Help Natalie raise money

Hi all!!!! I'm feeling a little late to the game this year BUT I wanted to announce that I am running the Falmouth Road Race for my fourth year for the Herren Project! This is a nonprofit organization that offers free resources and support for treatment, recovery, and prevention of substance use disorders (both drug and alcohol).

To put it simply, this overwhelms me. Every year I think I am not sure I will do this again next year, but come race day as I am quietly surrounded by tons of people celebrating their sobriety and running for a cause important to them - I can't help but tell myself "yes. you're signing up again".

As most people know I run in memory of my brother Mike, who we lost to addiction in 2020. I also run in memory of my Aunt Jen, who we lost in 2016, a battle that stemmed from pain management. The truth that I hate to speak, is that I run for many others I knew or friends and family knew (more than I can count on both hands🙁) whose stories remain untold. I run not just for them, but for all those who are still ❤️quietly fighting❤️.

I endlessly appreciate your sharing of this cause. As a new generation of youth is being brought up, we owe it to them, and ourselves to reshape perceptions, that when your friend or neighbor or family member bravely admits their struggle, they are met with understanding, not silence. If my sharing this does anything, I hope it encourages you to educate yourself. Watch films like Beautiful Boy, Ben is Back, Four Good Days to understand the absolute heart ache inflicted by this disease. But also understand that this disease is not the same for everyone. It is not merely a statistic, it is affecting real lives and inflicting real pain. I ask you to watch shows like Dopesick, Pain Hustlers, and the Pharmacist to understand the corruption of those who profit from addiction.

I was 15 years old when I first witnessed the grip that drugs had on my brother and I was 24 years old when I watched it win. We cannot let this continue. We need more resources, more education, more legislation. We need less consequences to those who are struggling, and more consequences for those peddling dangerous substances.

Please help me to continue to share my message. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for your unwavering support to this community.