Getting Back to the Starting Line

Jason Russell, 50, has many passions — his two kids top the list — but he also loves music and running. Jason’s father is a lifelong runner and stroke survivor who inspired him to develop a passion for the sport and raise awareness about its health benefits. 

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Black men, and 60% of Black men have some form of cardiovascular disease,” Jason says. “Running is a great way to improve heart health and develop camaraderie with fellow runners. My father never had anyone to run with who looked like him when he was growing up in Memphis, Tennessee. I wanted to create an organization where Black men could train together but also have an avenue to fellowship.” 

In 2013, Jason and Edward Walton started Black Men Run, a nonprofit that encourages health and wellness among Black men. 

“The camaraderie feels good. You can see it in the guys’ faces,” Jason says. “It just lights you up and keeps you motivated." 

In 2017, Jason had first-hand experience with the statistics he was so familiar with. While sitting at his office desk in Atlanta, he had a stroke and a ruptured brain aneurysm. Luckily, his co-workers acted quickly, and he was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. 

Jason came to Shepherd Center’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program in early 2018 as an inpatient and later graduated to the outpatient program, Shepherd Pathways. 

“My experience at Shepherd was amazing, and I still remember the faces of my care staff because they helped me walk, talk, and run again. What surprised me most was how accommodating and patient they were with me throughout my time there,” Jason says. “Running is my passion. Getting back to that was so important to me,” 

Since returning home, Jason has made steady strides toward his goals. While he still experiences some speech impediments and a stutter as a result of the stroke, he hasn’t let that stop him from spreading the message about Black Men Run, which has now grown to 10,000 members globally. 

Last year, he ran his first 10K race since his stroke, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, which happens to pass by Shepherd Center. 

“To run past Shepherd Center made the accomplishment more impactful for me and I was overwhelmed with emotion,” Jason says. 

Looking ahead, Jason hopes to run a half marathon in 2025 and continue to grow his nonprofit. He leaves this message to fellow stroke survivors: “Be a shining example in your community because the term ‘survivor’ is very significant. It's up to us to uphold that you can recover and never give up. 

“I hope to be an inspiration to others who might have fallen, thinking that they can never get back up again. They can think, ‘If Jason Russell can do it, so can I!’" 

By Damjana Alverson

This story first appeared in the special 50th anniversary issue of Spinal Column magazine.