Run in Your PJs for "Back on My Feet"

By JONIDA SHEGANI

Updated 3:55 PM EDT, Sat, Jul 18, 2009

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We all have our own motivations that push us to go further in life. For this woman her simple daily task changed hundreds of lives.

Anne Mahlum, a dedicated runner, turned her passion into a mission. Mahlum created “Back On My Feet,” a non-profit organization that helps Philadelphia’s homeless get "back on their feet."

“'Back on My Feet' does not provide food nor does it provide shelter, but instead provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership,” says BackOnMyFeet.org.

Last year the 1st annual “20 in 24 Relay Challenge,” which drew more than 800 people, raised more than $90,000. This year the 2nd annual "20 in 24 Relay Challenge" will take place Saturday, July 18 and participants will run around the Schuylkill River.

This is Philly’s only 24-hour relay race and it's organized in teams of five. The teams choose from three races of different levels- from beginner (8.4 miles) to experienced (33.4 miles). The race starts Saturday at 10 a.m. and ends Sunday at 10 a.m.

Each race has its own theme like the Lone Ranger Ultra Marathon, the Midnight Madness “Glow-in-the-Dark” Run and this year’s new addition: the Pajama Loop.

The Lone-Ranger Loop is for experienced runners and runners will run as many loops as they can in the 24-hour period.

The Midnight Madness Run is an 8.4-mile run that starts on Saturday at midnight in front of Lloyd Hall.

And getting up at the crack of dawn is hard, that’s why BOMF created a Pajama Loop this year. It will happen at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. And leave the running gear at home--Just show up in your pajamas (but wear your running sneakers, not slippers, please). And if you come wearing your most stylish pj’s, you can win a prize.

“Running is such a beautiful metaphor for life,” said Mahlum. “Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing roads filled with opportunity, hope and happiness,” she said on her Web site.

Registration is now closed for runners, but they sure need volunteers, your support and your enthusiasm to keep the runners going through the 24-hour period.