On November 20, 2021, friends, family, and running fanatics joined the SL24 Foundation for the second time in support of educating and ending the stigma of depression by running 13.1 miles in the Philadelphia Half Marathon. The SL24 team was seen running, cheering, and sharing our story throughout the day during the race and following the race at the team fundraiser at Ladder 15. With the support of our community and dedication of our hard working participants, the foundation is encouraging all to join in another unforgettable day of running the race for a third time to end the stigma surrounding mental health.
Along with our dear friend Sean, basketball has always been my favorite sport and passion since I was young. Running long distances, or running in general, has never been a strong suit of mine, and a lot like Sean, we were never the quickest on the court. In 2019, Michael Igo came to the SL24 foundation with the idea of running the Philadelphia Half Marathon to help raise money for mental health education. Once Michael proposed the idea to our friends and family, my legs started to ache just thinking about the race. After a lot of thought and some competitive banter with our friends, I set out to overcome my dread of running and set a goal to simply finish the race. The support of the SL24 members, friends, and family cheering us on at every corner of Philadelphia during the race made running easier than I thought.
Since the first race in 2019, running is now a large part of my life. Running is not only a great way to stay in shape, but is also a time to decompress and clear my head from the everyday stressors in my life. Everyone deals with stress in their own specific ways, but since participating in this race, I have been able to handle stressful situations better, as well as understand and help others with their own discomforts. Preparing for this race and being a part of such a fun and exciting day has helped me become a better version of myself.
The SL24 Foundation continues to spread the word and educate everyone on the signs of depression and angles to handle, help with, and understand mental health. Since the start of SL24 and the opening of Sean’s House in September 2020, the SL24 Foundation has educated over 33,000 high school and college students and has helped serve over 12,000 individuals in aiding with their own discomforts. Over the last two Philadelphia Half Marathons, the SL24 Foundation has raised nearly 30,000 dollars to help the foundation continue to educate others on the importance of understanding and dealing with mental health.
On November 19, 2022, the SL24 team will continue the tradition of running the Philadelphia Half Marathon for the third consecutive time. Come out this year and help us continue the tradition of running for a greater cause. Whether participating in the race, buying a team Locke jersey, coming to cheer on the runners, or donating at the fundraiser following the race, we encourage all to attend and help support the SL24 Foundation in raising awareness for mental health.
Please see below for more information on how to join or support the team on race day.
Purchase a Locke Jersey / donate: The SL24 Running Team will sport 76ers colored Locke jerseys for the 2022 race. We want all runners & fans sporting the jerseys. You can purchase the Jersey directly on the Unlocke the Light website. The jersey will be mailed directly to the address provided at checkout.
Link: https://www.unlockethelight.com/shop2/
Fundraiser: The team will meet at Ladder-15 for a post run fundraiser. The Fundraiser will take place from 12- 4pm. It will be $25 per person for a Philadelphia themed buffet. There will be a raffle and a silent auction where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Unlocke the Light foundation. If you know of any companies willing to donate to our silent auction, please contact me directly.
Ladder-15 address: 1528 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Joining the team: To join the SL24 Running team sign up under the link below. If you are already signed up and did not sign up under the link below, that is OK! By purchasing a Locke jersey, you solidify your spot on the team.
Link: https://runsignup.com/Race/Register?raceId=45230&raceRefCode=zK5jLBcH
