snap!

As you may or may  not remember, I made a commitment to run in the River Bank Run for Safe Haven Ministries this past spring. Along with that commitment came a gym membership. I decided on Snap Fitness because it is close to where I live and they have a reasonable rate. 

Now, I am even more proud to say I am a member at Snap! If you "like" Snap Fitness on Facebook this month, they will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish Foundation! All you have to do is find them on the old Facebook and click LIKE, and you will help grant wishes to children with life threatening conditions. 

Saving the world is SO easy. Find their Facebook page here. OR if you are interested in a gym membership click here.

Be the change. Make the difference.

safe haven thank you.

Check out what I got in the mail a few days ago! A thank you from Safe Haven Ministries for raising over $1,000 for them during my River Bank 5K Run. 

Isn't it so cute?! Thanks one last time to all who donated and made a difference in the lives of the women and children at Safe Haven! 

Be the change. Make the difference.

children's miracle network hospitals

During the month of May, a portion of all fountain or frozen beverages sold at Speedway will go to the local Children's Miracle Network Hospital! They raise funds for 170 children's hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it's needed the most.

I for one will be sure to stop in and get one....I LOVE frozen cokes. Slurpees remind me of my dad's side of the family. We always used to walk down to 7eleven and get them! 

Also, remember that a little change can make a BIG difference! See a change canister near the checkout at your local Speedway? Drop in your spare change and join Speedway in supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to help save and improve the lives of the children in your community. The money you donate goes to a hospital near you to help children in need. Those funds touch the lives of 17 million children each year.

See, saving the world isn't hard. All you have to do is drink a fountain drink from Speedway. EASY!

ALSO, just a small update....I got an email from Safe Haven Ministries this week that said there were actually more than 200 people who chose to run the River Bank Run for them. And between all of those people, we raised $28,000 which is the most they have EVER gotten from the race! It's also the amount they usually budget for a full year of children's trauma-intervention programming PLUS what they need for meals and personal care items for more than 60 families in the shelter. How amazing! Thank YOU for helping Safe Haven get there!

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

pics!

Action Sports Images!

Had some super sweet pics emailed to me this weekend :) Look at me, all being a runner and everything!

troops

There were all sorts of people dressed up at the River Bank Run. We started next to a group of mohawks and tutus, and passed crazy socks, home made t-shirts, no t-shirts, even a wedding veil. But obviously the most impressively dressed were these guys and gals:

There were several of them that ran the race WITH their gear on...aka an extra 70lbs! I suppose it's what they need to be able to do, in order to do their job....but can you imagine?

I was ready to pass out by the end...I clearly do not have what it takes to be a soldier. I have the utmost respect for people in the service for several reasons, including the fact that they can run a 5K with all their gear on. No way I could do it :)

Stay tuned...next week we move to life after the race!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

names

So, remember when I said I have a ton of people to thank for donating and supporting my race? Well, here they all are :) With all of their love combined, we raised $1,200 total for Safe Haven Ministries.

Mike & Sandy, Grandma Ruth, Tim & Susan, Tom & Diana, Dad & Susie, Aunt Maggie, Schweeman, Lynne & Jack, Uncle Jim & Aunt Linda, Grandma Lois, Jen & Don, Heather, Joel, Aunt Barb & Uncle Richie, Oxy & Eric, Uncle Mike & Aunt Marlene, Jackie & Joffrey, Ginka, Drewbert, Kellie & Mike, Linda & Ross, Dean & Amy, Tracy, Kimberly, Jessica, Sue, Uncle Philbert, Jeff, Jess & Jason and Shelley & Terry.

YOU are the ones who made this dream real and donated well over my fundraising goal. YOU will forever be remembered in my heart as some of the greatest, loving people I know. You and I have helped several women and their children at Safe Haven Ministries. YOU have made a difference and changed someone's life for the better. Thank you, thank you, thank you times a million. You are wonderful.

I saw on the news that there were between 150-200 people that chose to run for Safe Haven, and between all of us they collected over $15,000! THAT is amazing :)

Also, Jess and I made the news! Here is us in a picture from MLive...it's kind of like where's waldo!

Mlive.com

I'll be back later this week with a few more things about the race and what is next for my little blog.

Be the change. Make the difference.

the race!

Jess and I are in there somewhere!

I'm still sort of in shock that the race has actually come and gone, and that I survived it....but I did! It was a crazy experience, having my first run ever being the Fifth Third River Bank Run (which is consistently ranked as one of the premier road racing events in the country). There were THOUSANDS of people in downtown GR this morning. Somewhere around 11,685 runners in the 5K and 10K races (that was me!), plus another 6,928 runners doing the entire race, which is a half marathon. There was also about another 3,000 doing the 5K walk and Junior race. 21,713 participants in total.


I guess I thought there would be lots of distractions while running, but once we got going it was so quiet out there! Everyone was excited, but focused on getting into their own rhythm. Definitely a few hills that were pretty killer, but the route was nice. It went all through downtown and on almost every intersection corner there were people cheering you on. 

My Safe Haven shirt said "Love Shouldn't Hurt" on the front

Between all the excitement around me, and the pressure that this was it--the race I've been training for all this time--I pushed myself a little harder. Seeing the finish line was probably my favorite part because once you got close to it everyone was cheering and clapping and it was the best feeling ever.

Jess and I finished the race at 29 minutes and 8 seconds which was almost a whole minute UNDER the goal that I had set for myself. And that is the fastest I've ever run! And (drum roll please) all together I raised $1,100 which is $100 OVER the goal we had set for Safe Haven Ministries! 

Me & Jess! We did it!

I was able to meet up with a few of the people who work at Safe Haven after the race to give them a few stray donations, and they were so sweet and grateful. I need to correct my earlier statement...handing over those last donations and realizing that I did it, and did it for the women and children at Safe Haven...that was the best feeling ever.

I have about a gazillion people to thank, and more pictures to share...so stay tuned! I'm going to take a nap :) For now I need to thank my trainer/friend/boss Jess for getting me into all this and helping me along the way. And Cory for being my biggest supporter, and getting up at the crack of dawn to come watch and take pics. You're the best!

Be the change. Make the difference. 

quote of the week.

 

from Pinterest



Special news update....we hit the $1,000 mark tonight! Thank you to Uncle Phil and Sue for your donations that put us at our goal :)

Still time to donate! Click here if you still need to make a donation to Safe Haven Ministries.

Be the change. Make the difference.

surprise!

One of the greatest things happened this week, and I'm so excited to tell you about it. Someone who I don't even know made a donation to Safe Haven Ministries and supported my run!

I was shocked to get my little email saying someone had made a donation that I had no idea who they were. And I was even more happy to see they left a little note that simply said "I love your blog!"

I was shocked. And then I almost cried.

Most days, writing on a blog feels like I'm talking to a wall. I know people are out there listening (or reading, I suppose), and I hope the things on here make a difference in someone's life. But when something like this happens it just makes me know for sure I am on the right track here. Like I know for sure I am on to something much bigger than I can even imagine. 

So thank you to Jessica Kay, for making a donation and completely making my week. You rock :)

In other great news, my cousin Jeff made a donation, AND my dad and stepmom donated again! You all amaze me! I really think we will hit the $1000 mark by Saturday. We are at $928 right now!

If you still need to make your donation, don't worry--there is still time! Click here to go to my fundraising page. And than you time a million for those of you who have already made a donation (or two!). I love you!

Be the change. Make the difference.

nerves

me & my cousin Drew

My cousin Drew and I have always been pretty close, and he can usually put things into perspective to me pretty quickly. So when I was rattling on in my last email about how nervous I am getting for my race, he responded with a simple "Why are you nervous? Do you think you'll get there and forget how to run?"

Well played, bearclaw. Well played.

Although I've been getting progressively more nervous about the 5K this weekend, I am getting even more excited. As my rocket scientist cousin has pointed out, I won't get down there and forget how to move. I know I can run. I know I can run 3.2 miles without stopping. I just can't wait to see what this race day thing is all about--I've heard so much about it and have been thinking about it for so long. It's FINALLY almost game time.


Speaking of that, I need to send some love out to a few more people who have donated. You remember my BFF Kim? She works at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and is all around an amazing lady. She donated, as well as Tim & Susan (again!) AND my boss Tracy. These are people who are ALWAYS behind me, cheering me on. And I love them! Between these four amazing people, we are at $858! SO CLOSE to our goal :) 


If you still need to make your donation, click here to go to my fundraising page. 


Be the change. Make the difference.

"she tried to get away from him several times, but couldn't"

Jenny Heeren

Jenny Heeren was an intelligent twenty nine year old, who friends say cared more than anything about her daughter Kamrie. They also say that she tried to get away from her abusive husband, Rodrick Dantzler several times. It's rumored that Jenny was leaving her husband for good this time, and that is possibly what made Dantzler snap on July 7th. He took Jenny's life, as well as their twelve year old daughter Kamrie, both Jenny's parents, as well as three others. 

These are the things that you see in movies. The things that you think, that can never happen to me. That would never happen here. The events that took place on July 7th in Grand Rapids brought domestic violence to every one's attention. 

There was an unspeakable amount of damage done, but the silver lining is that more people turned to places like Safe Haven in the days following. More people realized the situation they saw on the news might not be that far from the one they were in, and they went to get help.

We may never know what went on in Rodrick Dantzler's mind that day, or what happened between him and Jenny in the days leading up to her death. But if you or someone you know thinks that their relationship is not safe or unhealthy, they need help. And luckily, they have Safe Haven to turn to, for free confidential shelter, counseling, support groups and education about domestic violence. 


If you would like to support Safe Haven, make an online donation here, and your money will go toward helping women and children who are in abusive relationships. 

Thank you to Dean & Amy, and Heather who all donated this week! We are at $703 :)

Be the change. Make the difference.   

the home stretch

My 5K race for Safe Haven Ministries is right around the corner--less than TWO WEEKS away! I can't believe it's almost go time!

So far, we have collected $668 for the women and children of Safe Haven. I've decided not to be mad at myself if we don't reach the $1,000 mark, which was my original goal. Six hundred dollars is a lot of money to give to a non-profit...and if I hadn't somehow gotten roped into running and bugged all of you enough, Safe Haven would not get that money. And they can do a lot with $668 :)

You and I have given SIX days to one family in the shelter at Safe Haven. OR counseling services to two different women who are struggling in an abusive relationship. OR provided eight different women with safety planning and crisis-intervention services. 

These are great numbers. This has made a difference. And we aren't even done yet.

I learned a long time ago that I can't save the whole world. I can't fix all of the problems and I can't solve every person's issues. But I can help fix a few of them. Without YOU, I couldn't have made it this far.

A special shout out to good family friends Linda and Ross for your donation! Thank you both for your constant support :)

If you still need to make your donation click here to make an online donation OR send a check straight to Safe Haven at: 3501 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE Suite 335 -Grand Rapids, MI 49546  with my name in the memo line.


Be the change. Make the difference.

running for jenny

As race day approaches I am getting more and more excited. It seems like FOREVER ago I agreed to take on running, raise money for Safe Haven Ministries and change my life forever while doing so. And now here we are, just a few short weeks away!

I just got an email from the Development Director of Safe Haven, Susan. She told me about "Running for Jenny," which is a team that is in honor of Frank, Becky, Kamrie and Jenny Heeren, whose lives were taken on July 7th by Jenny's husband, Rodrick Dantzler. After Dantzler terrorized the city of Grand Rapids, killing seven people total, the Heeren family choose Safe Haven as a recipient of memorial donations.

Jenny and her family will now forever be remembered by the people at Safe Haven. She stands as symbol of so many victims of abuse who have lived with violence and fear for too long.

If you would like to make a donation to Safe Haven in honor of Jenny and her family, click here to go to my fundraising page. 

Be the change. Make the difference.

free seminar.

 

Three weeks left until the big day! I'm starting to get more and more excited about running the 5K for Safe Haven Ministries. Since the race day is coming though, that means I am running out of time to raise money and tell you all about Safe Haven. 

 

 

Here is something great I just found on their site. They offer free seminars for anyone who is interested in learning more about domestic abuse, and there is one coming up. It will be on May 15th starting at 6pm.  

 

During this three hour session, you will learn:

• about the dynamics and effects of domestic abuse.
• how to identify signs of domestic abuse.
• how best to respond to domestic abuse.

Recommended for anyone who:

• wants to learn more about the epidemic of abuse.
• works with families at risk for domestic abuse.
• works or volunteers with victims of domestic abuse.

If you are interested in going, click here to sign up. Or if you would like to make a donation to support the women and children of Safe Haven click here to go to my fundraising page.

Be the change. Make the difference.

love the way you lie

Rihanna and Eminem got together and created a song called "Love the Way You Lie," and it's by far one of my favorites. It tells the story of an abusive relationship and how toxic and hard to leave it can be. The lyrics are so descriptive of the constant battle between the two in the relationship and the whether or not they should stay together or leave. 

I'm happy that almost twenty years after the song Independence Day was released and banned from most radio stations for its content...other songs like this one have emerged to tell the story. 

The video for the song is so intense, I debated putting it on the blog. But if I don't have the courage to write about it, and pass it on...aren't I just part of the problem? Turning my head and maneuvering around the seriousness of the issue doesn't help. Not talking/singing/writing about major issues don't make them go away--making people aware of them is when change happens.

For a version of "Love The Way You Lie Part II", check out the awesome job that Colton Dixon on American Idol did last week: 

If you would like to help women and children running from abusive relationships in Grand Rapids, click here to make a donation on my fundraising page. A special shout out to my cousin Kellie and her husband Mike for making a donation this week--we are up to $618! 

Be the change. Make the difference.

the final countdown

Time is just flying by and with a little less than a month to go until the River Bank Run--here's what's going on.

I have been running the full 5K the last few times I have gone for my runs, and for the most part it's going well. I still struggle toward the end, but usually if I focus on why I started running in the first place I can get through it. I think of the women and children at Safe Haven who are running from someone they love who is abusing them. And how the money we've collected won't solve all of their problems, but will do a ton to help them start a new life. I think of them and suddenly my 31 minute run seems like a lot smaller of a problem. 

Thanks to my rocket scientist cousin, Drew, and my Aunt Maggie (who has not donated once, but TWICE now) we have raised $608 for Safe Haven Ministries! We are getting closer and closer to the $1,000 goal but we are running out of time! If you haven't made your donation yet and would like to click here to go to my fundraising page. OR you can mail a check to: 3501 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE Suite 335 - Grand Rapids, MI 49546 with my name in the memo line. Thanks Drewbert and Maggie for your support--you guys rock :)


Be the change. Make the difference.

donation breakdown.

I have a wonderful announcement to make! We are past the $500 mark in raising money for Safe Haven! Another one of those amazing people in my life who are constantly supporting me and the causes I blog about came though. Her name is Ginny, but I call her mom :) Thanks Mom for your donation and constant encouragement--it means SO much to me.

I posted this list a while back, but I want to post it again. I think it is important for people to understand where their donated money is going specifically, so here is a small rundown for what your donation to Safe Haven Ministries can do.
 
$10 provides bus tickets for a client. 
$50 provides basic necessities for one family in the shelter. 
$75 provides one woman with safety planning and crisis-intervention services.
$100 makes one day possible in the shelter for one family.
$250 funds comprehensive services (counseling, advocacy) for one woman in the shelter.

So, theoretically, with our $532, we have already raised money for fifty three bus tickets for the people at Safe Haven. OR provided seven women with safety planning and crisis-intervention services. OR made five days possible in the shelter for one family.

Anyway you look at it, it's good stuff :)

If you haven't made your donation yet to Safe Haven, click here to go to my fundraising page! Only a month left until the big race! 

Be the change. Make the difference. 

running and running. and more running.

Since my wisdom teeth surgery, I have been slowly working back into longer and longer distances. It seemed easier when it was 80 degrees outside and there were things to keep me occupied, like looking at everything blooming, seeing all the other people out and about or figuring out which route I wanted to take. But getting back on the treadmill (the weather decided to flip back to 30 degrees, in case you didn't notice) has been pretty annoying. I've worked my way back up to two and a half miles, and hope to head on to the full 5K this week. 

I've also began cross training, and taking time to improve muscle strength too. I'm hoping this helps my stamina in the long run, and helps my body get stronger.

There is still a ways to go both in training and raising money for Safe Haven Ministries, but I think that's okay. My goal has been to run the 5k race and raise money for Safe Haven, and I had set specific goals for each. I want to finish in less than 30 minutes for the race, and I want to raise $1,000 in donations. I was focused on the numbers for a long time, but I'm focusing more now on just the change I have made.

I have turned the way I take care of myself around. Before, I would get winded just walking up the flight of stairs to my apartment. Now, I can run two and a half miles straight, without stopping for a break. I've lost a little weight and created a healthy lifestyle for myself that I am positive I won't go back on after this race. 

And even if I don't hit the $1,000 mark for donations, we have still collected $432 for Safe Haven so far, with still a month to go! Almost $500 is A LOT of money that can go a long way in helping women and children running from abusive relationships. So, even if I don't hit the exact numbers, I'm a happy girl for the changes that have been made.

Oh, and remember those wonderful people I spoke about in my last post? The ones who I don't have to ask twice to give, and are constantly supporting me? Here are another three: my wonderful sister, Jackie who really is the one who inspired me to run in the first place. And my Uncle Mike and Aunt Marlene from Orlando, who from thousands of miles away still support and encourage me. Thanks to all three of you for your donations! 

Click here to donate to Safe Haven Ministries! Your money will help women and their children get the help they need to leave an abusive relationship.

Be the change. Make the difference.  

independence day.

I was six years old when the up and coming country music artist Martina McBride released the song Independence Day. She had a power house voice and I wanted to sing like her, so I memorized every word. It wasn't until years later that I really listened to the words of the song and understood the story behind it.

The song tells the story of a woman in an abusive relationship who burns her house down, killing herself and her husband, leaving their eight year old daughter an orphan. Although Martina had release two singles previously that shot to the top of the charts, this third single never reached the top ten as many radio stations refused to play the song. They claimed they didn't agree with the content of a women fighting back against abuse by burning the home down.

There's a line at the end of the song that says, "Now I ain't sayin' it's right or it's wrong, but maybe it's the only way," and it just makes my heart hurt to hear. Every time I hear it. It's not the only way, you can get help. 

Go to Safe Haven Ministries if you or someone you know needs help leaving an abusive situation. Or if you would like to make a donation to help the women and children of Safe Haven, click here to make a donation.

Be the change. Make the difference.

myths and facts

I found these on the YWCA West Central Michigan website, who is the other large organization in Grand Rapids helping women and children in abusive situations. These myths and facts break down a lot of stereotypes about domestic violence, and have a lot of shocking statistics. 

MYTH: Domestic Violence is not a big problem.

FACT: Nearly 25% of surveyed women and 7.6% of surveyed men said that they were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime. According to these estimates approximately 1.5 million women are raped and/or physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually.

MYTH: Domestic Violence is usually a one-time event, an isolated incident.

FACT: Battering is a pattern, a reign of force and terror. Once violence begins in a relationship, it gets worse and more frequent over a period of time. Battering is not just one physical attack. It is a number of tactics (intimidation, threats, economic deprivation, psychological and sexual abuse) used repeatedly. Physical violence is one of those tactics.

MYTH: Domestic Violence is a "lower class" phenomenon

FACT: Even though many people would like to believe this, the truth is people who abuse come from every race, religion, and socio-economic background. There are reports of attacks by partners who are doctors, clergymen, lawyers, police officers, judges, therapists, administrators, teachers - the list goes on.

MYTH: Alcohol and/or drugs cause the abuse.

FACT: Assailants use drinking/drugging as one of many excuses for violence, and as a way of putting responsibility for their violence elsewhere. There is a 50% or higher correlation between substance abuse and domestic violence but no causal relationship – therefore, stopping the assailant's drinking/drugging will not end the violence. It is not the cause of the violence; both problems need to be addressed.

MYTH: Stress causes domestic violence

FACT: Many people who are under extreme stress do not assault their partners. Assailants who are stressed at work do not attack their co-workers or bosses. They choose to assault individuals when they believe there will be no repercussions.

MYTH: The problem is not really the abuse of women. It is spousal abuse. Women are just as violent as men

FACT: According to the U.S. Department of Justice, women experience more chronic and injurious physical assault at the hands of intimate partners than do men. Women who were physically assaulted by an intimate partner averaged 6.9 physical assaults by the same partner, but men averaged 4.4 assaults. The survey also found that 41.5% of the women who were physically assaulted by an intimate partner were injured during the most recent physical assault compared with 19.9% of men 

If you would like to help the women and children of GR in abusive relationships, click here to make an online donation to Safe Haven Ministries.

Be the change. Make the difference.