Relief Nursery, Inc.

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Four generations of our family (ages 5 to 77!) will be participating in the 2025 "Run To Stay Warm" in Eugene, Oregon on Nov. 23 to support Relief Nursery, Inc., a local public-benefit nonprofit organization. More than a dozen family members will take part, most of them in the 5K event but also in the Half Marathon.

We are pleased to raise funds for Relief Nursery and to help keep this remarkable and highly effective local nonprofit organization going and growing. Through its rich menu of programs and activities, Relief Nursery works to fulfill its core commitment to safeguard children from abuse and neglect. We urge you to join us in supporting Relief Nursery by pledging your tax-deductible donation now. Together, we can make a difference! Thank you.

This will be my first time running the Eugene Half Marathon! Eugene takes a lot of pride in its running identity, and I have really felt the encouragement from my friends and family as I've been training. I'm hoping to channel some of that support back out into the community by fundraising for Relief Nursery and the wonderful resources they offer local families. The work Relief Nursery does helps keep Eugene an amazing place to grow up, live, and run!

I’m running with Relief Nursery because protecting children and strengthening families has been shaped deeply by my own life experiences. I lived 12 years of my life in Colombia, where I saw many children forced to work to help support their families financially. Witnessing that at a young age opened my eyes to how vulnerable children can be when families lack stability and support. Those experiences compel me as an adult to help raise funds to prevent child abuse and break cycles of hardship. I want to be part of real, lasting change, and Relief Nursery does exactly that by providing programs and services that foster healthy child development and promote family stability. Running for this cause allows me to combine my passion for running with my commitment to advocating for children and families who need support the most.

This organization has been close to my heart since my senior year of high school, when I participated in the Senior Axemen Pageant to support the Relief Nursery’s mission.

Now, as a new father, my appreciation for the Relief Nursery has grown even deeper. My wife and I have been incredibly fortunate to have the support of family and friends as we navigate parenthood, but I know that not every family has that safety net. You are only as good as the community around you, and the Relief Nursery does an incredible job of being that village for those who need it most.

By helping me reach my $350 goal, you aren't just helping me register for a race - you are directly supporting early intervention and family support services that prevent child abuse and neglect in the Eugene community.

Any contribution, no matter the size, helps me get one step closer to the starting line and ensures a local family gets the support they deserve. Thank you for helping me give back to this wonderful organization!

I have loved participating in the Eugene Marathon in the past and am proud to support Relief Nursery this year in their Run for a Reason campaign. I am a pediatrician in Eugene/Springfield and I know countless families who have benefited from the wonderful services that Relief Nursery provides, including education, social support, and positive interventions for developmental and behavioral challenges. Please join me in helping to support this fantastic organization!

My Story: Why I’m Running the Eugene Marathon for Relief Nursery

I didn’t start running with the goal of becoming a marathoner.

I started with small, reasonable goals: getting in shape and completing a 10K. Once I reached that goal, I realized something important: I was capable of more than I thought. Training for a half marathon didn’t seem so impossible anymore. As I kept pushing myself, another realization set in, if I was training for something I already knew I could do, I wasn’t truly testing my limits.

So I decided to train for the Eugene Marathon.

This will be my first marathon. I haven’t even run a half marathon yet. I’m doing this on my own, without a team carrying me through it. And while I don’t know exactly what will happen between now and race day, setbacks are always possible, I believe that if I stay committed, take the next step when it’s hard, and don’t give up, I can get there.

Finishing this marathon isn’t about proving how far I can run. It’s about proving to myself that I can accomplish things that once felt impossible. There was a time not long ago when running one, three, or five miles felt overwhelming. Ten miles felt extreme. But progress happens one step at a time. Running starts with walking. You prove to yourself that you can take the next step, and then the one after that. Before you realize it, you’re doing something you once never imagined you could.

That belief, that people can grow and thrive when they find the tools and confidence to move forward, is why I chose to run for Relief Nursery.

Relief Nursery isn’t about holding families’ hands forever. They step in at the right moment to help families build the skills, tools, and confidence they need to create lasting change on their own. Many families don’t lack potential, they lack access, guidance, and belief in what’s possible. Relief Nursery helps show families the tools available to them, how to use those tools, and how to build the confidence to keep going long after.

Real, positive, and permanent change has to come from within. You have to want it. The families Relief Nursery serves have recognized that something needs to change, and they are brave enough to ask for help when they’re ready to take those steps. Relief Nursery helps them find the path forward, but the strength and perseverance come from the families themselves.

Life is hard. It knocks you down at every turn. Many find themselves stuck in places they never planned to be. Pushing back takes courage, effort, and belief. These families are doing that work, choosing to build a better life for themselves and their children, and Relief Nursery is there to help them get started and to believe in their ability to succeed.

As I train for this marathon, I’m reminded that growth happens one step at a time. Whether it’s running, parenting, or rebuilding a life, progress starts by believing you can take the next step, and then proving it to yourself.

That’s why I’m running for Relief Nursery, and why I’m proud to support the work they do in our community.

Thank you for believing in me, and for believing in the families Relief Nursery serves.

I have been running for the past twenty years and it has been something that keeps me physically and mentally healthy. I love being outside and sharing a run with others. I love running races too. So far I have avoided running this ultimate distance of 42km, but inspired by people around me, I decided to run it in the year that I turn 40. Running for Relief Nursery makes it even more special. I have always realized the importance of the first 3 years of a kid’s life. Now having a young family myself with two daughters of 6 months and 3 years old, am confronted with all the stresses of a young family and appreciate Relief Nursery’s services even more, helping kids get the best start during these crucial first years will pay dividends for a lifetime to come.

Hi,

I want to share why this year I’ve chosen to run the Eugene Oregon Marathon for a cause that truly matters to me: Relief Nursery.

Running has taught me how powerful consistency, patience, and resilience can be. You don’t always feel strong, motivated, or ready—but you keep going anyway. That mindset is exactly why I felt connected to this cause.

Relief Nursery supports young children and families during some of their most challenging moments. Their work helps create stability, safety, and hope at a time when it’s needed most. Knowing that my effort can contribute—even in a small way—to that mission gives this marathon a deeper purpose.

Every mile I run is about more than crossing a finish line. It’s about turning physical effort into something meaningful. It’s about using something I love to support families and children who deserve a strong and healthy start in life.

I’d love for you to be part of this journey with me.

Any donation, no matter the size, helps support the work of Relief Nurseries and makes a real impact.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering supporting this cause.

Your support means more than you know.

With gratitude,

Diego Machuca

I'm grateful to be running for Relief Nursery this year. I am a father of two, and having been in the "2 under 2" club, I know how hard it can be as a parent of small children -- they don't say it takes a village without a reason! Every child deserves care and love, so I'm greatly encouraged that so many people at Relief Nursery dedicate themselves to helping families thrive. When you know your children are cared for, it enables you to provide for your family. I hope you join me in supporting Relief Nursery!

My name is Shayli Milum and I'm a part of Relief Nursery's Run for a Reason team. I've been training for the upcoming 2026 Half Marathon distance and would love to do it in support of Relief Nursery's program! I'm currently a human services student at Lane Community College and looking to work with children in the future, so the message of the program is something I'm already very passionate about!

I’m excited to run through one of my favorite places in the world (Eugene!) and take the opportunity to give back to its community. I’d be honored to run for Relief Nursery and support their work to provide essential services to children and families. We don’t choose our circumstances or childhoods, but we all are deeply impacted by them, and Relief Nursery’s mental health services and programs have the power to help children flourish throughout their lives.

As a teacher, I know that learning begins at home, and raising children is a community effort. I’m running for Relief Nursery because I believe every child, and every family, deserves our very best; our very future depends on it.