News & Media

	Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Mayor, Baltimore City 250 City Hall - Baltimore Maryland 21202 (410) 396-3835 - Fax: (410) 576-9425 Better Schools. Safer Streets. Stronger Neighborhoods.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2010		CONTACT Ryan O’Doherty (410) 818-4269 ryan.odoherty@baltimorecity.gov

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.

Whole Foods Harbor East donated a portion of all purchases on Wednesday, March 10th to Back on My Feet. They collected $3,186.92 which will help chapters in Baltimore support people experiencing homelessness towards self-sufficiency.

Back on My Feet has teams at five homeless shelters in Baltimore: Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET), Baltimore Station, Christopher’s Place, the Helping Up Mission Baltimore, and the newest group at American Rescue Workers.