By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Run for fitness.
Raise money for a good cause.
A resurrected Apple Blossom 5K run enters its second year this year, again as a fundraiser for Sisters of Solace.
Sisters of Solace founder, Stacy Kerns, acknowledges it all came about because of nostalgia.
“The first 5K I ever ran was the Apple Blossom 5K and I want to say that was probably 20 years ago,” Kerns says. “And several years back, I was feeling all very nostalgic and I wanted to do the Apple Blossum 5K again and it seemed to not be happening.”
So, why not get it started again as a fundraiser?
“We obviously need to raise funds in our community,” Kerns says. “I thought it would be the time to resurrect the Apple Blossom 5K to benefit Sisters of Solace.”
Sisters of Solace has joined forces with Bfit CrossFit to sponsor the 5K. Bfit CrossFit specializes in forming teams of runners that carry heavy objects as they run the course. Those teams compete along with all the normal runners.
The Apple Blossom 5K will be held May 3rd, right before the Apple Blossum Parade.
Kerns says the money raised by the race will finance programs designed to help women who have been abused, or victims of human trafficking, or who suffer from addiction. Kerns says she has seen great results from those who have graduated from the first one-year program sponsored by Sisters of Solace.
“Not a single one of them has returned to the streets,” Kerns says. “It’s a program that works. It’s effective. We see these ladies live healthy and financially independent lives. We see family reunification. They come into our program believing they’ll never see their children again and are often very surprised they have those opportunities to rebuild those bonds of trust and be reunited with their kids.”
The one-year program has turned into a two-year program. Sister of Solace operates a residential facility with enough capacity for nine women. There is a waiting list, though Kerns says a donor has given it a second house which will soon be in operation.
Kerns says the St. Joseph program, now in its fifth year, has exceeded her expectations as it reaches out to abused women. Kerns says the key is in the approach.
“Everything we do is built on our core belief that lavish love heals,” according to Kerns. “We can throw services at people all day long and that might help them today, but life change comes when you believe that somebody cares about you.”
Sisters of Solace first taught residents to make candles. Their sale generates revenue for the program and boosts self esteem among the participants. That has expanded to a market and coffee shop, located at 3024 Frederick Avenue; in a converted house donated to the organization.
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