On October 13, 2018,  we, Wibke Rees, Stephanie Foreman and Elise Zuber have all committed to run a 50 mile race in support of Ally Vera,  in her battle against depression and mental illness in order to cheer her on, to show her she is loved and valued and to support her treatment.  

Learn more about the race here 

Together as a team our current goal is to raise enough to have all of the combined miles - 150 sponsored!!!! We are asking that you prayerfully consider taking a mile and donating $40 to sponsor us! Take as many miles as you feel called to take!   We trust God will move mountains (and our feet) in this process!! 

See the following bios:

Wibke:
My name is Wibke Rees and I am excited to be part of “team Ally” and run the Des Plaines 50 mile ultra marathon on October 13.
I am a mother of 6 children (4 bio and 2 adopted) and have been a runner for the last ten years.

As a young teenager I spent 12 months in a place similar to the Teen Challenge place Ally attends. I was sent there to help me in my recovery from Anorexia Nervosa. As difficult as that time was, I know it saved my life. I am passionate about recovery ministry and helping people get back on track.

I love Ally and the Vera family and know that it takes a community of people to help financially to make this kind of treatment possibly.
I hope you can partner with me and donate to my 50 mi race. My training goal is to run it in under 8 hours.
Your financial support and partnership makes a difference! Thank you

Stephanie:
Hi, I’m Stephanie. I am married and have three beautiful children, two bio sons and an adopted daughter. I love gardening, flowers, bunnies, dogs and running. I have a rare autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis or, as I like to call it, Awesome Sauce disease that causes chronic pain in my joints, primarily my spine. This makes life slightly more difficult but I roll with it in what I like to call my “creative lifestyle.”
This is my first ultra that I will be attempting as I’ve never run further than a marathon before. However, very recently I felt God pressing me, challenging me to do more, run further, for Him. I wasn’t entirely sure why, and then soon afterward I heard about Ally.

My own past resembles Ally’s current struggle with so much internal pain and hurt, I feel a strong connection to both her and her family. How can I help this girl so she doesn’t have to go through any more of the hell that mental disease creates? How can I help make it stop? God has enabled me with the ability to continue running, I’m passionate about it and find He most often speaks to me when its just Him and I, running, keeping pace. If my efforts can help bless this precious child of God and her family during their time of desperate need, to God be the glory!

Elise:
Hi, I am Elise, this summer I will be celebrating my 23rd anniversary to my amazing husband. Together we have 6 children, 2 bio and 4 adopted.  When I was asked earlier in the year to commit to running my second ultra I truly waffled and felt I didn't have the time to train.  The second I found out that this ultra would involve raising funds for Team Ally I didn't hesitate at all and signed up immediately!  I strongly believe that we as a community need to stand up and support people struggling with mental health issues.  I myself have worked through trauma, depression and anxiety.  To show someone struggling that there is hope and purpose beyond the pain of their struggle is so critical to me.  

I absolutely love the Vera family and am excited to and eager to be a part of helping Ally get the treatment she needs!  I love how they have already seen a lot of positive changes from Teen Challenge! 

Ally:

Ally is 17 years old and is the oldest child of Ronnie and Jen Vera. It has been a very difficult year for Ally. She has been dealing with severe depression, leading to self- harming behaviors and attempted suicides. This resulted in multiple inpatient visits to various mental health facilities. She has been receiving intense weekly counseling but still struggles daily. With much prayer and guidance, they have asked the Lord for answers of hope and clarity for their daughter, and He answered.

Ally was accepted to Teen Challenge- an all girls school down south - a 15 month program that she began in November 2017. It is with a heavy heart that they make the hardest decision a parent could make for any of their children: sending them off and letting them go. They don't know exactly how they will be able to do this but they strongly believe that God says, "TRUST ME, TAKE MY HAND AND I WILL PROVIDE." They want Ally to know that there is hope in and a future for her life, and they hope that she can finally experience freedom and healing from this dark pit that she has been in for far too long. We are asking that you pray for the Vera's, for Ally, and for all who are dealing with the battle of depression.




Thank you for your prayers, love, and support.