finished... again in the rain.

So we chose to sponsor Sara Jean. (& you can too by visiting her firstgiving page)

She finished the entire 13.1 miles to find safe and loving homes for kids who desperately need them. If you have read the "about me page" then you know why this hits near and dear to my heart... I should have been pulled out and put into foster care... but I fell through the cracks.