Positive news often begins with one person making a small change that grows and expands, almost developing a life of its own. This is the case with Anne Mahlum, a Philadelphia-based runner who decided to recruit several homeless men for her daily jog.

“Why am I running past these guys?” Mahlum asked herself. “I’m moving my life forward every day and these guys are standing in the same spot.”

She contacted the homeless shelter that housed these men, received running gear donations and pretty soon, she had a crew of running partners. “Back On My Feet,” the name of her program, officially hit the streets.

Today, Back on My Feet has 3 Philadelphia-based homeless shelter teams, including 54 homeless members and more than 250 volunteers. The group has logged more than 5,000 miles.

Requirements for shelter residents? They must live in an affiliated facility and be clean and sober for 30 days. Members receive new shoes and running clothes, and teams run together three times a week between 5:30 and 6 a.m.

It’s a diverse group, from homeless shelter residents to doctors.

“All you can tell is who’s the fastest,” says Anne. “You can’t tell who’s homeless and who’s not.”

Watch how the group hits the predawn streets of Philadelphia. »

“Running really is a metaphor for life,” she says. “There is always another mile. You just have to take it one step at a time.”