The Race is Never Canceled

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Each year, the City of Pittsburgh has an event weekend that draws together people from near and far. The Pittsburgh Marathon is not just one race. It includes something for everyone, from marathon, to half marathon, 5K, Kids’ Marathon, Toddler Trot, and even a Pet Walk. Many join in because as runners, this is as good as it gets locally. For others, it’s a chance to run for a charity. Either way, there are enough events, food, entertainment, and excitement to bring out a crowd.

Roseann Sworts is a runner. She’s also a wife to Lance and the mother of three: Bella, 12, Lucas, 10, and Lincoln, 7. With a background in teaching and Youth Leadership, she is always seeking ways to serve the Lord as a family. They have helped with Respite Night, an outreach of Riverside Community Church for parents of special needs children. And through SEAPC they sponsor Sarak, a boy in Cambodia. 

Last year, she and Bella began training for the 2020 Pittsburgh Marathon 5K. They agreed to register for the event. There is some discussion about their goal. Roseann, normally a long-distance runner, thought they could do this shorter run together for a charitable cause.

Bella insists it was all her idea to run for Sarak, her sponsor brother. 

Mother and daughter set out to do just that. Because both realized that although their fifty dollars a month for sponsorship helps with his personal needs, his home also requires intentional maintenance and repair.

Although the boys were too young for a 5K, they also wanted to help. When their birthdays came, they asked for donations instead of gifts. And they set up a GoFundMe page, just for Sarak and his home’s needs. Although he is a faraway concept to them at their young ages, they think it’s “cool” to help him.

Four years ago in Cambodia, Roseann actually got to meet Sarak. He had been born one month before Bella. She felt an immediate connection to him, and decided to sponsor him. Once they were old enough, Sarak and Bella began to write letters back and forth. Bella feels that “I have a lot in common with him.” She hopes to meet him one day on a mission trip.

Roseann believes that her family’s connection to Sarak is a way to help her children, “to think outside of themselves.” And she supports their desire to travel to Cambodia someday.

During training, Roseann worked to maintain her kids’ positive connection to running for Sarak. When they complained about running up a hill, she\’d reply, “We are doing this for the Lord and for Sarak.” With that, the goal remained fresh and active.

Just when everyone seemed ready to run, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. The Pittsburgh Marathon was canceled. But the run for Sarak will continue. 

Lance has prepared three miles of trails on their home property. At first, it was a training site. Now it is the culmination of this family’s desire to impact the life of a little boy halfway around the world. 

On the first weekend in May, there will be a race. The runners are Roseann and Bella at 5K, and Lance with Lucas and Lincoln in a Kids’ Marathon. Their determination, hard work, and loving hearts will be running for Sarak. To make his life better. To improve the lives of the other children in his home. To honor God. And to illustrate the love of Jesus to Bella, Lucas, Lincoln—and their brother Sarak. 

Like Paul stated in the book of Acts so long ago, the Sworts family’s aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.