Little Elm residents will gather on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the Running for Renewal 5K and 1‑mile Walk/Run, a community‑focused event that combines physical fitness with spiritual support for people recovering from addiction.
Founder’s personal journey fuels mission
Anthony Ysasaga, the nonprofit’s founder and executive director, knows the challenges of sobriety firsthand. After years of alcohol addiction and multiple relapses, he achieved lasting sobriety through a 12‑step program and later became an Ironman triathlete. “I ended up finally getting clean, which was fantastic,” Ysasaga said, adding that his own struggle inspired him to ask, “What can I do to help bolster this?”
The loss of his daughter Amanda in a 2019 crash involving alcohol deepened his resolve. Two years sober at the time, Ysasaga says the tragedy strengthened his determination to assist others facing addiction and mental‑health challenges.
Four‑pillar recovery approach
Running for Renewal, incorporated as a nonprofit in April 2026, builds its program around four principles: mental and emotional health, community service, spirituality, and physical fitness. The organization works alongside traditional recovery programs rather than replacing them, offering participants personalized goals, accountability and encouragement.
Since its launch, the group has attracted roughly 58 members recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Participants include Kevin Green of Canton, who survived a 2013 alcohol‑related crash and has since completed 18 marathons, and Lavonne Fajardo, a four‑year‑sober endurance athlete who credits the community for unlocking her healing.
Event honors local heroes and personal loss
The upcoming race also honors Scott Mages and Andre Kocher, two members of the Frisco Triathlon Club who were killed in a December 2025 truck‑collision during a training ride near Pilot Point. For Ysasaga, the event is a dedication to his late daughter Amanda, whose memory fuels the nonprofit’s mission.
Participants view the race as more than a physical challenge; it represents a milestone in their recovery journeys. “When I cross that finish line, it’s not a finish line. It’s the beginning of my next start line,” says Fajardo.
How to get involved
Registration for the 5K and 1‑mile walk/run has been extended through Tuesday, Oct. 13. Interested individuals can sign up via the Running for Renewal website. The event promises a supportive environment where runners, walkers and those in recovery can connect, share stories and strengthen one another’s resolve.
By integrating fitness, faith and community service, Running for Renewal exemplifies how local nonprofits can provide holistic support to individuals rebuilding their lives after addiction.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
