FIT FARMER JEFFREY FLEMING TO RUN 100 MILES IN 24 HOURS

Fourth of July Ultra-Marathon Event Kicks Off Fundraising for New Life Skills-Based Therapy Project

WHO:  Fit Farmer Jeffrey Fleming of New Hartford will attempt to run 100 miles (or more!) in 24 hours. He’s putting his miles where his mouth is to make the ultimate statement about his commitment to seeing through the development of FIT FARM, a new Life Skills-Based Therapy project he and childhood friend Paul Matthews began in September 2017.

WHAT:  “One Farmer. One Hundred Miles. One Day.” is the name of the special Fourth of July ultra-marathon event designed to kick off fundraising efforts for FIT FARM. Fleming and Matthews need to raise about $300,000 to move the project forward. Titled “Reclamation,” meaning to reclaim a right or cultivate wasteland into productive farmland, Fleming’s and Matthews’ vision includes unearthing the once pristine roots of the FIT FARM property and planting seeds (literally and figuratively) to teach people sustainability as well as how to be self-sufficient.

Founded on the belief that when people learn to build and create things, they also learn to build and create themselves, FIT FARM’s “Life Skills-Based Therapy” model teaches people new skills while emphasizing personal health and wellness and promoting self-advocacy and self-care. Learning new skill sets improves individuals’ self-image, increases their confidence, and instills in them a sense of self-worth.

At present, FIT FARM is working closely with New Haven-based Continuum of Care, Inc. whose mission is to enable people who are challenged with mental illness, intellectual disability or other disability, and/or addiction, to rebuild a meaningful life and thrive in the community. One of the largest agencies in the state charged with “rebuilding lives,” Continuum has approved a pilot program, called “Yard A Facts,” that implements FIT FARM’s Life Skills-Based Therapy model and the synergy between the two organizations is simply inspiring.

Supported by Continuum in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Young Adult Services (YAS) Division, Yard A Facts teaches life skills in an entrepreneurial concept model. Since May, a group of eight Continuum clients between 19 and 26 years old have been visiting the FIT FARM property to build a business that sells wood constructed products such as picnic tables and other yard novelties. They’re tackling everything from establishing business operations to creating a logo for the company to building the products.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 4, 2018, 6:00 a.m.-Thursday, July 5, 2018, 6:00 a.m. (Jeff may begin running earlier than 6:00 a.m. – Wednesday could be a scorcher!)

WHERE: FIT FARM, 1170 Litchfield Turnpike, New Hartford, CT (and virtually @FitFarmCT on Facebook and Instagram)

PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Talk with Jeff Fleming and Paul Matthews about their vision for FIT FARM.
• Interview Jeff Fleming about why he is running 100 miles, how he trained for the event, etc.
• Watch Jeff Fleming running consecutive laps on and around the FIT FARM property.
• See the FIT FARM property and learn how the Life Skills-Based Therapy program will work.

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CONTACT:

Laura Ward | WardComm Public Relations, LLC

(860) 573-4809 | laura@wardcommpr.com