Running for Renewal in Chicago

FOUR MONTHS ago, I was having dinner with Jesse Penna, a friend and supporter of Eighth Day Institute (“EDI”). We were discussing health, weight loss, and running. He told me a story about a friend who started an annual 100-mile run to raise funds for a non-profit and, over the course of nine years, raised over $200,000.

As we continued to chat the idea of running for EDI emerged. Eighteen weeks later, my friend Jesse had engineered something I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams: a team of five runners raising support for EDI by running a half-marathon. The team consisted of Jesse, my friend Mark Mosley and his son Ben, and my son Caleb Doom and myself.

We arrived in Chicago on Saturday, Sep. 28. The weather was perfect while we joined the 12,000 other runners (from 49 states and 26 countries) to pick up our race packets and t-shirts. But the forecast indicated a high chance of rain for the Sunday race.

Sure enough, it was pouring rain when we departed for the run. But thanks to Dr. Mosely’s experience running marathons (more than twenty of them!), we were prepared. The Uber driver must have thought we were a strange crew as we entered his vehicle decked out in trash bags and shower caps. But they did the trick, keeping us sufficiently warm and decently dry until we had developed a sweat in the race and were able to discard them.

Dr. Mosley helped me train for three months leading up to the race. Caleb (18 years old) and Ben (xx years old), on the other hand, did no training whatsoever. Despite the strength of youth, I’m proud to say the fathers outran the sons. Dr. Mosley humored me and restrained himself to stay by my side throughout the race and we crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 12 minutes; remarkably, Caleb and Ben crossed the line just minutes after us.

Thus far, we have raised $24,722 for Eighth Day Institute to support the mission of renewing culture through faith and learning. Our ambitious goal was (and remains) $50,000. To that end we invite you to join the 68 others who have donated to the “Run for Renewal” campaign. Your financial support will help EDI continue to help folks learn out the faith of our fathers can help us navigate the new dark ages.

CLICK HERE & DONATE TODAY!

Thanks so much for your support!

Feast of St Charitina the Martyr
Anno Domini 2019, October 5