These are two wristbands that I am going to wear next week when I run the Broad Street Run (
http://www.broadstreetrun.com/ ) in Philadelphia. The represent the Tug McGraw Foundation (
http://www.tugmcgraw.org/home.asp ) and Faith and Fear in Flushing (
http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/ ).
I have been active with the Tug McGraw Foundation since its inception. I was always a fan of Tug's, and was heartbroken when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. I have supported the organization, founded in his honor and then memory, since its inception; it funds research into quality of life issues that affect those with brain cancer, brain tumors, post-traumatic stress syndrome, brain injury trauma, and a host of related conditions.
Last year, when I ran the New York City Marathon, I did it as a member of Team McGraw (
http://www.tugmcgraw.org/team/default.asp) - I signed up for it because I knew I could get a charity spot in the Marathon that way, but what I got out of this was much more than a race; the support and friendship I found from my coach and teammates has been unbelievable, and I will be forever grateful for it.
I wore the Faith and Fear in Flushing wristband when I ran the Marathon. I knew that raising the $3,000 I needed in order to run the Marathon with Team McGraw would be a tall order, but I was blessed with wonderful friends. Greg Prince, specifically, co-author of Faith and Fear in Flushing, has been amazingly supportive, and gave my Marathon fundraising efforts much-needed publicity. With the help of Faith and Fear and the blogosphere, I raised $6,214 for my Marathon fundraising! I couldn't have done that without being a part of the Faith and Fear Nation.
So now I'm at it again, albeit on a much smaller scale. I don't foresee any more marathons in my future, but I will be running the 10-mile Broad Street Run with team McGraw on May 1st. I will be running this race with Team McGraw; even though I exceeded my $150 fundraising commitment, I would like to raise as much money as possible for this wonderful organization. Thus, Greg and I will be at McFadden's Citi Field tonight between 6:00 and 7:00 in order to raise a beer to Tug and help out the cause. For more details, check out Greg's column -
http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2011/04/11/buy-tug-a-beer/
If you would like to help my fundraising efforts but can't make it to Citi Field this evening, click here -
http://www.active.com/donate/teammcgrawbroadstrun/tmSChapma Remember, no donation is too small (or, for that matter, too large either ). Ya Gotta Believe!
