It is 5:30am and while most of those across Philly were still sleeping, Anne Mahlum was out for her daily jog. Her route routinely took her past homeless shelters where the men would cheer her one. One day, however, the morning light in the sky was not the only thing that dawned upon her. Realization of the plight of these homeless men did too. Stopping dead in her tracks, according to her own comments, Anne knew she could make a difference, and now, over two years later, what a difference she has made.

Anne’s program called Back On My Feet found its own footing and began running in July, 2007. She worked hard to get donations for shoes and running gear for the homeless she used to run right on by. The program works with three shelters in the greater Philly area where program participants have to be clean and sober for 30 days. They also have to remain clean and sober. At the time the press release was given, in Fall, 2008, there were 54 homeless people active in the club and over 250 volunteers. The club runs together three times a week from 5:30 – 6:00 am and logged over 5,000 miles on foot by Fall, 2008.

Anne herself knows what addiction is all about first hand. Her father was an alcoholic. She used running as a means of therapy. Now, she claims running is a metaphor for life. Running not only has helped the Club members to lose weight and quit smoking, but it has also taught them a great deal about goal setting and learning to handle the obstacles life throws in the daily path.

Mike Solomon, an original member, is one of the group's success stories. A former crack user who spent his youth in and out of trouble on the streets of Wilmington, Delaware; Solomon is now employed, in school, and training to run a marathon in his hometown. He considers Back on My Feet part of his support group. Part of that support system is the way runners greet each other with hugs and words of encouragement each time they meet to run.

Anne’s plans were to have Back On My Feet in 10 local shelters by the end of the year 2008, and to expand beyond Philadelphia this year, in 2009. She believes her approach could be part of a solution to homelessness.
"Do we need homes? Yes. We need jobs? Yes," she says. "But imagine if you didn't have anybody in your life who said, 'I'm really proud of you.' Back On My Feet does just that."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/04/02/heroes.mahlum/index.html