4UBen 5k Walk/Run

🏃‍♀️ Race Overview

Date: 2025-05-24

Location: 2485 Davidsonville Rd., Gambrills, MD

More Information: 4UBen 5k Walk/Run

💬 Event Purpose

Hi, my name is Lissette O’Neal. I was born in Veracruz, Mexico and when I was 14 years old, I was brought to Canyonville, Oregon to run for a boarding Christian high school.

🇲🇽 Background Story

• Childhood Struggles: Growing up in Mexico was not easy. I grew up in a single parent home, my mom worked as hard as she could to provide.
• Food Insecurity: There were days where we would go without having anything to eat, nothing! Just water, that was it.
• Lack of Support: The government did not help us because my mom owned her house, a little house that my grandmother left for her.
• Desire to Help: I love my country, but I deeply feel the need to help those who cannot help themselves.

👶 Inspiration to Act

Let’s talk about orphanages. I remember once when I was a child that a mom carrying a baby knocked on our door, begging for us to keep her child since she could not feed her. I don’t remember what else happened after that, I was little. What I do remember even now is the desperate look on the mom’s face.

🏠 Future Vision

• Orphanage Dream: My heart desires to one day start an orphanage with my husband, where we can help, not just kids, but families or moms who can’t feed their kids.
• Commitment to the Cause: I know that the task is extremely demanding, a commitment that you can’t just stop once it’s started.
• Getting Involved: I want to use running to give back and help kids in Mexico who do not have a voice.
• Call to Action: Would you come along with me and help us to build a home for children who may never be able to repay you? God sees those beautiful children and is already preparing their home, let’s run for them!