My Story- 

Running – this is kind of “my thing” – Well this is far more than just a hobby or another “fundraiser” I want to casually do. This has been my literal lifeline and survival for years. I didn’t start running until my mid-twenties when I started experiencing secondary traumatic stress from my job working in child protection and residential care after seeing day in and day out, violence, abuse, trauma, police intervention, hospital level care and the many other facets and realities of the kind of work I was in. Coupled with managing the ending of a relationship with my own mother and toxic romantic relationships; I would put on my sneakers and just go out for a run. This instantly became a relief I needed mentally and a place I could let my mind process and digest everything that was weighing it down. My coping skill turned into a physical interest that increased with regularity and duration and before I knew it, I had turned 5 miles into 10 miles, into a half marathon and finished my first full marathon by the time I was 28. This ignited a hobby and interest that became a full-blown lifestyle, sometimes logging on average 40 miles a week, and then I ran 10 more marathons in 3 years just because “ I could” as I attempted to run one in every state of the country. When my world was stabilizing and settling down, I was disappointed when I learned I had scoliosis and sustaining my marathon running lifestyle would likely cause longer term damage than benefit, so I took a moment of pause to joyfully participate in a new marriage and my first incoming baby. I ran 3-5 miles casually throughout my pregnancy and put long distance running on the backburner. After my kids were born, running was the instant “go to” I wanted and needed to help me both lose the baby weight and re find a place of calm in my brain when I was overwhelmed with responsibility and life’s new demands. I was grateful for 5 years to let my babies borrow my body through pregnancy and nursing, and I was happy to “slow down” in the ways that were necessary and supportive of their needs first. And then after getting through the thick of it, I reclaimed my own body and life and decided I wasn’t ready to give up on my dreams or goals. I re positioned myself to returning to running half marathons and got back to getting more states done. But in whatever season life has brought, running has been the way as a mom I keep my mind and body healthy. It calms my thoughts, resets my mood, and refocuses my priorities day in and day out. Just because this is “my thing” I know it’s not everyone else’s thing; but every mom and caregiver needs ways they re-balance themselves, find moments of release and ways that keep them physically and mentally healthy. So, my dream is here- I have created my first race through Millennium Running to promote just this – miles4moms – an intentional family friendly 5k walk/run to bring my passion to a place where we can fundraise to continue supporting moms and families with what they need through our mission’s work. I would be so grateful and honored if you would join me for my inaugural race in any capacity as I cannot wait to take my family across the finish line together for the first time in my life and to support a fundraiser, I am so excited to create for the community!

Our organization began in 1994 when the United Way came to Salem community leaders with their "Success By 6" initiative organized by Cindy Jury. The collaborative efforts of parents, educators, elected officials, business leaders, and nonprofit partners resulted in the development of programs and services designed to meet the needs of families with young children. The mission of Salem Family Resources is to promote the education, health and well being of Salem area children, particularly those whose families are lower income and at risk, by addressing the needs of the family as a whole.