Running for One Family

Three of my friends and I have faithfully gathered once a week for the past 16 years to do our "long" run together, all while debating and solving issues of politics, faith, family, food, and sports. I love the community we've developed—the hope, healing, and support we've received and the mental and physical fitness that has been a great by-product of our time together.

We've also trained for three marathons and several Fifth Third River Bank Runs, and this year we have joined the Bethany One Family campaign team for the River Bank Run coming up in May. I've run the event for several years and have enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself beyond the distance I typically run and gathering with a dynamic, eclectic community of runners. But this year the One Family campaign makes so much sense on a variety of levels as it allows us to give back, to help break cycles of poverty and strengthen families who then build strong communities of their own. My friends and I have been blessed with amazing families and love the idea of investing our fitness outlet to advance the cause for families in a very poor region in Guatemala who need basic supports to keep their families intact.

Fifth Third does a phenomenal job orchestrating the River Bank Run. Because it is the largest and premier 25K in the world, you'd think that it’s all about the professional runners and a well-executed event. While both of those aspects are clearly evident, what stands out the most are the community engagement, charity emphasis (run for a meaningful cause), and the beautiful diversity of our community. The strength of family and community are also clearly evident with an inspirationally generous spirit that takes the blessings we have and, with strong intention, shares them with the world. Now that is a strong and healthy family/community! And for my friends and me, joining the Bethany One Family team makes participating in the event all that more meaningful.

—Pete Knibbe, Vice President of Donor Engagement

P.S. If you’d like to join Bethany’s team, select "Bethany Christian Services" as your charity partner on the River Bank Run registration page or send your name, email and address to OneFamily@bethany.org.