Each morning, 26-year-old Anne Mahlum would run by Philadelphia's Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, regularly exchanging smiles with the men staying at the shelter.

But one morning she realized there was something she could do to share the benefits of running. And so she began an effort to encourage the men at the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission to jog along with her.

Soon after, Mahlum founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of Philadelphia's homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength, and self-esteem. The nonprofit, which was founded in July, and just recently expanded to its second Philadelphia shelter, Our Brother's House.

"Back on My Feet is my way of making positive change," Mahlum said. "Running is one of the most empowering activities there is because there is no end. There is always another mile, another road, another right turn."

Today, eight men from Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission are a part of Back on My Feet. More are expected to join once the team from Our Brother's House gets up and running, Mahlum said.

A lifelong runner, Mahlum said her hobby has taught her important lessons like discipline, respect, leadership, and goal-setting. Some of those lessons are key tools in the fight against homelessness.

One lesson from running is that like training for a marathon, success isn't achieved overnight. Running also teaches people that accomplishing goals doesn't happen immediately, "it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance," Mahlum said.

Back on My Feet focuses heavily on teamwork, said Mahlum. Running is always done in groups. "No one ever runs by themselves because life is a lot harder when you go through it alone," she said.

Members have responded positively to the club, Mahlum said. "It gives them a positive association in their life and it's teaching them that they are capable of accomplishing goals."

For example, on a recent Saturday, three Back on My Feet members accomplished an impressive feat: they each ran ten miles.

"This is the longest I have ever stayed with something," said member Craig Hall, who finished the ten-mile jog. "The old me would have quit by now, I am learning that I can't walk away when things get hard. In fact, I don't want to walk away."

Those are precisely the results Mahlum had in mind when she began Back on My Feet.

"Running is such a beautiful metaphor for life," said Mahlum. "Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing roads filled with opportunity, hope, and happiness."