Jess Keefe's Fundraiser:

Hello dear readers,

I'm running my first half marathon and I don't want it to be about me, or how gazelle-like I look, or how fast I'm going for a first-timer, or how well my sneakers match my running tights. (But thank you for noticing, Jeez, I'm blushing. T.J.Maxx, it's the best for activewear, seriously who knew?)

I want it to be about Matt because he was my brother and he died and I miss him. I've been running a lot since he left, more than ever, because I enjoy the calm brain space. I'm not much of an achiever these days, unless achieving new customer loyalty levels on food delivery apps counts. Accordingly, I thought it might be a swell idea to get off my ass and achieve something in his honor.

So I scoured every corner of the Internet looking for charities that wouldn't make him want to puke, and I think I found one. Shatterproof is a down-to-earth, goals-focused organization that seeks to eradicate addiction through cold, hard scientific research, plus meaningful advocacy for social change.

From their website, here are their goals for the next 20 years:

Reduce by 50% the number of Americans addicted to alcohol and other drugs (more than 22 million in 2013).

Reduce by 50% the number of Americans who die from alcohol and other drugs (more than 135,000 per year).

Reduce by 50% the societal cost of alcohol and other drugs (estimated in excess of $415 billion per year).

Sounds pretty good to me. The imaginary conversation I had about it with Matt in my mind went like this:

ME: Say Matt, what do you think about this Shatterproof thing. I think it might help people in a way you would have appreciated.

MATT: Oh you clever bitch. I agree. I like it. Do you want to order burritos? Bernie 2016!

So I think it's settled.

If you knew Matt, if you loved Matt, if you know me or love me, if you care about this issue or society in general, I would just be tickled if you'd donate. Let's give them a fat check to fund a study or support a meaningful bill at Congress. Let's do something instead of nothing because boy won't that feel warm and good and safe.

xo, Jess