CEO of Ignite Hope Challenges Her Young Clients to Beat Her in Naperville Half Marathon on Oct. 22 to Win Scholarship Money

Chicago, IL, September 26, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​​Running in a half marathon is not an unusual way to raise funding for a nonprofit, but founder and CEO of Ignite Hope, Kate Schneider, LPC, decided to get creative and use it to benefit and motivate young adults in the Ignite Hope program. She’s challenged them to beat her in this year’s Naperville Half Marathon. If they beat her, they will be given $1,000 towards furthering their education or professional advancement. The organization is also encouraging its supporters to help sponsor them in the race as well as participate on the Ignite Hope team.

“I thought the Naperville Half Marathon was an excellent challenge for our program participants and fits perfectly within our mission,” says Schneider. “I found in my own private practice that youth facing substance abuse and addiction issues need structure, accountability, and a chance to create new social groups. Running a half-marathon is the perfect way to engage in goal setting and meet a challenge head on while also reaping the benefits that exercise brings both physically and mentally.”

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costing the United States more than $740 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and healthcare. In a 2014 study, the Institute found that one out of every six American young adults, between the ages of 18 and 25, battled a substance abuse disorder, representing the highest percentage out of any age group in the study at 16.3 percent.

Ignite Hope works with young adults aged 16 to 25 who are in recovery from substance abuse and are already engaged in an out-patient treatment program or are working with an addiction therapist. Ignite Hope’s program works to both enhance these therapeutic efforts and provide the additional supports youth need to aid in their long-term recovery. It does this by empowering youth to get fit and give-back to their community. Through strategic partnerships formed with both fitness facilities and other nonprofits, Ignite Hope provides youth with free monthly membership passes in exchange for volunteering once a month. Youth who complete the Ignite Hope program are also awarded scholarship funding to support their educational and professional aspirations.

Schneider is in the process of putting together an Ignite Hope team. Their goal is to have a team of 15 runners for the half marathon and an unlimited number of runners for the 5k. Those who wish to run need to pledge or donate $150 or more with all the proceeds going directly to participants in the program though the scholarship funding. Donors and runners will receive an Ignite Hope tee-shirt and bag and have access to refreshments in the organization’s sponsored tent at the race.

The 5th annual Naperville Half Marathon and 5k is being held on October 22, 2017. The race begins at 7:00 am on Eagle Street, just north of Aurora Avenue. To sign-up and join Schneider and her team, visit RunNaperville.com/charity-partners/ and look for the Ignite Hope logo. To make a donation directly to the organization, visit Ignite-Hope.org.

About Ignite Hope

Ignite Hope is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington Heights, Illinois that provides a program based on physical exercise and volunteering as a way to help young adults aged 16 to 25 achieve and maintain sobriety. For more information, visit Ignite-Hope.org.

Media Contact / Media Interviews
Kate Schneider, CEO Ignite Hope
Phone: 847-630-2255
Email: info@ignite-hope.org

Source: Ignite Hope