Today a friend and I participated in the Keystone Color Run: 5K Family Fun Run to Raise H.O.P.E for Teen Suicide. The proceeds from the entry fees went to benefit the Kristen Brooks Hope Center which is dedicated to providing support for youth and veterans experiencing risk factors for suicide. This was a cause that hits close to home for me. After the loss of my daughter I attempted suicide, I just did not want to live anymore without my baby. Thankfully, I failed. (Obviously, since I am typing this) But a few years later after another traumatic event took place, I decided to try again. This time a friend stepped in. He saved my life by letting the school counselors know that something was not right. I will spare you all the gory details. But the short of it is that I got help. I still suffer from periods of depression, but I have chosen life again and again. Why? Because with life, there is hope. I came out on the other side of the darkest times of my life and now here I am, twenty-five years old and happily married to the love of my life. Is my life perfect rainbows and unicorns? Heck no! But I am happy and grateful to be alive. I wish that there was a way for me to step into the lives of every teen who is considering taking their own lives and tell them I've been there, came out the other side, and I know for a fact that it gets better....
You're probably wondering how I managed a 5K with the back issues; well, I and my friend (with her ten month old in the stroller) walked the whole way. We tried to jog through most of the Color Stations, but for the most part we walked the route at a brisk pace. We weren't alone, plenty of other folks were doing the same thing. There were some serious runners there of course, but it was mostly just a fun event for families. My favorite Color Station was Yellow. Not because I am a lover of all things yellow, but because of one of the volunteers who were in charge of hitting us with the colored powder. He was so enthusiastic and shouted "who wants some YELLOW!" at us as we came up. He informed me that my shirt was too white....then fixed the problem. We got thoroughly covered by the Purple Station, and at the second Yellow Station I got hit in the face. That powder does not taste very good at all, yuck! The last Color Station was Blue, and as I jogged (sidewise, grapevine style) on through I shouted "Smurfify me!!" and the teen volunteers gleefully complied with my demand. At the end of it all there was a a table covered in bottled waters and a sound system blaring out Micheal Jackson's Thriller.
After some celebratory dancing, laughing, picture taking, followed by a cold bottle of Powerade and a tasty bagel, we headed home for a much needed shower. I think I still have some Blue on the back of my neck, a spot of Pink over my right breast, and Purple on my butt (don't ask, I don't know either) all in all, an awesome and colorful day ^_^
Below are a few of the before and after highlights of the event. The lovely lady you see with me is my good friend Hope along with her handsome little man.
You're probably wondering how I managed a 5K with the back issues; well, I and my friend (with her ten month old in the stroller) walked the whole way. We tried to jog through most of the Color Stations, but for the most part we walked the route at a brisk pace. We weren't alone, plenty of other folks were doing the same thing. There were some serious runners there of course, but it was mostly just a fun event for families. My favorite Color Station was Yellow. Not because I am a lover of all things yellow, but because of one of the volunteers who were in charge of hitting us with the colored powder. He was so enthusiastic and shouted "who wants some YELLOW!" at us as we came up. He informed me that my shirt was too white....then fixed the problem. We got thoroughly covered by the Purple Station, and at the second Yellow Station I got hit in the face. That powder does not taste very good at all, yuck! The last Color Station was Blue, and as I jogged (sidewise, grapevine style) on through I shouted "Smurfify me!!" and the teen volunteers gleefully complied with my demand. At the end of it all there was a a table covered in bottled waters and a sound system blaring out Micheal Jackson's Thriller.
After some celebratory dancing, laughing, picture taking, followed by a cold bottle of Powerade and a tasty bagel, we headed home for a much needed shower. I think I still have some Blue on the back of my neck, a spot of Pink over my right breast, and Purple on my butt (don't ask, I don't know either) all in all, an awesome and colorful day ^_^
Below are a few of the before and after highlights of the event. The lovely lady you see with me is my good friend Hope along with her handsome little man.