Why I Run for BARCStoberfest: Greg's Story
Hi, my name is Greg, and I'm a volunteer for BARCS. My entire world changed forever on April 11, 2020. Less than a month after entering the hospital with COVID, my mother, Lynne, sadly passed away. I learned many lessons from my mom—a very big one was kindness and compassion for animals. My mom adored animals; in fact, one of her first jobs was with the Central Park Zoo as a zookeeper. This love for animals manifested in my need to say “hi” to every animal at a party or walking down the street.
Before my mom passed, I began volunteering with BARCS Animal Shelter. I grew up with dogs and thought the best way for me to help was to walk dogs after work and on the weekends. I flooded my mom’s phone with pictures of the countless dogs I spent time with at the shelter. Whenever we got together, she’d always ask me about them.The weeks that followed my mom’s passing were a blur of emotions. Most days, I felt like I was in a daze. Sleep was impossible. Exercise had always been a reliable stress outlet for me, but with gyms shut down due to COVID, I no longer had that. I knew I needed to do something, but what?
I was never interested in running as a form of exercise. Really, I despised any form of cardio. I had run a 5K twice in my life before 2020. But, with seemingly nowhere else to channel my intense emotions, I decided to give it another chance.
Six weeks after losing my mom, I went for a run.
I ran 2.5 miles; it took everything I had in me. I didn’t have any specific goals as far as distance, time or speed, but I continued to run over the next several weeks. Running provided me with the necessary outlet needed to exhaust my mind and body and process the emotions I was going through.
Today, I continue to run on a regular basis. Over the past couple of years, I have run in several 5K races as well as my first 10K and 10 miler. Running provides a sense of normalcy in my fitness routine as well as a much-needed emotional outlet.
I am still an active volunteer with BARCS and have branched out into other volunteer opportunities, including Pack Walks on Sundays and taking dogs for sleepovers in my home. For me, being able to run the BARCStoberfest 5K is a perfect way to honor my mom as well as to support and promote an amazing shelter that has done incredible things for countless animals. Will you join me?
BARCStoberfest is Baltimore's favorite large scale, pet friendly festival and fundraiser that benefits the lifesaving programs and animal care at BARCS. Individual and team fundraising for BARCStoberfest raises critical funding for BARCS, Maryland’s largest open admission animal shelter, which rescues more than 10,000 animals per year. Our goal this year is $350,000, so please join us to raise funds for animals in need in our community: www.barcstoberfest.org
Share
