Run for a Child

06/27/2024

I absolutely love the fact that some of our schools recognize that, sadly, for too many children, the most nutritional food they get is at school.

For many in under-served communities, the children rely on the meals provided when they are at school. Which means that, when they are on summer break, they miss out on the meals and milk that they essentially depend on the schools to provide for them. This resonates with me, even as I look back on my younger years as a child.

So, I appreciate the schools and organizations like https://squaremeals.org that take care of our children in need, even when school is out!

05/31/2024

Today is the last day of Mental Health Awareness Month - and I was pleased to complete (over-achieve) my New York Road Runners (NYRR) 31-in-41 challenge (31 miles in 31 days.). I covered 54.4 miles of running and over 31 hours of physical activity?

Why? - physical health and fitness, which supports mental health and fitness, which supports mental health and fitness… it’s all interrelated.

AND - to drive awareness for mental health. EVERY ONE of us needs to take care of our mental health as much as we do our physical health; it is not a domain that is exclusive to the “mentally ill”, depressed, or those with psychiatric disorders. Those cases that need extra support need our support, as do their loved ones who support them - or if they have no support from family or friends, then those medical staff or those strangers in the street that help them out.

So, tomorrow, June 1st, I’ll still be aware of mental health - for people around me, for strangers, and for myself.

Nonetheless, May 31st, I am happy to have completed my 31-in-31

If you or someone you love needs help, please reach out:

USA: 988
Australiia: 13 11 14
UK: NHS 111 or text SHOUT to 85258.

American Foundation for Su***de Prevention

05/18/2024

FIISH

05/18/2024

05/18/2024

Ready for the New York Road Runners (NYRR) 2024.
Every post raises more $s for National Alliance on Mental Illness - so well worth the strain to get up early and get this done!

05/08/2024

We are on Day #8 of Mental Health awareness month. Of course, as with physical health, we need to take care of our mental health every day of the year - but it is good to have a focus month.

Addiction, in all of its forms, is complex in nature, there is a direct correlation between addiction and mental health. Perhaps more often than not, addiction is notntje problem - it is a unprompted of the real problem, which is the struggle with mental health.

The trick is to not judge ourselves, nor judge our people, that addiction is a weakness or a primary problem - when we recognize it as a symptom of the primary issue, that being mental health, we are likely going o be more successful in helping ourselves and/or the people that we love.

Let’s not judge; not judge ourselves; not write ourselves off; not judge our friends or family members; instead - let’s always leave light on!

If you are struggling… if you are finding yourself “searching for a darker place to hide”… I you are finding yourself more frequently in those darker places… there is no need for shame or judgement. You are simply being human and there is zero shame in that. It is OK not to feel OK. You are going through a struggle - one that you can win.

Reach out to a trusted friend, family member (who has the capacity to support you), colleague, or professional. If that feels impossible, make a confidential call:

US: 988
UK: 111
Australia: 13 11 14

You are not alone and you DO matter!

There is always a “light on” for you! ❤️

https://youtu.be/nqnkBdExjws?si=9RHQWTINlwZZq8LC

***deAwareness
American Foundation for Su***de Prevention

“Tom Walker
The second someone mentioned you were all alone
I could feel the trouble coursing through your veins
Now I know, it's got a hold
Just a phone call left unanswered had me sparking up
These ci******es won't stop me wondering where you are
Don't let go, keep a hold
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse
It's a place where you'll be safe to feel our grace
'Cause we've all made mistakes
If you've lost your way
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
Tell me what's been happening, what's been on your mind
Lately, you've been searching for a darker place to hide
That's alright
But if you carry on abusing, you'll be robbed from us
I refuse to lose another friend to drugs
Just come home, don't let go
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse
It's a place where you'll be safe to feel our grace
'Cause we've all made mistakes
If you've lost your way
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse
It's a place where you'll be safe to feel our grace
And if you've lost your way
If you've lost your way
I will leave the light on
And I know you're down and out now, but I need you to be brave
Hiding from the truth ain't gonna make this all okay
I see your pain
If you don't feel our grace and you've lost your way
Well, I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
'Cause I will leave the light on
“

Download & stream the Deluxe Edition of Tom Walker's debut album "What a Time to Be Alive" here: http://smarturl.it/TWWATTBADeluxe Stream / download Tom Walk...

03/11/2024

I have met with business leaders, senators, and real genuine people over the past few days. One resounding message of feedback… they want me to run for office!!! Because I CHOSE this country!… because I LOVE this country… because I protect the innocent … and because this country is ALREADY GREAT!!! - we just have to keep it here and make it AMAZING!

02/27/2024

To all those scammers trying to pretend that you are Meta / Facebook, claiming some sort of violation - against a page with such a good cause…

… rest assured that we report you all to the authorities and hope to see you face justice for your disgusting scams!

02/11/2024

As m working to get myself back on track, I’m ready to run the Grid Iron in New York tomorrow morning. Not a big distance, but a qualifier.

I had a small tear to my left knee meniscus at the San Francisco Marathon and Half Marathon last summer - tore it up even worse at the Staten Island Half Marathon last autumn (fall.) Spent months recovering from that.

Then - speaking of falls - had a heavy fall last week and really hit both patellas hard on a tiled floor.

So, whilst tomorrow is only 4 miles, I know it will be a painful 4 miles. Not about the pace for me… just about starting and finishing.

So, double knee braces, compression socks, compression calf sleeves, determination,and the joy for bing around about 5,000 other determined runners!

See you at the Start and Finish lines!

Mike Karpenko

01/01/2024

First of all... wishing everybody in my network a Happy, Peaceful (let's wish that we get there), safe, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2024.

At the same time, it's important that we all recognize ("recognise" for my International English language friends 😊 ) that as an example, in the United States of America, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States.

In 2021, an estimated 21 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode, which represents 8.3% of all adults in the U.S.

That means that whether it's you, and/or me, almost 1-in-10 people reading this post might NOT be so excited about 2024. (8.3% represents those that have said it out aloud - my personal opinion is that it could be double that number!)

So - most importantly - if you are struggling; if you are fighting this fight... it is OK not to feel OK! Depression and related suicidal thinking is indiscriminate! - it doesn't care about your nationality... the colour or tone of your skin... your language... your accent... your financial stature... where you are in your career path... if you are a senior executive... if you are fresh out of (or still in) college... it doesn't give a S41T!!! it will try to bite you.

So, my New Year message is: to that 8.3% (or possibly 17%) of my Friends, Business Partners, Acquaintances, Family and extended family, and anybody else that knows me - YOUR life matters! YOU matter! The whole universe is a better place because YOU are in it!

Check out the link below from the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention that highlights how to recognize risk factors in yourself, or in people that you love.

To you all! Happy New Year! Happy 2024! Please don't get in your own way! You ARE loved and you ARE needed and you DO matter!

I have listed some resources below, but it is not an exhaustive list, that can help you if you personally are in that dark place today - or that can help you if you perceive that someone you care about might be in that dark place.

If you can't find the help and support you need - or if you feel "weird" saying it out aloud, then please send me a direct message, and we will partner up and make 2024 an amazing year for us all!

Much love and all the best for 2024!

American Foundation for Su***de Prevention
***deprevention ***deawareness ***de

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm1syU71ZMc

07/25/2023

It's hard to believe how many years it has been since we started this initiative.

It's time to ramp up and re-vitalize!

If you haven't seen it yet - then please do watch this movie.

The United Sates is allegedly one of the largest consumers of human trafficking and human slavery. Slavery is apparently more abundant here than it was when Slavery was legal!

Help us to help a child; to help a life; to change a world!

Watch this movie wherever and while you can!

Paying it Forward can help provide free tickets for others and spread awareness about the millions of children being trafficked each year. Give now.

03/05/2023

Just boarded on yet another first flight of a multi-leg trip. As always, on-board crew are amazing and making it feel like home, as did the gang in the lounge.