Rock Run & Roll event supporting Torch 180

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It doesn’t matter if you’re a serious runner, a weekend warrior, in a wheelchair or pulling your kids in a wagon – Rock Run & Roll has something for everyone, and it all benefits Torch 180, a local nonprofit providing food service training for those with disabilities.

This new event at Kreeger Elementary School in Fowlerville on Sunday, Aug. 25 features a variety of family-friendly events:

• A timed 5k roll and a timed 5k run/walk – both chip-timed events with awards in multiple categories.

• A one-mile fun walk, run or roll for scooters, wheelchairs, roller skates, tricycles, strollers, etc.

“Choose the event that fits you and your people,” said Whitney McClellan-Stone, of 2 Stones Events, one of the event organizers. “You can walk, run or roll as an individual or create a team.”

There will be prizes for the biggest fundraisers, plenty of food and games, and live music by the band Young Pioneer.

WHAT THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR

Generous sponsors – like the Turner Family 7-11, GR8 Bakes and Soul Shine Yoga – are on board to support Torch 180, a Michigan-based nonprofit 501(c)3 food-service training company founded by Rhonda Callahan and Sarah Ruddle.

“Our mission is to train people with disabilities,” said Callahan, “helping them learn transferable skills in the food service industry — including basic food preparation, cooking, and food safety, and customer service skills they need for employment, to gain self-confidence, and become active working members included the community.”
But first, back up to 2012 when the two women created The Torch food truck, hitting the streets of Michigan serving free food. Not long into the venture, the two women noticed many different needs in the community, most significantly: food, housing, and gainful employment.

At the time, Callahan worked two jobs to support herself while Ruddle was a full-time student completing her MBA. The two prayed and thought about how to expand The Torch, as well as how to find meaningful jobs for themselves which could open up more time for them to work on their food truck.

Ruddle, a U.S. Army veteran, also suffers from a physical disability: her shoulder has been repaired multiple times by surgery, and she is under the doctor restriction of “no use of right arm”. As she neared completion of her degree, she actively searched for gainful employment but grew frustrated as she continuously ran up against road blocks because of her disability.

The co-founders realized there is an under-served population of people in the community living in poverty — people with disabilities. They began exploring the option of providing a partner organization of The Torch, a business which would allow both to be employed, work around Ruddle’s injury, and empower other people in the community who have disabilities by offering them a place to receive job training and help finding employment.

And now, Torch 180 has purchased the former library building in Fowlerville, located at 131 Mill St., and construction is underway to transform it into a fully functioning training facility restaurant.

“Running the restaurant will allow students to gain real life, hands-on, experience in all aspects of a restaurant: greeting, hostessing, busing, preparing food, customer service, money management, food ordering, food safety, and more,” said Ruddle.

The funds raised from Rock Run & Roll will help cover the construction costs of the new coffee shop, classroom and restaurant that will be run by adults with disabilities.

“Once students successfully complete our program,” said Ruddle, “we will work to help them find gainful employment within their own communities, and be able to accept new students to begin the process again.”

Registration, event times and more information about Rock Run & Roll can be found at www.2StonesEvents.com. To learn more about The Torch and Torch 180, visit www.mobiletorch.org and https://www.torch180.org/.

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.