A MESSAGE FROM Sam's Running a MARATHON?!
Oh my goodness I'm running a marathon?! Well, certainly not without your help both motivational (and financial) wise!
Some of you may be wondering, if you're from my college or younger days, how this swimmer who could barely complete a 100 yd freestyle without getting absolutely gassed is going to run 26.2? But a lot has changed since my swimming days, notably I've traded 20+ hours a week in the pool to 20+ hours a week running around New York!
I am so so so lucky to be running my first marathon with The Release Foundation as its mission holds a special place in my heart. For those of you who don't know, I've severely struggled with mental illness since a rather young age, oftentimes in silence (unless you consider my "loon call" crying during practice a sign, if you know, you know). While swimming will always be my first love, it caused a lot of anxiety in my life, to a point where when I was a Freshman in college I tried to take my own life because the pressure of it all got to be too great. You can read the whole story here if you so please https://simplysamantha013.wordpress.com/2020/07/30/swimming/ . I cannot thank my friends and teammates enough who I let in during that extremely dark time who pulled me out of that place. One of Release Foundation's projects is working with college athletes to start the conversation about mental health and athletics, something I strongly believe isn't talked about enough. How many more student athletes do we have to lose before enough is enough? I oftentimes think back to how much different my life and athletic career might have been if I had access to mental health counseling when I most needed it. Thankfully I'm still here today and living in a world where the sigma of needing helping is being shrunk more and more every day and I have a kick ass therapist who has made my life a million times better. Really everyone should have access to therapy, insert Release Foundation.
The Release Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all who are ready and willing to seek professional treatment, are able. Substance Use Disorder and mental illness destroy the lives of too many people from underserved communities who may not have the resources for proven treatments. The Release Foundation offers scholarships to bridge the gap between what people can afford and what they need to transform their lives, regardless of race, gender, and/or sexual orientation.
I hope you will donate to this incredible foundation and my journey towards 26.2. No donation is too small, it all truly helps. Thank you for your consideration and time and I hope to see you out on the course in November!
