a while back one of my kiddos decided to run a half marathon to raise money for parkison's research. her dad was diagnosed with parkison's when she was 4, making it hard for him to walk or talk. i told her i'd run with her if i could find 13 donors to support her cause, pounding the pavement for parkinson's. donors did: jocelyn, jay, patty, lois, grace, wendy, christine, chris, pat, anne, another anne, tim, linda, to name a few.
it was a hard race. sara had been battling a cold, and she hit a wall at mile 10, but she kept on pushing, along with two high school friends reid and hannah. together we talked and laughed and coughed our way through the race, maybe shedding a few tears here and there. sara had a lot of fans on the road, cheering her on.
it was enough that she finished a difficult race, it was enough that she had raised awareness of the disease claiming her dad's mobility, it was enough that she had raised a good bit of money for research. but when the race was over, the checks kept coming, and at a reception held in sara's honor last thursday, we learned she had raised over $67,000. absolutely amazing.
saturday saw a couple of wins too. jota ran, and WON, a half marathon. and my girls' relay team placed 3rd. trophies all around!
but sara's win is the kind that changes lives. YES.
