Running for a cause (December '09 Issue)

When tragedy strikes, people react in different ways. Some are talkers, and find serenity and comfort in speaking through the emotions. Others are introverts and would rather have solitude to filter through the feelings alone. I am a mixture of both, which was evident when my best friend had no idea how to be there for me when a close friend of mine passed away.

That friend, Ricky Childers, passed away on Thursday, October 22. When I got the call, I experienced a fog of shock. Then the fog dissipated & made way for the disbelief. Then came the tears that poured out uncontrollably. The following day was just a repeat of the previous. But then several days later, it was no longer so obvious that I was dealing with a loss of a loved one. Work continued. Life continued. But I knew what was lying beneath it all and I replayed last moments we spent together and thought back on the last time we spoke.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, no one really “speaks” anymore; we text, we Facebook , we tweet. My last conversation with Ricky was sent via Direct Message on Twitter, on the day he was leaving for vacation. We chatted about his upcoming trip & how excited he was. I told him to be safe, that I was jealous he was going to the Caribbean, that I loved him and to have fun. His last message to me made mention of a half marathon on November 7th at the Dowd YMCA. He wanted to know if I’d join him. I responded with something to the effect of “wow, November 7th, that’s soon for 13 miles! But, I’ll think about it…I’ll let you know when you get back!”

He passed 2 days later.

Now that Ricky isn’t physically here, I think about him often and I think about our last conversation. I think about how he once told me he was proud of me for running two half marathons within two months. I thought about how cool it would have been to have run this race together. So in his honor, I have decided to run the Dowd YMCA race, as a tribute to him.

This concept of running a race as a tribute to someone is not a foreign concept by any means. Races like the Susan G. Komen for a Cure were actually founded on inspiration and as a tribute to a loved one (Komen’s race was an idea founded by Susan’s sister Nancy). With the holidays arriving, I think of this time of year as a kick-off to the race season. Races range from local staples like Charlotte’s “Thunder Road Marathon & Half Marathon” (a general race) to those that are sponsored by or created for a cause like the “Lungstrong 15k/5k” that supports the fight against lung cancer. You can truly find just about any race to participate in around this time of year.

The race that Ricky wanted us to do together, the Dowd YMCA race, is “held as a fundraiser for community outreach programs -- which include job training, summer camps for children and mentorship programs for local teens” (www.ymcacharlotte.org). With a heart as large as his and my prior experience as a teacher, it is no surprise why he would want us to participate in this race.

So with the holidays nearby and you are in your gift-giving spirit, remember that not all gifts have to be purchased. Go out and volunteer for the homeless! Donate your time to Operation Christmas Child! Visit Elevatelifestyle.com to get the latest on benefits that sponsor a cause or give back to the community! Run for a cause, ‘cause it’s the holidays! Whatever your motivation, start the new year off right and get out there and donate your time or get fit for a cause!

Above all, just do it with love. Happy holidays and til next time…