My 17-year-old daughter, Sadie, has endured a long and painful struggle with mental health and addiction. After being her “bonus dad” for 10 years, I officially adopted her a year ago, and she has been a beloved part of our family ever since. This past summer, our world was turned upside down when Sadie went missing on the streets of Los Angeles for nearly 38 hours. Every moment she was gone, I searched desperately—calling, walking, and driving anywhere I could think of—until, by God’s grace, someone found her and her journey toward healing could begin again.

That journey is far from over. Sadie is now in the early stages of recovery at a trusted therapeutic boarding school, where she is finally safe and receiving the care she needs. However, mental health and addiction recovery are incredibly expensive. We have exhausted our own resources and the support of our closest circle, and now insurance is no longer willing to continue covering her care. Her treatment at this school has been life-saving, and we know that her continued care there is a matter of life or death.

The funds raised will go directly to Sadie’s care team—psychiatrists, teachers, counselors, and medications—as well as the costs of her round-the-clock care. A small portion will help my wife and I travel for family weekends designed to bridge the relationship gap and prepare for Sadie’s return home. To raise awareness and support, I am running across the state of Tennessee, beginning in Memphis on June 6th and hoping to reach the Virginia border by June 17th. I invite anyone to join me along the way or follow our journey on Instagram at @run4sadie. I will be spending from now until then raising support, training, and raising awareness about Sadie's situation and the current plight of many other families. It is my prayer to be done raising the funds quickly so we can focus on advocating and participating in Sadie's care, and then this summer the run be a celebration of her road to healing, and continued awareness for mental health needs, and addiction recovery.

There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my children, and I hope you’ll join us in supporting Sadie’s healing—whether with your feet, your encouragement, or your generosity.