After choosing sobriety, I found myself isolating, unsure of who I was, and about 70 pounds heavier. I didn't know what I enjoyed anymore or what life was even supposed to look like without substances. I just knew I didn't want to stay where I was.
Then I found The Phoenix. What started as a hike I almost didn't show up to turned into a turning point. The people there reminded me I was capable of more than I believed. So I kept showing up. I leaned into the community, committed to my health, and started saying yes to things that used to scare me. Running became more than exercise. It became proof that I could push myself, grow, and keep going.
Along the way, I lost 70 pounds. But more importantly, I gained confidence, purpose, and a community that changed my life.
Now I'm running the 2026 NYC Marathon as part of Team Phoenix to show that change is possible, and that sometimes it all starts with one small step. My goal is to raise $10,000 to help keep Phoenix programs free for anyone with 48 hours or more of sobriety, the way they were free for me.
Your donation helps fund:
- Free fitness classes, hikes, and group workouts for people in recovery
- A community that meets people where they are, no judgment
- Programs that build the kind of strength you carry into the rest of your life
If The Phoenix wasn't there the day I almost stayed home, I don't know where I'd be. Whether you can give $10, $25, or $100, you're helping the next person who almost doesn't show up actually walk through the door.
Thank you for being part of this. Together, we rise.
