Run between communities to benefit children's home
Rebecca Morris is a believer in second chances. She helps children and families earn them every day as vice president of external affairs at the United Methodist Children’s Home.
Morris, a Mountain Brook resident and member of Canterbury United Methodist Church, often finds that people in her community are unaware of UMCH and the children in its program. With this and her passion for running in mind, she developed an event to help raise funds for the homes and help build community connections. The first Steeple to Steeple 5K and Fun Run will be held on Saturday, March 21.
The United Methodist Children’s Home specializes in caring for children of many different backgrounds and circumstances who can no longer live their parent or guardian.
Selma once housed the main campus of the children’s home system, but it closed in 2009 to better accommodate children’s connections in their own communities.
“Taking them away makes it harder to redevelop connections with parents,” Morris said.
Although there is no longer a large local campus, several smaller homes throughout the state care for children and are in need of funds to continue operation.
Morris hopes not only to bring community awareness to UMCH with the 5K and fun run, but also to unite communities by creating a point-to-point race from Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood to Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook.
To help organize the race to best fit each community, Morris enlisted others. Homewood’s Jennifer Andress, who recently finished her third term as president of the Birmingham Track Club, is a member at Trinity. Leigh Ann Sisson, a co-founder of the community youth organization All In Mountain Brook is a member of Canterbury. Morris hopes that help from Andress and Sisson will help to bring the communities together to show support for the children’s homes.
Although many of the organizers are runners, Morris encourages groups of all kinds to participate in the 5K and fun run at their own pace.
“It’s not just for people trying to set a personal record,” Morris said.
The Steeple to Steeple 5K will begin at 8 a.m. and the fun run will begin at 9 a.m. on March 21 at Trinity United Methodist Church. The race will end at Canterbury United Methodist Church. A family fun zone will also be available after the race. Registration is $35 for the 5K and $20 for the fun run.
For more information, visit steeple2steeple.com.
Steeple to Steeple Run
Start: Trinity United Methodist Church
End: Canterbury United Methodist Church
5K: 8 a.m. start, $35
Fun run: 9 a.m. start, $20