For one 24-hour period on Saturday, March 13, 2021, Rick Blair and others plan to run one mile, every hour, for 24 hours to bring awareness to the Supply Our Shelter campaign for the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.Rick and the others hope to raise money to aid in the purchase of the 185 much-needed new mattresses that will be placed in the new Rescue Mission. Rick Blair explains how the idea formed.

He says, “I have been trying to stay creative throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including running. I started a daily running streak on March 13, 2020 – and incidentally,i itt will be the one-year mark for this specific run for the Mission. During that time, I completed the New York City Virtual Marathon as well as with some friends, I created an event called the Plywood Challenge where we created four eight-mile routes and completed them all in one day. The running community has helped me stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually sane since the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic.Rick then continues to explain about the 24-hour run for the Mission, “Running every hour for a day sounds crazy, but it’s the lack of sleep that’s most intimidating, and when we saw the need at the Mission, mattresses just made sense. We take mattresses for granted – so spending our energy to raise awareness and funds for our friends and neighbors who need the Mission’s services is the very least we can do”.Each mattress cost $283.40 and there is a need for 185 of them. Rodney Stevens, Chief Operations Officer at the Rescue Mission explains, “An individual who is tired and restless has a blurred perspective and finds it difficult to hit the target, but a well-rested individual not only has the ability – they have the desire and the energy to carry on. So, we are grateful for Rick Blair and the other runners in their generosity of time and awareness they are bringing for the need of new mattresses to be used in the new Mission building”.
To learn more and support the “2 Run 4 Mattresses” – a 24-hour endeavor – use the giving link: www.RescueMissionMV.org/2Run4

Due to Covid-19, this is not a public event, however, media is welcomed.

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley will be sure to post lots of Facebook updates for followers so anyone can add comments and encouragement to these runners during the 24-hour period. If you would like to participate for any part of the 24-hour run at a location of your choice, please contact Lynn Wyant (lwyant@rescuemissionmv.org) so that the Rescue Mission can send thanks and encouragement to you as well.