The Greatest Cheerleader

Someone told me before I registered for the 2012 Scotiabank Toronto Marathon to be sure that I registered early enough to get my name printed on my race bib.  I didn't really get the significance of that advice until race day when the power of having people cheer me on by name was, at moments, all there was to convince me that I should keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

I don't know how many people line the streets during the waterfront marathon, but, amid everything I heard from the sidewalks that day and the number of people that willed me on by name, there was a voice I heard that seemed to somehow rise above.  It was my dad's.  There was a special strength in hearing my dad cheer me on that day because beyond whatever encouragement he was yelling out to me, I heard a million other things.  

I heard the day he bought my sister and I our first running gear (new shoes and matching pink wind pants with pink wind breakers).  He told us that he would support us 1000% if we wanted to be runners, but that we had to make the commitment and do the work.  I heard him on my graduation day, telling me how important it was to have a good education and that, no matter what happened in my life, no one could ever take my education away from me.  I saw his big smile as he watched my sister and I open up our fully-stocked toolboxes on Christmas morning, telling us to never be dependent on someone else when we were perfectly capable of doing things ourselves.  I saw him tear up before walking me down the aisle on my wedding day.  I heard him tell his granddaughters how important an education is and that no matter what happens in their life, no one can take it away from them.

I also heard him championing an end to violence against women. There is something incredibly powerful in hearing the men in your life, and particularly your dad, cheerlead an end to gender-based violence.  It makes me realize what a gift his example of respecting and championing women truly is. It made me realize how blessed I am to have my dad cheering me on.

And so I encourage all dads to never underestimate the gift you are to your daughters and all men to appreciate the impact of your example.  And I leave you with one of the greatest moments I've ever lived...and the voice of the best cheerleader I could ask for.  Thank you dad for believing in all that I have ever wanted to do, and thank you for your belief in the importance of ending violence.  Happy Father's Day!

(Please consider supporting the marathon my sister and I are running - and I know my dad will be cheering for - with a donation supporting One Spark's programs that assist women to achieve financial security in order to be free of violence.  You can make a donation at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.)

Running Isn't Hard (by Marlo Taylor)

I’m not a natural runner. In fact, while I have been blessed with a body more than physically capable of running, over the years I have been lacing up my shoes it’s never really gotten easier – mentally or physically. I do it because I like to feel strong and I love crossing the finish line. But the actual act of running? Not so much.

I am also a compulsive scheduler. If there’s a minute in the day, let’s fill it! My mantra: Relaxing is for the weak! Interestingly, though, I rarely proactively book that time for my runs so am consistently bemoaning the fact that I can’t fit them in. How am I expected to run and do all the other things I tell myself are day-to-day necessities?

I used to think this whole running thing was hard. Doing it, making time for it . . . hard, right? No. Running isn’t hard. At least not in the ways I've been complaining about.

What’s hard is needing to escape an abusive situation, find a safe place for you and possibly your kids, and face an uncertain future. What’s hard is being courageous when your body and heart hurt. What’s hard is truly believing no one – including you – deserves to live with violence.

I’m running because it’s the least I can do to help while other women are doing the truly heavy lifting.

2 for 2 is hoping to raise $4,000. For $4,000 we can help two women tackle what’s really hard. We can help them as they take on the challenge of imaging what comes next for them and their families as independent, hopefully thriving entrepreneurs. We can support their business development as they try to create financial stability.

Tonight, I’ll lace up my shoes (and likely whine while doing it), but I’ll come home to a house that is safe and I will sleep well because there is no threat to either me or my children. Imagine being able to help two more women find their path to that kind of peace of mind.

If you can, please support 2 for 2 at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.  

True Story: Why We're Running

Since One Spark's inception, I have often said that I wish everyone involved with One Spark could sit at the table with the women entrepreneurs we work with and experience their determination to courageously carve out a new path.  As a means of sharing our partnership with the women we support, I asked one of our clients if she would be willing to write a short description of her experience working with One Spark.  With her permission (and her enthusiasm: she is extremely eager to share her story for any others it may touch and/or benefit), I am sharing her words. 

"What I would like to say is that for the first time, I have had the greatest experience during this whole endeavor and none of it would be happening without One Spark. I have gained confidence, not only in myself, but as a women with substance that does have something to bring to the table. One Spark has listened to my idea's, even during the current struggles that I continue to have. They give me a direction and keep me on track as this has to be one of the hardest things to accomplish as an abused women, especially with children. The support from all of the experienced board members and all that they have to offer is supreme to say the least.

All the support that I have received could not be written in this letter as there is not enough words to explain. What needs to be said though is that even knowing the experience that the board members bring to the table along with Corrie Schneider's knowledge, none of this could happen without funding. As we all know, all the experience, all of the hard work, no matter the idea, can't be done without money or funding in any way.

I hope that you see the benefits in helping this wonderful and well needed Organization and all that it will do for our future as human beings.

Thank you so much."

Please consider supporting the "2 for 2" marathon to raise money for start-up business grants for two women: we're 2 sisters running for 2 women entrepreneurs.  Our goal is $4,000, the cost of 2 One Spark start-up grants for women impacted by violence.  You can make a donation at:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/

Thank you for your support!

A One Spark Mother's Day Wish

We truly work with some amazing moms at One Spark.  Here's to these incredible women - and all moms - on Mother's Day.

Do You Mind if I Run With You?

I'd like to take a minute to talk about this picture.

The runner on the right is me (Corrie Schneider) on October 14th, 2012. I was approximately 30 km into my attempt at completing my first marathon (the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon in Toronto). The runner on the left is my sister.  If you zoom in on the picture, you'll see that my sister isn't wearing a race bib...or proper running clothes.  She wasn't supposed to run that day.

About 15 minutes before this picture was taken, I had reached the 28 km market and had turned the corner to head north on Coxwell Ave. Ahead of me on the sidewalk I could see my mom, dad, and sister holding up signs encouraging me to "Run Strong!". It's such an amazing feeling to be out on that road with people cheering you on and cheering you home. The truth, though, was that 15 minutes before this picture was taken, I wasn't feeling strong at all: my shoulders and lower legs were screaming with pain and when I finally reached my cheering section the only words I could get out of my mouth as I was running by were, "I hurt".  Before I could inhale my next breath, my amazing sister threw off her backpack, stepped off the curb and said, "Do you mind if I run with you?".  

No kidding, three years later, my eyes water all over again thinking about it.

My sister ran the next 5 km with me: making jokes, singing to me, and cheering me on...anything to try to take away my pain.  Then, in the best relay I will ever be a part of, she slipped off to the side of the road at 33 km, and my awesome husband took over and ran with me until I was 1 km away from the finish line.  Definitely 42.2  of the best kilometres my feet will ever travel.

In my experience, few things are more powerful than people rallying to lift someone up in times of challenge and struggle.  The journeys we share with women at One Spark remind me so much of that marathon: we are honoured to be introduced to the most amazing women and then to have the opportunity to say, "Do you mind if we run with you?". They are the might and determination that cross the finish line with their own will and strength, but we have the unbelievable experience of being there for a few kilometres on their journey.

And, so, in solidarity with women living with violence, my sister Marlo and I are so excited to reunite on the marathon course at the 2015 Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon, both of us officially running this year's race.  With our "2 for 2 Marathon", we are running to raise money to fund One Spark start-up grants for 2 women that are launching their own businesses as a means of working towards financial self-sufficiency in order to live free from violence.  Two sisters for two women entrepreneurs, and an end to violence.  (You can read more about One Spark's work at  http://one-spark.ca/.)

Our goal is to raise $4,000.  We're kindly asking you to consider supporting our run and to stay tuned as we blog about how the preparation and training are going.  We are so grateful for your support of One Spark's work to help women escape violence, and we look forward to an incredible journey.

Thanks for running with us,

Marlo Taylor and Corrie Schneider

To make a donation, please visit our CanadaHelps page at 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/

As We Celebrate National Volunteer Week, Here’s to our Board of Directors

I don’t think I will ever forget the moment that the One Spark Board of Directors took its first breath. It was June 26, 2013 at approximately 1:00 p.m.  I sat across from Jo-Anne Liburd over a pint on a Front Street patio in Toronto and said nervously, “I want to talk to you about something”.  By 1:30 Jo-Anne was the founding President of the One Spark Board of Directors.

I know for a fact that many organizations have outstanding Boards of Directors, but as we celebrate National Volunteer Week, I want to share why I love the One Spark Board from the bottom of my heart.  So here it is:  I adore this crew because I asked them not to join and lead an organization, but to whole-heartedly believe in a concept and then to leap right into that idea with no guarantees of how it would unfold. There was no office, no staff, no coffee maker, no lights to turn off when they leave. There was simply an application for incorporation and massive, unassailable faith in what was possible.  They've been asked to take time away from the families and friends they adore and the daily work that fills their plates, and to commit to reviewing programs, approving minutes, developing policy, discussing finances, organizing golf tournaments, and – most importantly – taking on violence against women.  They have taken it on fiercely and, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, they have dared greatly.  As the Board of Directors, Jo-Anne, Lynden, Danielle, Marlo, Flavio, Heather, Howie and Rachel are the brilliant heart, brain, hands, feet, eyes, and voice of what One Spark has become.

Lucky for me, they are also 8 of the funniest people I know.

So, as we toast the volunteers that make the non-profit world turn, here’s to 8 amazing people that have collectively brought One Spark to life.  With an immensely grateful heart, I thank you.

Corrie
One Spark Executive Director

Introducing Hey Babies!

One Spark is incredibly excited to announce the anticipated Fall 2015 launch of Hey Babies, a new enterprise of our amazing corporate supporters, CCI Studios.  Hey Babies will be an online retailer of previously loved and practically new baby and child clothing, as well as maternity clothing: the site will be updated with quality items daily and the sales/shipping process will be quick, seamless, and user friendly.  

The most amazing part of the Hey Babies initiative is that it will support the work of One Spark - and our mandate of addressing violence against women - on a number of meaningful levels: a percentage of Hey Babies' profits will be donated to provide ongoing funding to One Spark; Hey Babies will provide career development opportunities for women experiencing violence; and it will provide an amazing channel for generating awareness of One Spark and issues associated with violence against women. Hey Babies is truly a unique, inspiring, and socially conscious initiative that we are thrilled to see coming to life!

Hey Babies' inventory will be donated by community members, who in turn will be given a gift certificate to shop on their site.  If you have children's and/or maternity clothes that you would like to put to amazing use, let us know and we will arrange to have them collected for Hey Babies re-sale.  To schedule a pick-up, email me directly at corrie@one-spark.ca

For more information, check out the blog of CCI Studios' Vice President, Heather Lapier:
http://audreysupperstory.blogspot.ca/2015/01/hey-babies.html.

We are so grateful to CCI for this partnership opportunity and look forward to the official launch later this year!!  Stay tuned for Hey Babies updates as the launch date approaches!