Rise Up!

Brighton Recovery Foundation and Addict to Athlete are partnering with Lisa Smith-Batchen on her unprecedented RUN for recovery: Rise Up!

Starting on October 6th, 2023 I'm going to attempt to become the first person to cover a route of nearly 500 miles on foot, in 10 days or less, to raise awareness and funding for Mental Health and Addiction recovery.

You may be wondering what would drive me to embark on such a journey.

Every one of us is touched and affected in some way either personally or by loved ones who have or currently are suffering from mental health or substance use disorders. My family has personally been touched by both.

I feel the call from the universe for me to take action by using the gift given to me, of moving on my feet to help raise awareness and funds to motivate and inspire people to rise up and take action.

We all have a story! I am standing in the gap with my voice and my feet, and calling for all of us to unite as an unstoppable force, to end the disparities of mental health and addiction treatment.

Outlined below is my vision of this project, and description of the journey. I am calling this journey/project: RISE UP!

Take a moment to consider the significance of connecting the two lowest points in the Continental United States to the highest point, the parallel of those facing the battle of mental illness and addiction, and the journey they must face to heal.

Beginning at the Salton Sea, in Southern California (Anza-Borrego Desert, elevation -234), I will run and walk an estimated 300+ miles to the lowest point in North America at -282 feet below sea level Death Valley National Park, Badwater Basin. I will continue running and walking across Death Valley 146 miles to the highest point in the United States at the summit of Mount Whitney (14,505 ft). After reaching the summit of Mount Whitney I will run and walk back down and finish the journey in the town of Lone Pine California.

The Parable: When someone is at rock bottom, the darkness of depression, deep despair, and loss of all hope they need help taking the steps to move forward and heal to reach the Highest point in healing and recovery.

Just as an individual in recovery must take a step forward in faith, and then gain the skills and coping strategies to maintain balance in life, I am taking a step forward in faith and using all of the skills and wisdom I have learned to reach the finish line in Lone Pine.

When individuals find themselves at rock bottom, they need the support of treatment facilities, pro-recovery communities, and effective mental health treatment to succeed. Will you be part of the solution? When a seed is put into the ground, it has the potential to multiply. One single corn seed has the potential to produce thousands of seeds and grow into a corn field. When you invest in one individual and they heal, they have the potential to reach more and multiply the impact by passing the hope forward and bring others into healing.

My journey represents the low point that many in recovery start at, and is a physical representation, signifying the journey one must take to go higher, through faith, hard work, commitment, and dedication. With the support of a team, I will reach the high point, which represents the potential each human has to manifest a great destiny when they are healed and whole. The journey back to the town of Lone Pine represents the balance one must have in life to maintain recovery and healing.

My mantra for this journey is:

Lowest to Love.

Highest with Hope.

Each step forward with great Faith.

RISE UP!

https://dreamchaserevents.com/coaching/lisa-smith-batchen/