Join Us For Our 6th Annual Marisa's Purpose

Run/Walk or Bike to Recovery 2023

Sunday, September 23, 2023

11.5-Mile Bike Race Starts: 8:15 AM

5K-Run or Walk Starts 8:30 AM

Adults - $20.00 / Students - $15.00

or a Family of 4 for $60.00

We also offer a virtual option -$30

Packet Pick Up and Same Day Registration:

7:30 AM - 8:15 AM

Allerton Park & Retreat Center

515 Old Timber Road

Monticello, IL

https://allerton.illinois.edu/

You can register for this event below. Marisa's Purpose is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth and parents about drug and alcohol abuse.

Proceeds from last year's race allowed us to educate all the schools in Piatt County. We have also been able to use funding to host Narcan (Naloxone) educating and training classes, and give away free Narcan.

In addition to all of this, Marisa's Purpose Addiction Awareness Scholarship will be giving two graduating High School Seniors from Piatt County $1,000.00 each to use towards tuition, books and housing.

KNOWLEDGE IS A POWERFUL TOOL AGAINST DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE!

Marisa's Purpose 5k Walk/Run or 11.5 Mile Bike Ride to Recovery will start at 8:15 AM. Start and Finish at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. We will have two separate events, one for runners/walkers and one for the bikers.

All proceeds from this Event will go to continuing educating our youth and the parents. My hope is that we can remove the stigma, start the conversation and educate anyone who will listen. This past year we have helped people get into recovery, return to NA (Narcotics Anonymous).

Our guest speaker this year was Nadine Machovech & Anthony Alvarado spoke to Monticello schools and it was live streamed to all of Piatt County and Douglas County. Nadine and Anthony also hosted a Parent Presentation. We had a welcoming response from the students, parents and staff. We appreciate your support for our organization and know that together, we can save lives!

Past Speakers:

Marisa's Purpose is working with Macon/Piatt Regional Office of Education #39 to bring in additional educators each year. We are looking forward to reaching more students and their parents.

Michael DeLeon is on a mission: A mission to educate the youth to stay on the right path when it comes to serious life issues, especially drugs. He has become the #1 booked school presenter in the country.

Michael is the founder and powerhouse behind Steered Straight Inc., a non-profit organization formed in 2007 upon his release from prison and designed to carry an important message to youth on the extreme dangers of drugs, gang involvement and associated criminal activity.

Steered Straight’s program reaches out to children, teens and young adults with a message of reality about life-choices and the importance of consequential thinking so that they understand that there are consequences to their actions. The reality of the message comes from Michael himself, who was entwined in the life of drugs and traveled a troubling road to get to his future. Throughout the country, Michael now leads a team of talented speakers who present a realistic and powerful prevention message. His “no holds back” message resonates well with student assemblies, faculty and parents.

Stay In Your Lane Media, the media arm of Steered Straight, was founded by Michael in 2012, and has produced four award winning documentaries, Kids Are Dying, An American Epidemic, Marijuana X and Road to Recovery. His fifth documentary, “Higher Power is currently in post-production. Michael has also produced multiple public service announcements, as well as educational and instructional videos on prevention and Recovery

Michael founded a project of Steered Straight, Inc., called “The Recovery Army”. Recovery Army’s mission is to recruit everyone to wage war on this pandemic of addiction. He tours the country in a Recovery Army Tour bus, visiting communities with educational resources, films and books. He visits schools, prisons, jails, treatment centers, Churches and community organizations addressing each group with catered messages and presentations. He captures stories of Hope and Recovery and has produced over one hundred video stories on the Recovery Army Website.

Every state in America has experienced Michael DeLeon – one of the most passionate prevention speakers you will ever encounter. He is a member of many associations, committees and boards, but more importantly, he will take the time to answer questions from any youth and talk with anyone in his audience. Why? As Michael says, “I don’t want to just affect one kid; I want to affect them all.”

Questions may be answered by contacting:

Connie Gyorr 630-234-8175