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Prisoners Of Conscience |
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I had a sense of the importance of this Run since I had been communicating with Patrick and Erik for some time and I realized how much it would mean to these guys as well as all the other prisoners. I decided to make a personal appeal to those Runners that I believed would be interested, willing and able to participate. I decided to contact Jon Blickenstaff first since he was extremely involved in the Run For Freedom. Jon is a very close friend, an extended family member if you will, and he and I had shared many great spiritual experiences over the years of our friendship. Many tears, many long hours in transport, many runs. Without Jon as part of the backbone of the Run For Freedom and it's associated events I don't think they would have amounted to the great experiences they turned out to be as far as what they meant to me personally. I naturally wanted to check with Jon first and so outside of emails to and from Jim discussing some details this was the first personalized email I sent announcing the Run and appealing for support. I should say that I passed almost everything along to Jim before I did it since he is the greatest action organizer I know! He had also sent invitations but I just felt I needed to make this personal appeal. |
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Email: 10/07/2002 Jon: I am making a personal appeal to all Runners to join Jim, Jules and myself in a Run For Freedom "Prisoners of Conscience". It will be from Little Turtle to FCI Manchester Ky where a prayer vigil will be held. It will be on either the 23rd or 30th of November. I am praying that we can get enough runners to fo this run in one day, It is about 190 miles. If I have to I will start the run early myself and do the miles that are needed to make up the difference between the runners we have and what we need to get the job done. To me this is "what the Run For Freedom is truly about". The finish with the prayer vigil is the most important part anyway. You are going to get another email on this from my mass emailing. I have so many names now it is difficult to go back and take this one out and put this one in, etc. But I did want to contact you myself so there you have it. ................... Love ya much my friend, |
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Reply: 10/08/2002 John, .................. Run For Freedom is a top priority and you're right that running in support of Prisoners of Conscience is exactly what we need to do. ............... I think RFF is going in a good direction, linking runs with other movement events, and continuing with the tri-state run to keep us grounded. I will commit to running next summer to Oakridge. I also remember your intention last summer to give the run a more spiritual center with more ceremony. I think its very improtant to keep that as a focus, to find ways to keep the spiritual side there that we who have been around a while know through our experience, but it won't be there for new folks unless we bring it about. I love you guys. Thanks for your hard work, dedication, and friendship. Love, Jon |
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