When Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake I decided I had to do something in hopes of making a difference in the lives of those affected by the tragedy. Being friends with the national director of  Team World Vision I knew that any money raised on their behalf would be used wisely to help the people of Haiti, so I decided to run the OC Marathon.  To be honest, a couple things crossed my mind at the time of making this decision.  One was, I’m about to ask people to donate $2500 to an organization other than Give Your Sole knowing that we really need the funds to continue our work too.  Second, I knew without a doubt, the people of Haiti still needed it more than we did. Lives were at stake. Children were left homeless, motherless and fatherless. Our $2500 could wait. So, I began to train and ask for money.  The following is what took place Sunday, May 2nd as I ran the OC Marathon.

Go Team World Vision

I awoke to my trusty blackberry alarm at 5:30 am to put on my race gear I had laid out the night before.  The race began in one hour from the time I rolled out of bed; no sweat. I started the day like every other day when I head out for a run.  Every runner knows, you never change the routine if you have any plans on finishing.  Pasta the night before, and nothing crazy in the morning. So far, so good.  Meanwhile, while I was getting ready, friends of mine were getting the Give Your Sole booth set up for finish line shoe collections as runners finished the 5k, half marathon and full marathon.

My family and I decided to stay the night before at a nearby hotel only to avoid the race day morning traffic and street closures. (Totally worth it, by the way!) I walked out my hotel door at 6am with a half hour to spare. Eating my banana and Clif Bar I walked to the start line with 13,000 other eager participants.  All I could think about was how great it would be if all these runners knew about Give Your Sole and our goal of making sure every homeless person in this country had shoes on their feet.

Potential Donors

As I began to stretch I worked my way towards the start line to where the announcer was, in hopes of having him share a plug about Give Your Sole and our cause.  I’d met Rudy, the announcer, at the expo a couple days prior to race day and he was very kind and supportive of our cause.  As I progressed closer to the starting line, Rudy, all of a sudden mentioned to all the participants about Give Your Sole. Wow! I couldn’t have been more grateful! Minutes later the horn sounded and we were off.  Some of us focused on the half marathon, others, the full.

As I began my run everything felt fine.  Then. As I approached mile 12. Blisters! On the bottom of each arch. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” I’ve never gotten blisters but today was a different story. This point of the race is where decisions are made. Do I go for the half marathon and finish with grace or continue on with the full marathon as promised to my donors?

Decision Time

I chose the latter. After all, I made a promise, a promise to the people of Haiti that I would run for them.  Not much after the decision was made the blisters got worse.  What came next was unexpected. Cramps. Both quads cramped at about mile 15. As if that wasn’t enough, my groin and calves cramped soon thereafter.  I had to walk off the cramps for about 1/4 mile and run 3/4 of a mile. I would do this routine the rest of the race.  Not pretty by any means. Not in my plan at all. Funny thing is, it really wasn’t ‘my’ plan anyhow.

But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. – Matthew 7:14

While the pain came and went like the tide, I realized this was not at all about me. It was about the money that everyone donated because of those in need in Haiti. My personal disappointment was far more irrelevant than what was taking place and continues to take place in Haiti. World Vision continues to work towards relief of those still suffering.  If you would like to help in some way, you can still DONATE in hopes of reaching our goal of $2500.

As I came up on the finish line, an hour later than planned, my wife and son awaited me. There they stood cheering me on as though that hour I gained meant nothing. As I hobbled towards the Give Your Sole booth bodies lay everywhere. From the looks of things you would have thought a triage unit was needed. By the time I reached my booth, I was starting to feel better. I asked the team working the booth what our count was for shoes. 140 pairs. Another disappointment or should I say, ‘personal’ disappointment.  I guess sometimes it’s not about how many but how many it will help. That reminds me….

I had hoped for more pairs, but then again, one pair can make all the difference.

Man on the street receiving a pair

Kevin Crank

Sometimes “taking that first step” goes well beyond the shoes you’re wearing. In fact, finding the courage to stand is, at times, an accomplishment all its own. In learning of Kevin Crank’s story, there isn’t a more fitting statement.

Kevin Crank was your everyday teenager – a relatively shy guy, who loved to race BMX bikes, held a devotion for his brothers and sister, who would describe him as easy going, generous, loving and strong.

In October of 2008, Kevin was critically injured in a devastating car accident. He broke his back, hip, pelvic bone and several ribs. The accident resulted in damage to his lung, spleen and liver, and caused severe head trauma; there was no immediate sign of brain activity. The months that followed resulted in brutal battles with pneumonia, a failing immune system, a continued vegetative state, multiple incorrect diagnoses and treatments, in addition to the obvious emotional toll on his spirit and his family.

Kevin in the hospital

Faced with the confrontational bureaucracy of health insurance, but committed to getting Kevin an advanced treatment procedure that focuses on traumatic brain injuries called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (www.hbotreatment.com), his family began their own, privately organized fund-raising efforts.

Once secured, the results of the treatment were immediate, and though his fight continues today through physical therapy and continued H.B.O.T. treatment, Kevin’s resiliency has proven it truly isn’t about how many times you get knocked down in life that matters, it’s how you handle yourself getting up.

Thumbs Up!

Kevin is now walking again, and trying to rebuild and resume his life.

Eternally grateful for the support of loved-ones and strangers alike in his time of need, Kevin feels committed to giving back in the same way.

On April 10, 2010 Kevin will be joining his friends and family as part of Team Hopkins, participating in the Lake Havasu 5K and half marathon in Arizona. Kevin has chosen to work with GIVE YOUR SOLE for this race.

Life is about taking chances. Sometimes it’s about second chances. That is what Kevin Crank learned firsthand, in the hardest of ways.

In his discovery of our organization through a mutual friend, Kevin has come to believe that is what GIVE YOUR SOLE is about – declaring what we’re doing goes “beyond the shoes.”

We hope to offer an opportunity to take that first step in the right direction, no matter where you’ve been, to get back on your feet with dignity, when the world has knocked you down.

GIVE YOUR SOLE is so proud to be sharing this race with Kevin and Team Hopkins, and looks forward to the many steps ahead, for him and all those he helps on April 10th.

Such an Amazing young man.

To learn more about Kevin’s journey please visit:

www.kevincrank.blogspot.com

www.havasuhalf.com

Man trying on a pair of shoes

The 13.1 Marathon event in Los Angeles started out like any other – EARLY!  Me and my photographer friend, Gregg Shaw, got up at 4am and headed to the start area to get set up for the daily donations that would take place as runners came through the finish line. Thank goodness Starbucks backed right up to the booth we happened to be sharing with our friends from Team World Vision. (funny how God works, he knows exactly what you need and when you need it, Thanks big Guy!) So we got our coffee in us and waited for the fun to begin. The race started on time at 7:15 and 2 hours later we were elbows deep in collecting shoes and taking pictures.  Not only did I hope to gather as many shoes possible that would be going to the Union Rescue Mission but also hoped to gather some great photos to use on our site.  As the people trickled in and the race ended we ended up with some great pictures and 200 pairs!

Me with all the shoes from the 13.1 runners!

This is where our day really gets exciting.  Gregg and I head to downtown LA in the skid row area to meet up with Rev. Andy Bales at the Union Rescue Mission.  Only problem is when I call to meet him there is no answer. We arrive to skid row about 10 minutes prior to our 2pm appointment and if you have never been to skid row, it’s not really the place you want to just “hang out”.  We “stood out” more than anything but stumbled upon some people that had set up a make shift food serving area on the sidewalk and we asked to join them.  They had been coming down here the past 10 years to serve food to people in need on the streets.  I asked if we could share the sidewalk and hand out some shoes since we had a truck load waiting to be delivered.

Before I go any further let me paint you a picture of what skid row is like.  It is as hopeless as any place can be. Despair, Addiction, Tragedy, Anger, Helplessness all fill the air. Trash litters the surroundings like confetti but you can bet there hasn’t been a parade down here in forever.  The sidewalks aren’t used for walking but sleeping.  Police?  Nowhere to be seen. People walking about as if in a science fiction movie called “The Last Days”.  It is an urban desert.  Barely any cars, only people. This place is a concrete coffin for many.

I call the Rescue Mission again and still no answer so Gregg and I decide to start dumping bags of shoes on the sidewalk.  It takes only seconds before people start to come around and pick through the pile. I meet John, who tells me that it’s hard to keep shoes because people steal your stuff and without having a place to put it makes it hard to keep safe.  I meet Paul who tells me that without shoes his feet hurt, everything hurts. I meet Lolnel who tells me having shoes will help him and his wife get around to try and find jobs and get from place to place for food.  Then I meet Stacy who tells me he is on his way back to real life. He’s looking to get a job, looking to finish a program, only there for a short time. I sure hope so Stacy. He tells me that for strangers to give them shoes is like giving him a chance to take a step in the next direction. Now if that doesn’t say it all…

Me with John

It’s now 2:30 and my phone rings, it’s Rev. Andy, “Where are you, I am at the mission ready for you.”  I tell him we are one block over handing out shoes and will pack up and be right there.  We get there and sure enough he had been waiting for almost an hour for me.  I try to tell him I called and called but his phone never rang.  As we finish giving him all the shoes he realizes his ringer was off and had missed my calls.

If he would have answered my call at 1:50 we never would have experienced that 40 minutes handing out shoes.  We never would have had the conversations with the nice guys like Paul, Calvin, John and Lolnel.  (funny how God works, he always knows exactly what you need when you need it. Thanks Big Guy!)

Me with Rev. Andy Bales from Union Rescue Mission

Sunrise Over Lake Michigan

The dictionary describes the word ‘thankful’ as being pleased and relieved.  To be honest I never really thought of being ‘thankful’ as a form of relief.  At times we take for granted the things we have until a holiday like Thanksgiving comes along and makes us take a break from our busy lives to really think about what it is in our lives that give us ‘relief’.

For me, there are many things that give me relief.  My wife gives me relief from a life of being alone and without love. My kids give me relief from a life without pure joy.  God gives me relief from a life without unconditional love.  My job gives me relief from a life without the means to provide for the ones I love.  My health gives me relief to experience the outdoors and everyday tasks that get me through the day.  The service men and women who do all they can to protect this great nation give me relief from a life of worry.  My mom and dad give me relief from a life without support should my world come crumbling down.  My friends give me relief from not having people around to share in my goals and journeys.  The list could go on and on…

The only problem with experiencing such great relief is that with it comes the realization that 3 million people across this nation can’t say the same for their lives.  While I say a prayer of thanks for all I have been given relief from, I will also say a prayer for those who are struggling to find food, shelter and most of all love.

For if we can find love, we find hope and if we can find hope, we find relief.

My Little giver

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Every parents learns pretty quick that their actions influence their children rather early in their young lives. Before you know it, a “mini” version of yourself takes form right before your eyes.  At many times that smaller version of yourself is often more recognizable to others than what you might see. This just goes to prove that as parents we really need to be careful not only about what we say but more importantly about everything we do.

There is a great saying that goes something along the lines of  ”Would you be behaving this way if you knew your mother was watching?” As a parent we need to ask ourselves, “Would we be behaving this way if we knew our kids were watching?” Much easier said than done; trust me, I know. I’ve had many days when the way I acted should not be seen by anybody, let alone my children. The good thing is these times also made me realize what it means to be responsible and how to accept the joy in what can sometimes be considered a “dull” lifestyle.

When I started Give Your Sole I was in hopes my kids would get involved.  I knew my 15 year old was old enough to understand it and the importance of what we were doing, my 5 year old on the other hand, I was not so sure about. Until…he came home from being out all day with his mom shopping for school clothes.  He came running inside excited to announce to me that he had bought some new shoes and now he could give his old ones to Give Your Sole. Wow! Talk about a great moment for a parent. My little giver was taking shape; not in the form of me as his father but as what God intended for each of us to be; givers to those in need.