Please run or walk with us on October 15, 2022 for the 1st ever Running for Ross- Rise up to Addiction-5K. This Fundraiser is ran by the RJK Memorial Foundation Inc., with proceeds going to SHATTERPROOF, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families. They are changing laws, ending stigma, and working hard to transform addiction treatment in America.

Did you know that one in three people in this country is affected by addiction? Did you know 192 Americans die every day from drug overdoses? Did you know nearly 90% of people who need treatment for addiction do not receive it?

Our event was founded to remember Ross Kearns and bring awareness to the devastation that addiction causes families. Our goal is to support Shatterproof’ s vision of ending the stigma around addiction and creating a community for those who have been impacted. Shatterproof is a non-profit organization that uses evidence-based research to advocate for policy changes at both the state and federal level. The race allows us to create a legacy for Ross and others who we have lost to addiction, while supporting change for the future. Addiction is an isolating disease for everyone.

If you have a substance abuse disorder, know someone who is struggling, are in recovery, or have lost someone you love to addiction, this Fundraiser, is for YOU!

Our Story:

Ross was handsome, outgoing, compassionate and he had an infectious smile that lit up a room. He had the patience for everything and would do anything for anyone who asked. We had the typical American middle-class life growing up, two parents, 3 siblings, two dogs, a home raised on sports, faith and all love any child could ask for. But as everyone should know, addiction does not discriminate, it does not have a description or criteria as to who can fall victim. Addiction is very much like a tornado as it touches down, it affects everything in its path, a violent whirlwind of pain, guilt, shame, anger, and fear leaving wreckage all around, fleecing anyone in its path. A tornado touched down in our family in 2015 and little did we know it would go on to impact our family for the rest of our lives.

Ross played competitive hockey for 12 years, not only did he love the sport, he excelled at it. He had injured his back as a teenager during a game one night, healed, and went on living a normal teenage life. Ross began working for my grandfather’s masonry company in Kansas City, Missouri after college and the long hours of labor, bending over, lifting, and moving bricks began to irritate his once injured back. He went to see a doctor who recommend fusing S1-L5 of his spine together, at the age of 22, this was not the ideal route to go, but the pain began to disrupt his everyday life, the pain was becoming a constant irritation. After discussing his other options, the doctor proceeded with pain management by prescribing the opioid oxycontin. 3 years later, Ross moved back to Houston, he was struggling, he masked it so well, it was not until almost a year later that the reality of what he was going through came to light. This doctor was still prescribing Ross 12 Oxy’s a day, each month and was not even seeing him in person. ‘Friends’ would go pick up the prescription and mail it to him from Kansas City, but of course, not without a cost. They began making him pay and then would take half, if not over half them before sending it down to Houston.

Did you know that ONE Oxycontin on the street cost $30 and a bag of Heroin in the U.S. on average cost $15-$20? This is one of the main reasons why those who struggle with addition from an opioid prescription end up using heroin, it is cheaper and easier to access. Ross was unknowingly sold straight fentanyl on April 29th, 2020 and we lost Ross to addiction by fentanyl murder on April 30th, 2020. We do have a small amount of justice for Ross, the dealer was arrested on Federal charges for distribution of illegal substances causing death, 4 other deaths around the same time were also tied to this man.

Stigma tells us that those who struggle with addiction don’t really try. “Why can’t they just say no,” stigma says. Please know that stigma lies. Looking back now, I realize that stigma kept our family in silence. It told Ross he should be ashamed and disgraced. It told our family to stay quiet for fear of judgment. People focus on the addiction, not the person, and how heartbreaking, because addiction is such a small part of who they are.

The one thing addiction could not take from Ross is how much he loved us and how much we loved him.

Not one day has gone by that I do not ache, I could never put into words how much I miss him, I would give anything for one more minute, one more hug, one more laugh. This loss has been unimaginable, there are still days I feel like it cannot be real, but I have found that the best way to rebuild our lives after this tornado is to help others. I want to make a difference for other families, be the voice for those we have lost to this disease and the light for those searching for support. Ross always searched for his purpose; I know now that his purpose lives on in me, I am meant to be a voice, an advocate, an ambassador in raising awareness. Life always brings you where you are meant to be.

Together we must find a way to make this path easier to travel. Families need resources, support, and the power to break down the barriers of stigma. I am proud to be Ross’ voice.

Since I lost my brother to an accidental overdose due to fentanyl poisoning, 2 things have remained constant:

1. I still love my little brother

2. I still HATE the drugs that took him.

I will always be your voice Ross; I will never stop fighting and advocating for change.