From Rock Bottom to the Starting Line: Brightwater Director Runs Grandma’s Marathon in charity effort for mental health

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Research shows one of the best ways to improve mental health is running. According to the Mayo Clinic, it releases endorphins and helps people manage symptoms from depression and anxiety.

A living testimony of that is Brad Hoder, who’s a director at Brightwater Health service, an organization that provides mental health services

Hoder is running Grandma’s Marathon as a charity runner. But at a different point in his life he was running into something different.

“I had tried drinking, and I had tried cannabis -- and it unrolled from there,” Hoder said. “By the time I was done in high school I got into harder drugs.”

Drug abuse and depression eventually led Hoder to rock bottom.

“My family sat on the periphery as I pulled everything apart at the seams,” Hoder said.

But one day everything changed -- Hoder ran away from drinking and discovered the high of running.

“I just decided I’m going to go run, and it must’ve done something because I just haven’t stopped,” Hoder said “I realized it helps me process it helps me deal with life.”

Hoder got his life back on track, and he’s ready to take on his biggest challenge yet -- the 26-mile gauntlet of Grandma’s Marathon.

“It seems like everything fell into place, what an opportunity to not only check it off the list but also raise money,” Hoder said.

Hoder’s been collecting money throughout his training, with the donations going directly to Brightwater Health. For more information on Hoder’s story and Brightwater’s charity runner program click here.

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