Please support my
100 mile effort for The Snowdrop Ultra 55 hour Race and Relay which benefits
childhood cancer. Last
year's event raised $164,000 and donations toward my run contributed over
$5,500.
I'm doing it again
in under 4 weeks. Your support was
overwhelming and it would be unfair for me not to continue to fundraise. All of your support, combined with the
experience of last year's event drove me to continue to train. That included a few marathons, a 50k, a 50
miler, and over two years of never missing running at least a half marathon a
weekend.
I decided to run
last year because my friend’s daughter Lexie was diagnosed with Cancer and I
selfishly related it to the impact it would have on my daughter, and my
family. It's unimaginable for me to even
try to understand the hardships her and her family have to endure. I'm happy to report Lexie has been in
remission since May 2018. The effects of
treatment will last her lifetime. She
still has to get frequent scans, which I'm sure creates a level of unrest,
uncertainty, and anxiety for the family.
Last
year, I was able to complete 100 miles in 42 hours (64 out of 146 solo
runners). The male winner went 205 miles, the female winner set a course
record with 204 miles, and the relay team winner went 443 miles combined.
Other notable achievements included a childhood cancer survivor who ran 176
miles, a 16-year-old 100 mile finisher, a 83 year old who ran 60 miles, and
wheelchair participate who reached 94 miles. The race had an incredible
volunteer army that made sure all runners were equipped to meet their goals.
This
was definitely the hardest physical challenge I've endured. I wasn't even
close to prepared for the physical or mental tests it took to get to the
end. The various episodes of pain seemed insurmountable, between plantar
fasciitis, blisters, cramps, and bruises. Incomparable to any type of pain,
challenge, or actual battle that any child/family with cancer endures.
I’m lucky enough to
have an incredible sister and brother-in-law. They started the Snowdrop Foundation after meeting an amazing teenage
girl named Chelsey who was fighting cancer at a radio-thon at Texas Children’s Hospital. She lost that fight, and it has motivated
them to do some pretty awesome things in her memory. One of their events is featured in a
documentary called Dear Chelsey which follows my brother-in-law Kevin Kline
running across the state of Texas. His
latest adventure, Delivering Hope, was a 300 mile run on the Dalton Highway
(from Ice Road Truckers) and carried over 1,800 children's cancer patients
names with him to the top of the world raising around over $200,000 on the way.
Kevin’s ultra runs
provide a platform for Snowdrop to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Since 2006, the Snowdrop Foundation has
donated nearly a million dollars. Seven
years ago, Kevin recruited other ultra-runners and created the Snowdrop Ultra
55 Hour Race and Relay in Houston Texas. I actually volunteered at one of these events and specifically remember
how exhausting it was as a non-participate. I didn't return until last year…
If you are planning
a donation before the end of the year, please consider Snowdrop. Your money is going to great cause, is tax
deductible, and will help drive me across the finish line.