I have a lot to be thankful for this year

The third annual Freed to Run™ marathon series is less than a month away, and I wanted to take a minute to express my sincere gratitude to our sponsors, teams, and my family. My goal this year is to raise $180,000. The funds raised provide legal aid to underprivileged families to help them navigate the stress of medical-related legal challenges.

To each team who has signed up this year, I am grateful.

This year, 22 teams (almost twice as many as last year!) have signed up to run six marathons in six days, beginning on Sunday, December 15. The teams joining me next month will run from the Supreme Court in Tallahassee all the way to the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, finishing on Friday, December 20. It’s hard to believe it was just three years ago when I first laced up my sneakers to bring awareness and raise money to fill the justice gap. Now, Freed to Run has become something much larger than me and a pair of shoes. In just three years, Freed to Run has gone from a one man, six marathon grass-roots effort to a tribe of people coming together to bring about positive change to our community.

To every sponsor and donor who has given this year, I am grateful.

In two years, Freed to Run has raised over $550,000 thanks to the support of participants, sponsors and donors.

This year, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Blue − two of northeast Florida’s premier companies − joined the cause as sponsors. I am grateful for the continued support and encouragement I receive from all our sponsors to ensure that Freed to Run will have an even bigger impact in 2019.

All funds raised, plus a generous 125% match from the Baptist Health Foundation, go directly to an endowment to fund the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership (NFMLP). The partnership provides pediatric patients and their families free legal counsel through Jacksonville Area Legal Aid to assist with challenges that all too often accompany terminal or chronic medical conditions. Last year, NFMLP assisted over 200 children to obtain state or federal benefits, resolve insurance issues, remedy substandard housing and structure individualized educational programs.

To all of my colleagues at Gunster, I am grateful.

I am grateful to work for an incredible firm that continuously supports me and encourages me to make a bigger impact than in the legal field. Gunster allows me to make a difference in the community and my colleagues have been by my side since I started my career here.

To my family who has supported me before, during, and long after the race is over, I am grateful.

For the runner, the hardest part of running is lacing up your sneakers. But for the runner’s family, the hardest part is the training schedule. Training for six marathons in six consecutive days is not for the faint of heart. It takes dedication and consistency. My family has supported me on the short runs, the long runs, and all of the runs in between. This year is no different and without their love and support, I would not be able to attempt something of this magnitude. Crystal, my wife, and our two girls will be with me during the race, riding along to ensure I stay hydrated and safe as I traverse northern Florida. This year, my son Anthony, who will be home from college, will join the team too.

Booker Washington said, “Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” I too believe that sustainable happiness is linked to giving back. Without the support of our runners, donors, sponsors and family, Freed to Run would be nothing more than a dream. As we enter our third consecutive year, I am beyond grateful to everyone who has helped make it a sustainable reality. Let’s keep it going!

With Gratitude,

Mike Freed