Run for the money!

Learn how two prolifers are using their legs to raise money for the prolife cause

Sarah Justian of Whitehall and Brett Moon of Chelsea were just two of the 10,000 participants in the 2004 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon on Oct. 24. But for Right to Life of Michigan, they were the two most important runners in the pack. They both chose the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund as the charitable recipient of their fundraising efforts and each collected $1,000 to help save lives.

“The thought of being able to do something to contribute in some way is very important to us,” said Moon of himself and his family, including wife Nancy and his four children.

“When the life issue doesn’t hit close to you, you don’t think you need to do anything,” Moon continued. “But, as you are educated about what happens to the children during an abortion, it is heartbreaking.”

Moon ran his first marathon for Right to Life in October 2003 and plans to continue participating in the yearly event on behalf or the RLM Ed Fund as long as he is able.

Inspired by Brett Moon’s story of his 2003 marathon run, Justian, the mother of two young girls and Life Coordinator at her church, St. James Lutheran in Muskegon, took on the 2004 challenge on behalf of the RLM Ed Fund. Spurring her on even more was the fact that she was also running in memory of her nephew, Brenden who, at 17 weeks premature, had died in 2003 after surviving for 11 days.

“The best thing about running in the marathon was that I had the opportunity to witness to 10,000 people,” said Justian, who wore her own T-shirt with a photo of Brenden on the front and “Right to Life of Michigan” on the back. “I got some encouraging comments. People said it was nice to see Right to Life of Michigan represented. Others said, ‘Brenden would be proud of you.’ It wasn’t an easy run, but thinking about all the children I was doing this for kept me going.”

Justian and Moon are hoping more will come out next year and participate in the Marathon on behalf of the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund.

Said Justian, “If I can do it, I know others can do it. It just takes a little preparation.”
If you would like to know more about running in the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon on behalf of the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund, contact Diane Hanson at 734-455-1973, e-mail dhanson@rtl.org.