Holiday Inspiration and Giving

Last night, at our second Dana Farber Marathon Challenge meeting, a microphone was passed around a crowded room and people told stories. Some were about fundraising strategies, some were about running in the bitter cold, but most were about a personal reason for running. And that reason was usually a person – a lost loved one, a child in treatment, a dear friend making a valiant fight. One man spoke about losing his 22 year old sister – he talked about how they used to run together, and how her spirit remained such a powerful force in his training and efforts in fundraising. I spoke at length to a breast cancer survivor, who began running years ago, slowly building up her distances – and the marathon represented a dream of recovery, a real triumph of life. Each story was unique and moving, and filled my mind and heart.

The meeting went on, and we were prepped about Winter running gear, visited by a somewhat racy Santa Claus who delivered us t-shirts and caps, and briefed about myriad long distance runs planned for the months ahead. Jack Fultz, our coach and former marathon winner, gave an inspired talk about how to train safely, and find our own pace to the finish line. But the personal stories kept lingering in my mind. I wanted to picture faces, look at photo albums, hear more details – things I could carry in my mind to hold onto the compassion and profoundly positive determination so pervasive in the room. It also made me want to run – not just to clock the miles in a journal or to convince myself that I would be able to reach the finish line – but rather to share in this challenge with the other members of the team. Their stories are inextricably linked to so many people and our stories collectively have become intertwined through running.

It is hard to convey this growing personal connection to the team and to the cause in emails and words. But I write in the hopes that you will consider helping to strengthen this collective cause and effort. Every gesture of support, no matter how small, conveys a larger camaraderie and sense of community. At the meeting, the leaders unveiled a large map of the Boston Marathon route, with a small marker at mile one – indicating a small step in collective fundraising, toward an end 25 miles down the road. Movement along this colorful map was a powerful and compelling symbol for all of us – because it showed the physical challenge ahead of us in distance markings on scribbled roads, but it traversed this course in steps defined by the generosity of others and the collective charity work of all of us. It mapped the progression of a more universal stride. It is to this larger effort - a movement comfortably paced by so many inspired people – that I invite you. Know that your participation transcends the real dollars necessary to help move this organization forward in its research and treatment – it also serves to share the struggles and challenges and memories of others – something that is fundamental to our humanity, and meaningful beyond words to those in need of support.

I also write to offer everyone my best wishes for the holiday season. Please consider making a holiday gift in support of this larger community and charity effort at:

http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/joshb