Runner Gets Homeless on Right Track
- added April 3, 2008
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- mconway1
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- Philadelphia (100)
- Running (60)
- Homelessness (57)
- Homeless Shelters (5)
"At 5 a.m. on any given day, Anne Mahlum could be found running the dark streets of Philadelphia -- with homeless men cheering her on as she passed their shelter. But one morning last spring, she stopped in her tracks."
Rather than continuing to run by day after day, she contacted the shelter, got donations for running gear and back in July of '07, the "Back On My Feet" club hit the streets.
The club involves more than 54 homeless members and 250 volunteers from 3 Philadelphia homeless shelters. The group has logged over 5,000 miles.
In order for a homeless shelter member to participate in the club, they must be clear and sober for 30 days. Mahlum says, "All you can tell is who's the fastest...You can't tell who's homeless and who's not."
In addition to quitting smoking and losing weight, the Back On My Feet club is helping members take classes, learn computer and interview skills and has helped members find jobs.
Rather than continuing to run by day after day, she contacted the shelter, got donations for running gear and back in July of '07, the "Back On My Feet" club hit the streets.
The club involves more than 54 homeless members and 250 volunteers from 3 Philadelphia homeless shelters. The group has logged over 5,000 miles.
In order for a homeless shelter member to participate in the club, they must be clear and sober for 30 days. Mahlum says, "All you can tell is who's the fastest...You can't tell who's homeless and who's not."
In addition to quitting smoking and losing weight, the Back On My Feet club is helping members take classes, learn computer and interview skills and has helped members find jobs.
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