Archive · 21 Aug 2025
After 35 Years: Mother, Son Reunite at Half Marathon
Stacey, a teen mom, gave up her baby, Stephen, for adoption.
Years later, Stephen, now an adult and a veteran, always wanted to meet his birth mother.
After many years of searching, a change in the law helped him find her.
He surprised her at a marathon where she was running with her team, the mother and son then hugged for the first time in 35 years.
Their emotional reunion involved family and friends, after which they ran the half-marathon together and continued the celebration with a cookout.
Stacey Faix gave up her son, Stephen Strawn, for adoption when she was 15.
Stephen and Stacey reunited at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in 2018 after 35 years.
Stephen found his birth mother after his birth records were lost and later retrieved.
A new law allowed Stephen to access his birth certificate with his mother's name.
The reunion was a surprise arranged with help from family and the veteran's support group.
- Who
- Stacey Faix and her son, Stephen Strawn.
- What
- A mother and son reunited after 35 years following the son's adoption.
- When
- The reunion happened in 2018.
- Where
- The reunion took place at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.
- Why
- Stephen wanted to find and meet his birth mother.
- Mother's Name
- Stacey Faix
- Son's Name
- Stephen Strawn
- Event
- Pittsburgh Half Marathon
- Reunion Year
- 2018
- Time Apart
- 35 years
- Son's Age at Adoption
- Baby
- Son's Profession
- Veteran