Six weeks before her wedding, Debbi Bottjer was hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street. She walked down the aisle on crutches decorated with flowers and ribbons as well as a titanium rod in her leg. The crutches are long gone; the titanium rod continues to set off metal detectors at airports. While in physical therapy her therapist suggested she take up running to strengthen the leg. She did. First, a mile at a time, then two, then three. "The leg felt good. I was hooked. Running was actually fun!"
Debbi continued her running. She admits to not being fast. She ran in 5Ks and ultimately a 10 miler. "Running cleared my head." After her daughter was born in 2005, running took the back seat and became a "just to get it done" event. Her daughter, Ryan, moved to the top of the priority list and running was repositioned somewhere after groceries and laundry. Then two things happened.
Her daughter entered pre-school (which translated to more disposable time for Debbi) and she was introduced to the Maryville Crisis Nursery at the insistence of a friend. "I was blown away. What a concept – free childcare for parents who find themselves in stressful emergency situations with no place to turn – no relatives to lean upon and no money to pay for childcare. I thought I had problems being new to
"I did have the wherewithal, however, to do something, unlike the families that use the Crisis Nursery, who are often single parents with multiple children. This place keeps them from reaching the breaking point where the children might be harmed. It's a day or two or three without that added stress that might prevent them from going over the edge."
And that's the reason that Debbi is running for lives. She's running to see that the Crisis Nursery will continue. Debbi hopes to raise $3,000 for the Nursery by participating in the Chicago Marathon this fall. Both she and the Maryville Crisis Nursery will accept any donation – large or small. "It would be great if people could donate a dollar a mile," said Debbi. "That's just $26.20 to help keep an infant or toddler from harm's way."
Unfortunately, Debbi was recently diagnosed with a stress fracture in her lower leg – a setback that puts her goal of running the Chicago Marathon on hold until next year. Although she can no longer "runraise" for the Crisis Nursery, she is continuing her fundraising efforts and is now more than halfway to her goal of $3,000. Debbi’s leg may have stopped her from running, but her heart remains committed to the Crisis Nursery. She hopes you will consider joining her in spirit to support the Crisis Nursery with a donation.
