As a social worker at Brigham and Women's Hospital, we provide mental and behavioral health care to patients from all walks of life with a variety of challenges and needs that are sometimes greater than the resources available to them. When this occurs, we have a Patient Assistance Fund (PAF) to help patients out in times of urgent need. The PAF allows up to $200 in gift cards to patients each year to help with groceries, transportation, clothing and hygiene products (to name a few). It also allows up to $1,000 per year to patients that are experiencing crises - evictions, difficulties paying utilities. This allocation of funds is used solely by social workers to help patients when other options are unavailable to them. Our PAF fund has been empty for several months, which meant having to turn down patients who requested assistance during the holidays and into the new year. I have personally had to tell patients there are no funds available to assist with basic necessities, which given the current economic downturn, has been heartbreaking. All of my fundraising efforts will go towards replenishing the PAF and will allow me to provide the best care and support possible to the patients we serve. Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners and for helping fund our PAF.