Lindsay the Intern: Week Four-Announcing ShelterCare's 1st Annual Summit Challenge

(This summer, Lindsay has been helping the Development Dept. at ShelterCare with the planning of some exciting new events intended to replace our fundraising auction. The first of these events is ShelterCare's Summit Challenge, which will take place on Saturday, August 8, at 8:30 am. Please read Lindsay's entry and see below for where to obtain more information about this exciting new event.)

I have been thinking a lot about the qualities it takes to do human service work over my first few weeks back. Perseverance, strength, endurance, discipline, dedication, and humility all come to mind. These traits can also be found among the clients at ShelterCare who have shown courage in committing to turn their lives in a positive direction.

Lately, I have been helping to develop a new fundraising event for ShelterCare. We are pleased to announce our first Annual Summit Challenge. It will be a seven kilometer run traversing the beautiful mount Pisgah. As you may know, the themes of past fundraising events have fit nicely with the overall mission of ShelterCare. Although I thought a run would be fun, it was hard for me to draw that same enticing parallel that had impressed me in the past. However, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The same qualities that exist within staff and clients of ShelterCare exist within runners and walkers. In essence, runners must train, show discipline and dedication, admit their faults, and be realistic while pushing through the most brutal of obstacles. The same goes for the slower yet steady activity of walking. Like those at ShelterCare, walkers gain steady footing and move towards a goal with vigor and commitment. The pace is not important; it is the ability to strive for something better that links us all together.

The success of ShelterCare would not be possible if it weren’t for clients and staff tirelessly working for themselves and others. This run is a way of asking the community to join that effort and take time to relate to the energy and passion it takes to fight homelessness in Eugene.

For more information and to register, please visit www.sheltercareevents.com.