162 Miles: Running Rocky Raccoon for Youth Mental Health

This February, we are stepping onto the notoriously root-filled trails of Huntsville State Park to take on the hardest physical challenges of our lives. Brett is tackling the grueling Rocky Raccoon 100K (62 miles), and Tischa is taking on the legendary Rocky Raccoon 100-Miler.

Combined, we will be running 162 miles through the piney woods of Texas.

But every single step, loop, and mile we log isn’t for a finish line medal—it is to raise critical funds and ignite hope for youth mental health through the Stoke the Spark Collective.

Why We Are Running

Mental health challenges and isolation among youth are at an all-time high. It takes a dedicated community to ensure kids don’t fall through the cracks. Stoke the Spark Collective is a non-profit organization fiercely committed to preventing youth crisis by stepping into their lives early.

They build a "triple-braided cord" of support around young people:

Community: Surrounding kids with healthy, consistent peer relationships.
Strategy: Providing evidence-based tools to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression.
Faith & Hope: Reminding them that their lives have immense purpose.

Through free small-group youth cohorts, mentorship programs, and intentional community gatherings, Stoke the Spark is directly changing the trajectory of young lives right when they need it most.

Your Miles, Their Spark: Where the Money Goes

Ultramarathons require an incredible ecosystem of support—and so does youth mentorship. We cannot reach our 162-mile goal alone, and Stoke the Spark cannot reach these kids without you.

When you donate to our campaign, your funds go directly toward keeping Stoke the Spark's programs completely free for local families. Here is what your impact looks like:

$25 (Sponsor a Trail Mile): Directly funds supplies, curriculum materials, and resources for a local youth cohort meeting.
$50 (The Half-Way Mark): Covers the cost of regular community gatherings that give isolated teenagers a safe, welcoming place to belong.
$100 (The Century Mark): Sponsors one month of comprehensive small-group cohort mentorship for a youth mentorship.
$500+ (The Ultra Sponsor): Scaled support to help launch new cohorts and train vetted mentors to meet the growing demand in our community.

Join Our Crew

Whether you donate $10 or $100, you are joining our crew car. You are providing the fuel we need to push through the dark, cold hours of a 100-mile and 100K race, and more importantly, you are stoking the fire of hope for a kid who needs to know they aren't alone.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today, share our page, and help us turn 162 miles into a massive spark of hope.

With gratitude,
Tischa & Brett

To learn more about the organization we are running for, visit stokethesparkcollective.com

Miles that Matter

Running to Stoke the Spark!

Team Members