Two native central Upper Peninsula women are blossoming on the national stage, evidenced by being featured on the “Today” show last Saturday.

Tori (Koski) Sager, who grew up in Baraga, and MaryEllen “Mel” (Poutanen) Charbonneau, a Negaunee native, were the subject of a story by Erica Hill of “Today” because of Fellow Flowers, a running community the two launched several years ago.

Sager, who lives in Marquette, and Charbonneau, now a resident of Wisconsin, spoke with Hill about Fellow Flowers, which was launched to connect with and provide encouragement to women.

Hill even joined the pair and other Fellow Flowers in a run. Before the segment aired, Fellow Flowers had 14,000-plus “likes” on Facebook. After the national spotlight shone, that number jumped to 17,468 as of Thursday afternoon.

What started as a idea in which women who run would wear flowers in their hair as a symbol of purpose and unity has grown into much more, as the “Today” piece reflected.

Sager put it this way in a Mining Journal story published on the eve of the broadcast: “The opportunity to share the Fellow Flowers movement on a grand scale with women across the nation as part of the #RunforToday series is a priceless gift. We continue to be amazed by the support and encouragement from our local communities and we can’t thank them enough.”

We, in turn, can’t thank Charbonneau and Sager enough for following their dreams and for encouraging others to do the same. This world can be a dark place at times and having people like this duo offer such beautiful, hopeful light is a wonderful thing.

These two eloquent young women are representing the U.P. quite proud.

Charbonneau said just before the broadcast: “This recognition reaffirms the need for the Fellow Flowers movement and with each woman who shares her story, we know it gives another woman the courage to define her own.

That is the movement we hope to serve and the inspiration we hope to rejuvenate within every woman tuning in to the ‘Today’ show segment; that is the difference we want to make.”

Mission, accomplished.

For more information, visit fellowflowers.com or facebook.com/fellowflowers.