Mayor Rawlings-Blake Takes Part in Early Morning Anniversary and Birthday Run with Back On My Feet

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake went on an early morning run to celebrate her 40th birthday and the one-year anniversary of Back on My Feet in Baltimore. The Mayor joined nearly two hundred members and volunteers for a run in downtown Baltimore.

Back on My Feet was founded by Anne Mahlum in Philadelphia. An avid runner, Ms. Mahlum passed a local homeless on her daily morning run. Over time, she developed a relationship with the men gathered outside. That summer, she started the Homeless Running Club that would soon become Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

“Back on My Feet is an organization powered by volunteers dedicated to helping their fellow man start their lives anew,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “Like many of the city’s greatest challenges, homelessness is bigger than government. We cannot end homelessness with money alone – we need people in the community to help these individuals find dignity, respect, rejuvenation and the promise of a new life.” At the conclusion of the run, the Mayor spoke at a ceremony which included the presentation of a donation from Whole Foods...