ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. (WXYZ) — It's been almost nine years since Mara McCalmon survived an unthinkable tragedy. Two masked men got into the Yale home she shared with her late husband Paul, and stabbed them both more than 26 times.
Paul Skinner managed to chase the men away, but died moments later. McCalmon says he died saving her life.
After years of being in court and news coverage, she decided she wanted to do something to put the focus more on the victims of crime.
"The focus was always the defendants and the crime," McCalmon said. "I wanted to bring light to the victims and the case and not just us and Paul, but all victims."
Six years ago, she started P.S. You're My Hero, an organization dedicated to helping victims of crime.
The run and/or walk has been held ever since 2014. It's now raised more than $50,000, and that money has helped fund comfort rooms at the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office, along with counseling packages and a comfort therapy dog.
McCalmon has since remarried and has become an advocate herself, speaking out on behalf of victims of crime.
"What we're doing is what can we do to help the next family, or to make this a little easier journey for the next victim," she said. "That's what we're doing."
She's hoping this year's run/walk will be another big success. Even though she says Skinner was a humble guy, she believes he'd be proud of the difference they're making.
"I think that he would be most happy about helping others in his name," McCalmon said. "Not because it's in his name, but it is and that would be so gratifying to him I think."
The PS You're My Hero 5k run/2 mile walk is on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 9:30 am.
It starts at Port Huron's Vantage Point.
If you'd like to sign up or donate, go to: https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/MI/PortHuron/PSYoureMyHeroRunWalk
