Melanie C. is a single working mother of two children, ages seven and nine. She hasn't had it easy, having undergone 10 separate surgeries for various health issues. But she didn't let that stop her!
Over the past 15 months, Melanie has been working on getting healthy—and staying healthy! In that time, she managed to train for and complete several running events, losing 60 pounds in the process. The Fort4Fitness event was her first half marathon.
"It was exhilarating!" Melanie says. "I felt so strong that I have come so far in a year."
At the race, Melanie chose to wear a shirt that reads "Beauty from Ashes." Melanie says the phrase means a lot to her, and is a nod toward being resilient to the adversity that she has experienced. The words she used to describe how she felt crossing the Finish Line were "happy and proud."
Melanie plans on running the half marathon again, as well as continuing to run 5Ks, 10Ks, and 4 mile races. "I run for my health, and for my kids' and my futures!" she says.
Posted in: Fall Festival, Inspirational Stories<