A MESSAGE FROM Natalie’s Run for HMI: Every Mile for Queer & Trans Youth
I’m not a runner — but I’m running for something that matters.
I’m running for the Hetrick-Martin Institute because supporting LGBTQIA+ youth isn’t just something I believe in — it’s something I live every day.
As the owner of Industry Gymnastics, I’ve built a space where the majority of my staff identify as LGBTQ+, where gender-expansive kids can show up fully as themselves, and where young people who often feel “different” finally feel like they belong. Families come to us because they’re searching for safety, affirmation, and joy — and they trust us to be that place.
I see firsthand how powerful it is when a young person feels seen, supported, and celebrated. And I also see how many LGBTQIA+ youth, especially queer and trans youth of color, are still fighting every day to find spaces where they can exist without fear.
I’m running for the Hetrick-Martin Institute because supporting LGBTQIA+ youth isn’t just something I believe in — it’s something I live every day.
As the owner of Industry Gymnastics, I’ve built a space where the majority of my staff identify as LGBTQ+, where gender-expansive kids can show up fully as themselves, and where young people who often feel “different” finally feel like they belong. Families come to us because they’re searching for safety, affirmation, and joy — and they trust us to be that place.
I see firsthand how powerful it is when a young person feels seen, supported, and celebrated. And I also see how many LGBTQIA+ youth, especially queer and trans youth of color, are still fighting every day to find spaces where they can exist without fear.
That’s why I’m running for HMI.
HMI provides free, high-quality mental health services and life-changing support for LGBTQIA+ youth — the very kids who are often the most at risk and the least resourced. Their work aligns deeply with everything I’ve dedicated my life to: inclusion, safety, community, and creating environments where young people can thrive.
Running this half marathon is my way of pushing that mission even further.
It’s for the kids who need someone in their corner.
It’s for the kids who walk through my gym doors and finally feel like they can breathe.
It’s for every young person who deserves a world that protects them, uplifts them, and celebrates them exactly as they are.
If you donate, you’re not just supporting my run — you’re investing in a brighter, safer, more inclusive future for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Thank you for helping me make every mile count.
HMI provides free, high-quality mental health services and life-changing support for LGBTQIA+ youth — the very kids who are often the most at risk and the least resourced. Their work aligns deeply with everything I’ve dedicated my life to: inclusion, safety, community, and creating environments where young people can thrive.
Running this half marathon is my way of pushing that mission even further.
It’s for the kids who need someone in their corner.
It’s for the kids who walk through my gym doors and finally feel like they can breathe.
It’s for every young person who deserves a world that protects them, uplifts them, and celebrates them exactly as they are.
If you donate, you’re not just supporting my run — you’re investing in a brighter, safer, more inclusive future for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Thank you for helping me make every mile count.
