FOND DU LAC - Cheryl Louden graduated from Siren in 1999 and later became a second grade teacher at Evans Elementary School in Fond du Lac. Running a marathon was her sister Kelly Fohrenkamm’s dream, but when her sister passed away from suicide after a battle with mental health and alcoholism, Louden decided to attempt a marathon in her honor.
Of her family history, Louden shared, “Growing up in Siren we were your typical family. Dad worked in construction and was a heavy equipment operator and mom was a registered nurse in Rice Lake. Keith was my younger brother by six years, who is now a patrol sergeant in Lake Delton. Kelly was my older sister by 18 months, and I idolized her. She went to college early, had an incredible job once she graduated, running the computer systems for two hospitals from her house. You name it, anything set before her she could do. Including hiding so many struggles. Ultimately, those struggles took her life. I think when one ends their life, there are so many unknowns and so much hurt. What we choose to do with that defines us. It's sink or swim. In her honor I'm running, since I don't know how to swim. Truthfully, running and religion got me through. I'm not sure what I'd do without one or the other. That and familial support. My heart hurts for my parents. When you lose a parent, you're an orphan; a spouse, you're a widow. But when you lose a child, there are no words for that. Just hurt. In a crazy way it's brought us closer. Deeper conversations and greater understanding have been had in regards to mental health. For my husband, Scott, and our two girls, Emma, who is 19, and Madi, who is 15, we too have become closer. Taking the time for what's important – each other, and knowing each day is a gift and in each day there is hope for something great.”
Having run half-marathons before, Louden increased her mileage and ran the Fox Series Marathon in 2021. She had to beat 3 hours and 40 minutes for a 26.2 mile run to qualify for the Boston Marathon last year, and did so, coming in at 3 hours and 33 minutes. Over the past year she ran over 2,000 miles to stay conditioned and for what she calls “me” time, where she not only takes time to stay in shape but takes time for herself to think. Leading up to the marathon, Louden will run 50-60 miles per week, with the long runs being 20-22 miles. She will also do stretching and strength training, alongside her normal teaching and family life. Louden has a home gym and weights in her basement but if the weather allows she gets outside to run the roads and trails. Her husband doesn’t run marathons but will go with her and sometimes that means getting up at 4 a.m. or staying up late to get workouts done. Louden is a part of Boston Buddies, a group from all over the world who have run the marathon or hope to, and she will be rooming with someone from the group this year as well to save on costs. To help with costs for various races, Louden gives plasma twice a week. She wants her daughters to know that “it’s important for them to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally and to seek help if they need it in one of those areas.”
For the Boston Marathon, you can fundraise for fundraisers they select, or if you have a time qualification you can raise funds in ones you select yourself. Louden chose YScreen, who helps to screen youth in high schools for mental health needs and connect them to services. This year’s marathon is April 17. The last marathon was the first time her family saw her run. They stayed Saturday to Tuesday, with the race on Monday. Of the experience, Louden said, “The streets are lined with millions of people, people are cheering for you and screaming for you, ones you have never met, and there’s nothing to compare it to. And to know you are running making a difference and helping people you might never know with the money you have raised.” Last year Louden finished at 3:31:23.
As a takeaway, Louden wants people to know that they are enough and encourage people to check in on others. Her husband is in law enforcement, and she said it doesn’t matter who someone is, everyone struggles. She said we never know what kind of impact we might have on someone by reaching out, and to realize that there is always hope.
For more information on YScreen, you can visit their site at csifdl.org/priorities/mental-health/yscreen/
To make a donation to YScreen in support of Louden’s running, you can go to csifdl.org/.priorities/mental-health/.yscreen/.runningformentalhealth/
