People who love their jobs usually have one thing in common: They help others.
A recent Indeed survey found that 92% of workers who describe their jobs as “meaningful” say they feel happier overall. Meaning doesn’t always come from promotions or perks. It often comes from purpose. And purpose is most often found in service.
That’s why community events like Centerstone’s Life;Story 5K stand out. They remind us that helping others doesn’t always look like a day at the office. Sometimes, it’s a morning run beside a stranger—or even a four-legged one—that brings people together for something bigger than themselves.
Life;Story: A Race With Purpose
Centerstone’s Life;Story 5K is more than a race—it’s a community gathering that raises awareness for suicide prevention while bringing people (and their furry companions) together.
Life;Story has made a lasting impact in Southern Illinois and beyond, with events also held in Florida and Tennessee. The name itself carries meaning: mental health struggles don’t have to mark the end of someone’s story. The semicolon represents more to come.
I recently had the chance to speak with Erin Camfield, Centerstone’s Director of Advancement/Foundation, who shared:
“Centerstone’s mission is delivering care that changes people’s lives, and Life;Story reflects that mission in action. By bringing people together to raise awareness about suicide prevention, honor those we’ve lost, and encourage open conversations about mental health, this event embodies the heart of what our organization does every day.”
This year’s race brought together more than 220 participants, countless supporters, and a few dogs—one of them named Maggie.
The Race That Changed Everything
In 2024, my wife Erin—who’s a therapist at Centerstone—and I took on the Life;Story 5K. To be fair, she ran it while I huffed and puffed my way across the finish line. Along the way, I noticed runners and walkers with their dogs, including a small black-and-white Siberian Husky who looked up at me with the sun in her eyes and a grin that could melt anyone.
After the race, we heard from keynote speakers Anna and Aaron Goletz. Aaron, a combat veteran, spoke about losing two soldiers and his niece to suicide. Their message stuck with me: everyone is fighting battles we may never see, and the best thing we can do is show up—with compassion and an open ear.
As the event wrapped up, a little girl asked my wife to watch that same husky. We soon learned her name was Sugar, and she wasn’t the girl’s dog at all—she was from Herrin Animal Control, which had partnered with Centerstone that day to help pets find homes. It was hard to believe she’d be heading back to a kennel after such a joyful morning.
So, we took her home.
After a week of fostering, we adopted her—renamed her Maggie (short for Margaret when she’s in trouble)—and she’s been the perfect addition to our family. Even our energetic black lab, Frankie, finally met his match.
Running It Back
When Life;Story 2025 was announced, we knew Maggie would be running with me. The event was filled with tears, laughter, teal shirts, and the shared message that read “Keep going; You matter.”
Maggie’s race was full of sniffs and smiles while mine, once again, included plenty of huffing and puffing. But as we crossed the finish line together, I couldn’t help but think of the loved ones we’ve lost—how they were with us in spirit. Maggie even received her own medal, and Erin finished first in the women’s category and second overall.
Before the awards, Charles Mooneyham, an artist and suicide survivor, shared his powerful story, moving everyone to tears. Event Director Jason Greenspan said it best:
“Listening to Charles reminded me why we’re doing all of this and how important the cause is to so many people. I’m very lucky to be working for Centerstone and helping so many people.”
As Erin Camfield later added:
“Beyond the event itself, Centerstone is a national leader in suicide prevention through our 24/7 crisis services, our work with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and our research that helps advance best practices in care. Life;Story is a way for us to stand alongside families and communities, showing that together, we can save lives and bring hope to those who need it most.”
We’re already looking forward to Life;Story 2026—hopefully with a little less huffing and puffing on my end. Thanks to Centerstone and the power of community, Maggie’s story didn’t end in a kennel. Her life—and ours—are still being written, one joyful mile at a time.