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Back on My Feet Coming to Washington, DC
By Christopher Wink
Philadelphia, PA
February 19, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
A nonprofit that uses running to help the homeless comes to Washington, DC.
Maybe next time, Reese Doakes will not have to make the trip.
After owning his own home and tasting many of the dreams he once had, his life took an unexpected turn for a lot of reasons. The 42-year-old found himself living in the Outley House shelter in Southwest Philadelphia, far from those dreams he once held.
To help transition back to living on his own and working for a living, Doakes started making early morning runs with advocacy nonprofit Back on My Feet, which encouraged him to follow through with a nursing certification program and take a job in the field. He finished the Philadelphia Distance Run, the Broad Street Run and others. He has completed nearly 100 miles and says he is seeing an incredible change in himself.
"I've had it all, and I've lost it all," he said. "And I'm going to get it back."
So, when Back on My Feet hosted a Happy Hour in Dupont last month ahead of its expansion to Washington, DC, Doakes was a natural choice to bring to talk about how running can help change the direction that some lives take.
Beginning on March 22, Doakes and hundreds of others who have taken part in the Back on My Feet program in Philadelphia and Baltimore might be joined by others in the nation's capital. That Monday, Back on My Feet will officially launch in Washington, DC with an inaugural run and a breakfast -- requiring business attire and sneakers -- and partnerships with three shelters in the city.
At the Happy Hour, Doakes addressed nearly 200 supporters and volunteers eager to get involved in the new chapter.
"You are going to find people with lost hope or who are depressed. They've probably had everything they ever wanted taken from them because of bad decisions or unfortunate circumstances," he said. But if you get involved with Back on My Feet," Someday, one day, you are going to be part of someone's life, and it will be an indivisible bond."
Then, Doakes might say, perhaps that person will be speaking in his place.
Those interested can read more about the organization here or buy tickets for the Washington, DC launch breakfast here.
Christopher Wink is a paid employee of Back on My Feet.