12/7/09 - 13.1 Miles!

Hope everyone is doing well! I just wanted to let everyone know that BJ accomplished 2 big goals this weekend. First...He completed a 1/2 Marathon (that's 13.1 miles) just a year and a half since his transplant! Secondly....He exceeded his fundraising goal of $5000.00 for the race which is also a tremendous accomplishment! We are still receiving some donations since the race, so I will wait until they are all in to give you the final results, but it was a tremendous success! I know BJ is very appreciative of all of your efforts in his latest fundraiser and I have to say that it was very inspiring to get to participate in this with him. I have had a chance to see BJ fairly regularly since his diagnosis and throughout this process...and to see how far he he has come is truly amazing! He is without a doubt the strongest person I know and it was the coolest thing to see him walking across that baseball field in Memphis after the run. I can't think of a more fitting setting for him for this run...We ran through the campus of the St. Jude Research Hospital that does so many great things for children battling cancer and crossed the finish line in a beautiful baseball stadium! BJ said that as he ran through the hospital campus and saw the children holding up signs of support, he was taking time to read every one of them. That made me think about his connection to this race and how things happen for a reason. He, more than anyone, knows what those children are going through and why finding a cure is so important! So, a BIG "Thanks" to everybody that participated and donated and let's keep going until we beat this thing!

Talk to you soon!