By Kristen Pizzo
For the first time, a team of Blanchet House staff and supporters is running Hood to Coast, a nearly 200-mile relay race from Mt. Hood to Seaside, Oregon. Since 1982, avid runners have embarked on this annual adventure to raise money for various organizations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The Blanchet House team is collecting donations through individual team member fundraisers and team sponsors, including Root to Bloom (More Realty) Group, Gonzales, Gonzales, & Gonzales Immigration Law Offices, Equilibrium Chiropractic, Acupuncture, & Massage, and Speedland.
For Lucia Keefe, realtor and owner of Root to Bloom (More Realty), the choice to sponsor the Hood to Coast fundraiser in particular is deeply personal. To her, becoming a runner wasn’t just about working out—it was the catalyst for her recovery after 15 years as a functional alcoholic (her words).
Realtor Lucia Keefe volunteers in the clothing closet at Blanchet House, in addition to financially sponsoring our Hood to Coast team.
Her experience isn’t an anomaly. Research like a study from the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Human Ability Development and Assurance for Movement has shown exercise to be a powerful tool for addiction recovery. The “runner’s high,” which refers to the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, can reduce the need to rely on substances to manage stress or get a dopamine hit.
In Lucia’s case, it was the act of pushing through the challenge of running that strengthened her sense of self-worth and ultimately aided her recovery. Like many of us trying a new exercise routine for the first time, Lucia found that starting was the hardest part.
“Just one mile felt impossible, kind of similar to not drinking just for a day,” she said.
But like anything worthwhile, the consistency started to pay off.
“Building routine exercise into my weekly schedule helped me to develop more of a connection with my body and some self-respect, honestly too,” she shared.
Slowly, one mile became one and a half, and then two, and so on, until eventually, Lucia was able to take on an entire half-marathon.
“It was one of the first times that I felt proud of myself,” she recalled.
This feat of athleticism wasn’t just a testament to her physical endurance. Achieving her running goals showed Lucia that she was capable of facing the long, difficult road of overcoming addiction.
Now, seven years into her recovery, Lucia is committed to supporting others who are struggling. As a real estate agent, she gives 10% of every home sale to local nonprofits addressing addiction and homelessness.
Lucia believes each member of the Portland community has a responsibility to make a conscious effort to give back, whether that be through regular volunteer work or donations.
“Could you imagine if every business was thinking about the ways that they could be impactful and create some sort of change in our city?”
Hood to Coast sponsorships like Lucia’s help support all Blanchet House operations, including those at Blanchet Farm, a residential addiction recovery program offering men a place to develop new skills and heal at no cost.
You can make your own contribution to Blanchet House’s Hood to Coast relay team here.
