The St. Leonard’s Back on My Feet team started August on the right foot! We welcomed two new team members, Jerry and Rafael! Both were very eager to start running and it has been fun watching them build their mileage, slowly but surely! Another exciting change to the team was that Anne stepped up to fill the Team Organizer role on the Core team! Thanks, Anne!
On Saturday, August 6th, the St. Leonard’s team met the other three Back on My Feet Chicago teams at Montrose Harbor for the Champion’s Run. Members were able to choose between two distances-the 5k or the 10k. Jorge, Issac, Javier, and Wade all completed the 5k and Osie, Donald, and Mingo took on the 10k distance! We had many personal records set at this race and many firsts- Donald and Wade ran their first races ever and Osie ran his first 10k! Howard, George, and Odis, along with new members Jerry and Rafael, all came to support their teammates and volunteered at the event.
Jerry attended Accenture Skills to Succeed this month. They helped him with his resume, held a mock interview, and gave him advice and tips on interviewing. Frank, Akbar, and Donald began taking classes through Inspiration Corporation. Donald is also taking classes to obtain his high school diploma. We are so proud of these members and others that are taking steps forward in their lives!
On the running front, many of our team members are tackling longer-distance runs! Jorge showed some ambition and ran a 5-miler all on his own! Donald, while only a member since July, has been quickly upping his mileage-already nearing the 100-mile mark! He’s already talking about training for a half marathon! And last, but not least, our marathoners, Javier, Issac, and Mingo, have been diligently training for the Chicago Marathon! So far, they’ve already put in an 18-miler! We can’t wait to watch them complete 26.2 miles on October 9th!
On August 17th, the St. Leonard’s team joined the rest of Back on My Feet Chicago at US Cellular Field, where we cheered on the White Sox as they played the Cleveland Indians! …Well, most cheered for the Sox, anyways! Odis, Jorge, Akbar, George, Rafael, and Javier, accompanied by several non-residential members, all attended. Javier was chosen to participate in the Chevy in-game entertainment and we all got to watch him dance on the jumbotron! He got some great prizes out of it too! The Sox may have lost, but we all had a great time!
Javier spoke at Back on My Feet’s Orientation 2.0 event, a forum for our volunteers to learn about addiction and recovery. We all knew Javier would give a powerful and very real speech, but exceeded all of our expectations! The team, and all of Back on My Feet Chicago, is so proud of Javier for having the courage to speak to all of us about his personal battle. He has accomplished so much and we are so proud of him!
At the end of August, Issac, Jorge, and Javier will be inducted into the Back on My Feet Chicago Alumni Program! Congrats to the three of them for all of their accomplishments!
Residential Member of the Month: Howard P.
While Howard has only been a Back on My Feet member for two short months, he has already contributed so much to the team. He looks out for his fellow team members and is always willing to stick back and walk with those that don’t feel up to running that day. Though Howard has been battling a shin injury ever since he joined the team, he continues to push through the pain. As he would tell you:
“Back on My Feet has a good program. I don’t even like missing days. One day I overslept and was mad at myself. It’s like with my leg injury; it keeps hurting, but I keep running. One day my leg gave out and I was in pain but I knew I could fight it. My team members are all good support. Issac, the team captain, is a good motivator. He’s the one keeping me running!”
Non-Residential Member of the Month: Anne W.
Anne came to her first Back on My Feet run in May and hasn’t slowed down since! Making almost every weekday run, race, and Back on My Feet event, Anne is a stronghold on the team. The amount of energy and enthusiasm she shows is incredible; her teammates wonder how she manages to do it all! Last month, Anne took on the Team Organizer role. The St. Leonard’s team truly appreciates all she has done for them, and the feeling is mutual. As Anne would tell you:
“There is no better way for me to start my morning than with a run with Back on My Feet! Though I have only been a part of it for a few months, I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without my St. Leonard’s teammates. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a special organization. It is so exciting to see my teammates who have never been runners before meet and exceed their goals in running and in life! I know I have been changed since joining Back on My Feet and am so grateful for the opportunity.”
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