Ohio native, RCA alumnus Donnie Johnson tackles Boston with his Herren Project teammates

Substance abuse survivor runs Boston Marathon for the Herren Project

There are just as many stories as there are runners going from Hopkinton to Boston every year in the granddaddy of all marathons. For many, they put themselves through the agony of running the arduous course after conquering their own personal struggles, and want to give back to help others reach the same results in their own lives.

Ohio native Donnie Johnson knows that feeling all too well. He’s a graduate of the Recovery Centers of America (RCA) substance abuse program. RCA has facilities in many states, including two here in Danvers and Westminster. Its goal is to help one-million people beat their substance abuse addiction, and “they are well on their way to achieve it,” said Johnson two days prior to running in his first Boston Marathon.

Johnson, who grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, and now lives in Philadelphia since 2013 after marrying his wife Ashley, graduated from RCA’s Devon, Pa. site after going through its strict 30-day program just over two years ago in Dec. 2019.

Perfect alliance

An Ohio State graduate and owner of a political consulting business “Winning Solutions,” Johnson was looking for an appropriate Boston fundraising running team to join after participating in the Philadelphia Marathon last November as a first-time marathoner. He finished just eight seconds shy of four hours. After scrolling the internet, Team Herren popped up, a welcoming community of individuals who are committed to raising funds and awareness for the Herren Project. It participates in various kinds of athletic fundraising events like 5ks, marathons, triathlons and Spartan Races to help support the project’s programs and services.

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“Ohio native, RCA alumnus Donnie Johnson tackles Boston with his Herren Project teammates”, www.wickedlocal.com, “https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/herald-citizen/2022/04/21/rca-alumnus-donnie-johnson-tackles-boston-herren-project/7359940001/”