"Run to Remember" Exceeds All Expectations! 

A year ago Dale Pine, Pine Ridge High School and Marathon coach, wanted to plan a run to commemorate the many Lakota youth who had passed to the Spirit World. He wanted also to begin to give to the young people today a reason to “Run for Life.” At that time Dale thought that maybe 50 or so young people might come to the first event. On May 15^th, a 5k “Run to Remember; Run for Life” was held. Dale organized the event and The Lakota 5, Marathon runners from last year and this year, lead the way. Banners were prepared, 330 tee shirts were ordered, and lunch was readied. To the amazement of all, every district on the Pine Ridge Reservation sent participants, more than 400 Lakota children took part, and so many families who had lost their children came out that we ran out of tee shirts, passed out 1000 bracelets and tattoos until those too, ran out, and served 1000 hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, and ice cream, all of which ran out! The people just kept coming and coming until the whole field was a sea of red tee shirts. We were expecting around 200-300 runners; more than 400 showed up! 

 When a young Lakota person dies, the Tribal Council gives the family a Lakota flag with the child’s name on it. The many families who came with their flags was a moving tribute - so many survivors honoring their loved ones. Many race participants chose to wear their flags during the run.

This memorial run exceeded all of our expectations and we are thrilled with the turnout. At the same time, it’s heartbreaking to see so many Lakota families touched by loss and grief. We hope this memorial run will play a small part in healing these wounds while encouraging children to pursue healthy alternatives to drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence.

While the race was being planned, two other tragic events shook our nation and had a profound impact on the reservation – 20 children and 6 adults were massacred in Newtown, Connecticut and a bomb set off at the Boston Marathon finish line killed 3 and gravely injured so many more. The Lakota people included the victims from these tragedies in the memorial. The logo of the Boston Marathon was added to the shirt and the Newtown tragedy was commemorated at the ceremonies. Recently, many toys that had been sent to Newtown at the time of the tragedy had been transported to Pine Ridge to be given to children there. These toys are being given to the most needy children on the reservation.

Young runner wearing the flag of a loved one

Getting to the finish line

Poster with many names added

Our hats are off to Coach Dale Pine and the Lakota Marathon runners for helping to organize this memorial run and bring it to reality. Also to Brown Eyes Media who designed the logo and tee shirts for the run, printed 1000 flyers, posters, bracelets, and tattoos- generously donating all of this to the run.

We want to particularly thank the ONE Spirit supporters who generously paid for the tee shirts and as always, we thank our entire ONE Spirit family for the support you’ve given to the Lakota youth programs. Your generosity makes it happen!

 May Raffle Artwork

Also there are four new pieces of beadwork we are raffling off for the youth programs. One is a pen, a beaded flower and vase, a dream catcher and the grand prize is a pair of baby moccasins. They will arrive in time for Father's day. The pen has a buffalo skull and feathers and comes with a pen the prisoners get with their commissary. It is a very manly unique item. The rose is beaded on each petal and is a fire red and enclosed in a vase with diamond confetti. Men need flowers, too. The dream catcher is also earth colors of blue and greens and is sure to catch wonderful dreams for your father or husband. The moccasins are so little and have beautiful earth colors, reminding us that fathers have a child in each of them and they need to be respected, appreciated and need our attention. For each $5 donation you are entered for the beautiful beadwork created by Lakota prisoners and their brothers. The donation must be made from this website using the PayPal widget within the left column. Good Luck to all, prisoners, supporters, children and YOU!"

Many thanks to Dawn Brown Eyes for the YouTube video below:

Greeting Card and Memorial Video to Heaven

Video by Dawn Brown Eyes announcing
the May Raffle for ONE Spirit Youth programs
and also the 5k run for Lakota youth.

Congratulations to our April Raffle Winners!

Barbara Broomfield of Carlsbad, NM, is the winner of the beautiful Heart dream catcher for the April Youth Raffle!

Mary Ellen O'Brien of Santa Fe, NM, is the winner of the great Hummingbird Dream Catcher in the April Youth Fund Raffle!

To buy tickets for our May Raffle please click on our widget on the left side