Even though I am not looking forward to moving at any pace out in the heat this evening, I feel honored to be running with and for some Heroes of mine.
The Memphis 5K starts at 7 p.m. Sunday July 3 and afterwards at the pool party at 9 p.m. organizers plan to show live footage of the race in Afghanistan, which in their part of the world will be taking place at 6:30 a.m. July 4.
While picking up our packets yesterday there was an area for taking a wristband which each has a St. Jude patient's name and the disease which they are fighting printed on it. Participants can wear these in honor of their fight for freedom from cancer during the race.
I will be running for Annesha, who is 19 years old and has ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). John will be wearing one for Amber, who is 7 years old and is fighting Wilms Tumor. While they are fighting this disease at home, there are some brave individuals who will be getting up quite early on their July 4th to run in what has to be unbearable heat before putting in their days work to fight for our freedom in a country where they can never feel safe.
They all want to be healthy and to be free from harm. Some chose this fight and some have been forced at a very young age to realize how precious life and freedom are to us. How fortunate we are to sleep in our own beds, wake up and feel healthy enough to run, and enjoy the fellowship of friends and family while eating fresh summertime foods on this holiday weekend.
As runners, sometime the best way to show support is to write a check, show up, and run. It will be my pleasure to strap on my running shoes and go sweat for all my heroes.
Happy Running
This is fantastic! It is so much more meaningful to be running for someone other then yourself! Hope you had a great race!
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