Member Stories
Updated: January 6, 2010
Meet Our Members. Hear Their Stories.
ERIC P.
Earlier this year after dealing with set-backs due to family issues and alcohol use, Eric found himself at the Ridge Avenue Shelter and looking for ways to get his life back on track.
“Every morning, I saw these guys getting up early and running, I kept hearing positive things about this program called ‘Back on My Feet’ and I wanted to learn more and get involved” said Eric. “They kept pushing me to give it a try, so finally I went for it”.
And BOMF is grateful to Eric’s team-mates for doing so. Soon after joining, Eric began increasing his mileage and soon became a strong and dependable member of the Ridge Avenue team. This steady attendance enabled Eric to then attend the Metropolitan Career Center (MCC) through Back on My Feet. While at MCC, Eric brushed up on his computer skills and resume preparation and soon thereafter was hired by Aflac Insurance as an under-writer!
“To me, BOMF is my extended family, they got me to believe in myself and made me feel that I was worth something again. I was able to get a job after going through MCC and in this economy, I’m happy about that” said Eric.
While with BOMF, Eric has run two half-marathons in just 5 short months! The most notable was Eric’s first when he fractured his elbow only a week before the race in a fall.
“When I saw the cast from just below his shoulder to his wrist, I thought ‘ok, we need to scratch him from the race’” said Program Director, Wylie Belasik. However, Eric would have nothing of it. After getting clearance from his Doctor, that he could run, Eric was off and finished the race in just over 2 hours.
“That race really spoke to Eric’s character, I tried to convince him it would be painful and to wait, but he said, I can do this, and I will do this. That type of determination is pretty rare, it’s inspiring” said Belasik.
Eric is now enjoying his new job and has moved out of Ridge and is now taking care of his young daughter and happy to still be a member of the BOMF family.
SHAWN
A little over a year ago, Shawn was employed and working in a warehouse when he discovered that his current job would be switching to seasonal employment and soon thereafter Shawn’s hours were reduced leaving him with little savings and no work. Soon thereafter, Shawn became a resident at Our Brother’s Place and after getting settled heard about a program called “Back on My Feet”.
“I wanted to get back in shape and heard that they could help me with employment. Also, some of the guys I knew were already running and really enjoyed the program, so I signed up after being at OBP for close to 2 months,” said Shawn.
Initially, Shawn was reserved and very quiet, his trademark was hiding in photographs, you always knew Shawn was there by the floating “thumbs-up” mysteriously coming from behind a teammate.
“I was pretty anti-social, but it did feel relaxing to come out and run” recalls Shawn.
Soon, Shawn started upping his mileage and pushing both himself and his team-mates in the process. Shawn then entered the Strive Program through Metropolitan Career Center and successfully graduated in May. After another month, Shawn completed his first Marathon, completing the Delaware Marathon with the help of his team-mates! The next step for Shawn was employment and within the last two months, Shawn gained employment through a proud Back on My Feet community partner – Wawa Markets!
Shawn remarked the following about his experience with Back on My Feet;
“BOMF helped me re-stablize my mental state, I didn’t trust many people and the genuine kindness I experienced let me realize that there are still nice people out there”.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Shawn, he has come a long way with the program. From being very reserved, Shawn stepped up to become the Team Captain and someone who is unanimously respected in the BOMF organization. He’s now working, and we love hearing great reviews from his employer!” said BOMF Program Director, Wylie Belasik.
Claudell "Fifty"
Claudell “Fifty” has been an amazing member of Team Ridge for over 10 months and a tremendous role model for many people in and associated with Back on My Feet. “Fifty” found himself in Ridge 11 months ago after some family troubles, trying to work through a difficult period in his life. Shortly after arriving in Ridge, he heard about this strange running program where you met at 5:30am just outside... It sounded “interesting...”. After hearing more about the program, Fifty decided to give Back on My Feet a try and hasn’t looked back.
Over the last 10 months Fifty has run over 500 miles with PERFECT attendance, that’s right, he hasn’t missed a day, since joining close to a year ago. Through sickness and injury, Fifty has endured and has succeed as a result. In May, Fifty graduated from Metropolitan Career Center and has now run one half-marathon, the Broad Street run and numerous 5k races.
Now, Fifty is focused on job-search and getting ready to move out of Ridge.
“Back on My Feet creates a family environment, it’s a great feeling. Everyone in BOMF accepts you into their life, it’s very different from the situation in Ridge. The relationships give me extra incentive to stick with it when things are tough." -Claudell.
Darius
Alum, Member Since December 2008
Almost a year ago Darius was living at Ridge, a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. He began running with Back on My Feet in December 2008 after learning about the program. Since then, he has left his old life miles behind him.
While a member of BOMF, Darius competed in several races, most recently the Philadelphia Distance Run in September.
As he progressed in the program, Darius graduated from Metropolitan Career Center this past summer, and soon thereafter found two opportunities for employment. One is at City Fitness, where he is looking to become certified as a personal trainer. Darius also recently moved into his own apartment, and is now very much back on his feet.
“I want to thank Anne and her courage to deliver hope for the homeless. The entire BOMF experience has been truly amazing. The training and everyone who supports us through training are truly tough but lovable, I promise. I am a proud member and my team would tell you I am also tough when trying to get me out to run. BOMF met and exceeded my expectations. In particular, the team here at BOMF are always helpful and cordial. The organization is terrific. Thank you for helping make my life special again. My compliments to the entire team." --Darius
Charles J.
Alum, Member Since June 2008
"I was asked to give a testimony on what BOMF has done for me. If you know me, you would know that I live and thank God for Anne M. for the inclination of thinking out of the box as she was doing her early morning runs. She has helped so many men and women to have a foundation that they can stand on for life...but this is my testimony, right?
A typical day starts out at 5:30am we gather at a corner, pray and start to run or walk. That's right...5:30 at the crack of dawn. I wanted to start at 10:00, but I was told there is a reason why we start early. See, I have been homeless for so long with no structure in my life. You get up early to start your day off and to get the blood rolling through your body. As we run the volunteers talk their heads off. As a beginner runner it was very hard to talk and run, but I keep coming out every morning because I was determined to make it this time. My previous life was full of drugs with no direction at all. BOMF has given me direction." -Charles
Vernon W.
Alum, Member Since October 2007
"What BOMF has done for me? Well they helped me believe in people again because for a while I thought nobody cared. I learned how to trust" strangers". And while running with BOMF I learned the importance of setting goals and then taking the steps to achieve that goal. I remember the first time I ran 5 miles at the end of the run I cried because I actually accomplished something , I didn’t know that this old body of mine would be able to endure. I've always wanted to run the Broad St. Run and at my age it kind of looked like it would never happen. But then I started running with BOMF and low and behold my dream came true , I ran the race and at the end of the run I still could have run some more. I have fallen in love with running . I apply" the baby step program " in my everyday life, at work where ever and it's working . My confidence is at an all time high. I don’t believe there's anything I can't do anymore. When I run I find happiness in every step I find peace, troubles fade away and when they come back they seem more approachable. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate BOMF but they helped me get back on my feet. Thank you and Love All of you Guys at BOMF!!!" -Vernon
Tyrone "T-Bone"
If you want to see the power of positivity, you need to look no further than Tyrone “T-Bone” Moore. Less than one year ago, Tyrone was waiting to be released from prison after 8 years away from society. He swore that after being released he would use that new opportunity to make the most of his life.
Tyrone quickly found himself in the Philadelphia shelter system looking for opportunities to get his life back on track and moving forward with self-sufficiency. In early November, Tyrone heard about Back on My Feet and the rest has become a beautiful history.
In the span of the last 6 months, Tyrone has secured a job, opened a checking and savings account at Beneficial Bank and moved into his own apartment. Tyrone is self-sufficient and incredibly proud of his achievement. Recently, Tyrone retold a story that shows the magnitude of having your own apartment after 8 years.
“I was sitting on the bus, when all of a sudden I panicked. I didn’t have my bags with me, I thought ‘how could I be this stupid, now I have to replace all that stuff’, then I remembered, it was safely locked up in my room. I don’t have to carry everything with me anymore, I like that.” -Tyrone
