Hunter (second from right) celebrates with others from The Harbor after completing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon.
Not all that long ago, Hunter Quinton’s life changed forever. (Watch Hunter’s Story of Hope). As one of the first graduates of our New Life Ministry at The Harbor since it moved into its new facility back in 2013, he discovered transformation comes in multiple facets. He trained for and completed a half-marathon with Up and Running Again.
“Training for a half-marathon and actually completing it was completely life changing,” Hunter said. “The challenge of committing to a 14-week process, four days a week, getting up early in the morning and showing up was huge [in the recovery process] …
“I can’t even begin to explain the feeling I felt when I completed the race. I felt so accomplished. It was the best feeling ever.”
Since that momentous day, Hunter is now a Program Coordinator for Up and Running Again and using half-marathons to help transform the lives of current New Life Ministry residents at Portland Rescue Mission. It’s why he’s also looking for volunteers to commit to helping him help others accomplish such a milestone.
As part of Up and Running Again’s program, Hunter is looking for men and women who want to get involved with their training program – starting Monday, March 2. Volunteers need only to commit one day of training a week for 14 weeks in preparation for the Helvetia Half Marathon. Helvetia was voted the best half-marathon in the Pacific Northwest and is part of the Hood to Coast Race Series.
The opportunity to join together with Up and Running Again and invest in the lives of our New Life Ministry residents also brings a wealth of good relationship building. For Hunter, the volunteer who trained him for his first half-marathon a couple of years ago has become much more than just a trainer, he’s a lifelong friend.
“The gentleman that helped me train is now my career coach and mentor,” he said. “We still run together outside of here and are friends to this day.”
Are you ready to help one of our residents step up to the challenge? If so, please contact Hunter at 971-201-9141 or email him and let him know. As Hunter will be the first to tell you, Up and Running Again is “changing lives, one mile at a time,” and you can be a part of it starting next week.