'Running for One More' marathon helps raise money for adoptions

Shari Stroup has never run a marathon. Before she decided to join Running for One More to raise awareness and money to help families trying to adopt, she didn't even work out.

"I had to go buy tennis shoes, join a gym and start training," said Stroup, a mother of six, including two children adopted from Guatemala. "We step out in faith and do things that seem crazy to others when we follow God's call in our life."

Stroup is one of more than 30 people who will take part in Running for One More in the Nashville Country Music Half Marathon this Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

Running for One More is a division of Room for One More, a new 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization based in Cape Girardeau dedicated to helping orphaned children find families, encouraging foster care and supporting orphans worldwide.

Runners include several adoptive parents and many others who are supportive of the cause, Stroup said.

Earlier this week, the group exceeded its $10,000 fundraising goal receiving donations from corporate and individual sponsors totaling $10,030.

Money raised by the Running for One More marathon will provide adoption grants to help families with the cost of bringing children home.

"We believe the best place for a child is in a family," said Stroup, president of Room for One More. "There are children waiting and families that just need a little help getting their children here."

The cost of adopting a child can range from $10,000 to $35,000 including fees charged by adoption agencies, fees for documentation, humanitarian aid and the cost of caring for the child while the adoption is being finalized.

Many adoptive parents have taken out loans, second mortgages and even held garage sales to help pay these fees, said Stroup.

Room for One More is helping several local families, but also hopes to help others across the country.

A family in Indiana already received a $6,800 grant from proceeds of the Run for One More to help with costs of adopting a 13-year-old and 3-year-old boy from China.

"They are in China now picking up their boys," Stroup said. "This run brought these boys home."

Stroup and Room for One More vice president Shelly Nall were inspired to start the organization after their own adoption experiences. Nall has five biological children and two adopted daughters.

For more information about the organization, visit www.roomforonemorechild.org

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address

1407 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO