By Jesseka Whitman Ryan s House Executive Director: OPINION: COLUMN: The reason for Ryan's Run

Mar. 16—Each year brings smiling faces and the rhythmic pounding of sneakers on pavement, all taking a collective stride towards a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us.

Ryan's Run is held every spring to bring together people not just for a fun run — it's a rallying cry for change, a chorus of voices raised in unison to amplify the plight of those who cannot speak for themselves. As participants lace up their shoes and pin on their bibs, they're not just preparing for a physical challenge, they're stepping into the forefront of a vital cause.

This year marks the 29th Ryan's Run in the nearly three decades that our community has stood shoulder to shoulder in support of the Child Advocacy Center, now known as Ryan's House. As executive director, I get emotional seeing people recognize the critical role Ryan's House plays in safeguarding the rights and well-being of our children.

The center is named after Ryan Luke, the 2-year-old McAlester boy who tragically died in 1995 and whose death sparked significant change in child protective services statewide.

Ryan was taken to the hospital in January 1995 with injuries law enforcement suspected resulted from abuse by his mother. He was treated for the injuries and was released to his grandfather, who then returned the child to his mother without DHS Child Abuse Protective Services supervision. The mother and grandfather both received prison sentences.

Advocates and lawmakers wanted to make sure that a tragic death like Ryan's never happens again. The Ryan Luke Bill mandated a multidisciplinary team be organized in each district attorney's district to include representatives from the district attorney's office, law enforcement, child welfare, and mental health and medical representatives.

After the PC-CARE multidisciplinary team was formed in 1996, we got our start in 1998 as the Pittsburg County Child Advocacy Center to serve as a central location during investigations.

In December 2022 we were able to purchase our own facility and change our name from PC-CARE, Inc. to Ryan's House Child Advocacy Center after we received generous support and donations from Nancy McGowan, the McGowan Foundation, and the Wallace Foundation. Because of this community partnership, we now have a new and far improved home to honor the local boy whose tragic death inspired positive change statewide in taking a child-friendly approach to prioritize the well-being of children in the middle of traumatic circumstances.

Ryan's House is funded primarily through state and federal grant funding, but the life force of our facility comes in the form of donations, volunteers and community partners.

Ryan's Run is our biggest fundraising event and is our largest unrestricted funding source that allows us to continue helping serve our community's children.

We hope you can join us as we lace up for Ryan's Run this year on April 6. We have set a goal of $50,000 and are seeking sponsors of various levels and race day volunteers. Please reach out if you want to get involved.

With each mile we complete, and each dollar raise, we're not just running a race — we're running towards a brighter tomorrow for the children in our community. Together, let's make every step count.