Gunster shareholder and endurance runner Mike Freed and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, joined by event directors from the community, are preparing for the Freed to Run Challenge Nov. 22-23 to benefit JALA’s Shelter for Elders endowment, which supports housing-related legal assistance for indigent older adults.
Freed to Run is a partnership with a mission of providing legal aid for underprivileged communities in northeastern Florida.
Freed began the event in 2017 as a six-day marathon relay series from the state Supreme Court steps in Tallahassee to the Duval County Courthouse.
Freed’s fundraising efforts, combined with financial backing from Baptist Health Foundation, enabled JALA to establish a $2.25 million endowment for low-income medical patients.
“We are thrilled with the success of Freed To Run and can’t wait to continue to build on it,” Freed said.
Now the format is for individual runners, relay teams, walkers and cyclists to raise funds for the endowment through peer-to-peer fundraising based on a challenge to complete as many half-mile laps around the Duval County Courthouse as they can in a period of either 12 or 24 hours.
Other options are to run a 5K or to bike from the St. Johns County Courthouse to the Duval County Courthouse.
Businesses, organizations and individuals wanting to participate, donate to the endowment or lend in-kind support to the event can contact the appropriate director:
• Experience Director Mike Freed, [email protected]
As Freed to Run founder, he continues his overall leadership of the event, including helping attract major donors, organizing the other directors and ensuring that participants receive maximum enjoyment out of the Freed to Run Challenge.
• Race Director Regina Sooey, an associate at RE/MAX, [email protected]
Sooey is responsible for attracting other ultra runners and helping ensure the event meets their expectations while also accommodating casual runners and walkers.
• Teams Director B.J. Taylor, an attorney at Harrell & Harrell, [email protected]
Taylor is the contact for those interested in forming a team for the event.
• Youth Experience Director Kenny Crowell, managing director at Trustpoint.One, [email protected]
Crowell is organizing youth activities to ensure a family-friendly event.
• Food and Donations Director Brittany Love, an associate attorney at Hall Booth Smith, [email protected]
Love is organizing food service during the event, including soliciting donated food from area restaurants and businesses.
• Bike/St. Johns County Director and JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski, [email protected]
Kowalski is organizing the cycling event starting from the St. Johns County Courthouse on Nov. 23.
The Shelter for Elders endowment supports JALA’s work to prevent and address housing issues such as reverse mortgage foreclosures, door-to-door scams, wrongful evictions, substandard living conditions, discriminatory practices and other shelter-related challenges faced by vulnerable seniors.
Enabling seniors to shelter in place results in positive health outcomes, as compared to when they are forced into long-term care or other congregate living facilities.
Anyone can register for the Freed to Run Challenge or donate to Shelter for Elders at jaxlegalaid.org/freedtorun to become an advocate for justice, dignity and housing security for indigent seniors.
This year, Campers Inn is sponsoring the event by providing an RV on each of the four corners of the half-mile track for participant hospitality.
Shelter for Elders $25,000 Presenting Sponsors so far include Gunster and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund; $10,000 Elder Advocate Patron sponsors include Florida Blue, Harrell & Harrell, JALA and The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.