JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gunster Shareholder and endurance runner Mike Freed and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid – joined by several event directors from the Northeast Florida community – are gearing up for the Freed to Run Challenge Nov. 22-23 to benefit JALA’s Shelter for Elders endowment, which supports housing-related legal assistance for indigent seniors.
“We are thrilled with the success of Freed To Run and can’t wait to continue to build on it,” Freed said.
Individual runners, relay teams, walkers and bikers will raise funds for the endowment through peer-to-peer fundraising based on a challenge to complete as many half-mile laps around the Duval County Courthouse as they can in a period of either 12 or 24 hours. Other options are to run a 5k or to bike from the St. Johns County Courthouse to the Duval County Courthouse.
Those businesses, organizations and individuals wanting to participate, donate to the endowment or lend their in-kind support to the event can contact the appropriate director:
Experience Director and Gunster Shareholder Mike Freed, mfreed@gunster.com
As Freed to Run founder starting in 2017, Freed continues his overall leadership of the event, including helping attract major donors, organizing the other directors, and ensuring that participants get maximum enjoyment out of the Freed to Run Challenge.
Race Director Regina Sooey, Associate, RE/MAX, regina.sooey@gmail.com
Sooey is responsible for attracting other ultra runners and helping ensure the event meets their expectations while also accommodating casual runners and even walkers.
Teams Director BJ Taylor, Attorney, Harrell and Harrell, btaylor@harrellandharrell.com
Taylor serves as the contact for those interested in forming a team for the event.
Youth Experience Director Kenny Crowell, Managing Director, Trustpoint.One, Kenneth.Crowell@trustpoint.one
Crowell is organizing youth activities to ensure a family-friendly event.
Food and Donations Director Brittany Love, Associate, Hall Booth Smith, brittany.kanter.love@gmail.com
Love is organizing food service during the event, including soliciting donated food from area restaurants and businesses.
Bike/St. Johns County Director and JALA President & CEO Jim Kowalski, Jim.Kowalski@jaxlegalaid.org
Kowalski is organizing the biking event starting from the St. Johns County Courthouse on Nov. 23.
The Shelter for Elders endowment supports JALA’s work to prevent and address housing issues such as reverse mortgage foreclosures, door-to-door scams, wrongful evictions, substandard living conditions, discriminatory practices, and other shelter-related challenges faced by vulnerable seniors.
Enabling seniors to shelter in place also results in positive health outcomes, as compared to when they are forced into long-term-care or other congregate living facilities.
Anyone can register for the Freed to Run Challenge or donate to Shelter for Elders at jaxlegalaid.org/freedtorun to become a champion for justice, dignity, and housing security for indigent seniors in the Northeast Florida community.
This year, Campers Inn will be sponsoring the event by providing an RV on each of the four corners of the half-mile track for participant hospitality.
$25,000 Shelter for Elders Presenting Sponsors so far include Gunster and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, and $10,000 Elder Advocate Patron sponsors include Florida Blue, Harrell & Harrell, JALA and the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
