Run 4 Freedom

Additional Information

My name is Nikolas Spilson and I am a 18 year old high school senior. I created Run 4 Freedom on a bus ride back from Colorado Springs in the summer of 2013. I had just finished an amazing week-long youth retreat with my church, which helped
charge my compassion for others and the desire to proactively make a change in my community. At the time, I was 14 years old and I wasn't financially or mentally ready to start a project like this. So the idea eventually faded away. However, this past summer I came to the realization that I needed to finish what my mind had started. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to go through with it.

Run 4 Freedom’s mission is to put an end to teen bullying, depression, and suicide. We are working endlessly to help educate Michigan about the signs and symptoms of these horrible things. We are holding a 5K run and walk at Celery Flats on May 28, 2016 at 10 am. All of our profit will be donated to Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo, the local suicide hotline and help center. By doing this, we will help many teens who suffer from bullying, depression, and suicide get the therapy and help they need. It’s hard trying to balance work, college courses, socialization, and Run 4 Freedom without even being a legal adult yet, but I am so excited for the challenge.

I am reaching out to you because I want as many people in our great state of Michigan to hear about what’s going on in our schools and our communities. We want to educate parents, teachers, mentors, and students about depression, bullying, and suicide so our communities don’t have to endure the devastating effects of a child taking their own life. If you are interested in helping us promote our 5K event, please feel free to contact me at the number or email listed above. We’re very excited to make a change in our state and we hope you are too!