Runner invites you to run or help St. James

To The Eagle:

A month from now, I will be running my second Portland Marathon on 10 October 2010 (10/10/10! The date alone was a huge incentive!). I am excited to participate; it’s such a rush to plod through my natal city for hours with thousands of other runners and walkers. However, I think that running a marathon is a pretty selfish endeavor. Training takes many miles and hours, mostly dedicated to oneself. In all those miles and hours, I’ve been thinking of a way to make my run a little less selfish, and maybe a little more fun.

“Hitting the wall,” is a concept familiar to runners. In a marathon, this phenomenon often occurs when the runner goes beyond what s/he has done before, and soon feels new pain as the body protests unprecedented demands. While I’ve never heard this phrase applied outside of running, I’ve been thinking that the phenomenon is shared by local service organizations in this time of economic crisis. One organization close to my heart, St. James Family Center, has been serving our community for 25 years, but is constantly struggling with their own financial “wall.” As the only non-profit agency serving the children and families of Wahkiakum county, they are constantly pressed to go above and beyond, even when national and local funding is down. We can help.

On Saturday, 18 September, 7 a.m., I will be working to break down my marathon wall by completing the full 26.2 miles here in Skamokawa. I would love for you to join me in one or two ways. I usually run by myself, but it would be far more fun to run (OK, plod – I’m really slow!) with company. If you could join me, on foot or on bicycle, for any distance, I’d love to see you. A second way you could help is to help St. James Family Center break down their financial wall, at least a little, by writing them a check. I would love to raise $20 a mile, at least $520 for SJFC. You could do a certain amount per mile, or just make a lump donation (though $26.20 does have a certain resonance). Joining me on the 18th and/or making a donation to SJFC are both appreciated; both help “break the wall.”

Why St. James Family Center? For me, it’s a no-brainer. Both of our kids went to preschool at St. James, Connor as an ECEAP participant. Our family has also benefited so much from other SJFC activities, from getting new car seats, to enjoying an amazing hot-air balloon created in Summer Youth Adventure, to having quality child care available when we needed it. As a teacher, I have observed that many children who don’t have time dedicated to them early in life go on to take others’ time later, and sometimes, sadly, to serve time. SJFC gives kids and families quality time, and has been doing so for 25 years. I fondly recall days when I was feeling harried and would arrive early to pick up one of the boys at preschool. I would just bask in the kind, positive environment, a world in which all were valued and respected, and I would feel my cares abate. Our family and our community are immeasurably improved by SJFC.

Audrey Petterson

Skamokawa

(St. James FC: 1134 Columbia Street, Cathlamet WA 98612.

(Email Audrey at

aemlen@centurytel.net

for a map and more inforation about her training route.)