Running for Tyler February 27, 2010

At the start of this journey, I mentioned a little boy – the best friend of my co-worker’s son.  Four years ago he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a very rare form of brain cancer.  Only 250 children are diagnosed with it a year, and unfortunately Tyler was one of them.  After being told about our fundraising efforts for  Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Donna told me about her own connection to the fight against pediatric cancer and described Tyler’s resilience throughout his own four year battle.

Being that he is her son’s best friend, Tyler has been like a son to her and she has experienced all the peaks and valleys with his family.  She has been there to see Tyler suffer but never complain, to see his parents refuse to give up hope or neglect to try anything possible to help their son.  Donna said that he could be extremely sick, but if you asked he’d always say he was doing great.  Tyler’s story has been with me throughout the training and the fundraising.  Though I’ve never met him his strength and amazing outlook – so similar to Alex’s –  has been a constant inspiration.

Tyler lost his battle with cancer this past Tuesday.  He was only 12 years old.  I naturally asked Donna how she was doing and if there was anything I could do.  She asked me, “Will you run for him?”

Yes.  We will run for Tyler.  That is what this is all about.  We are running for a very worthy cause.  We are running for Tyler and all the children who have suffered and for their families.  We will run for the children who will one day have the chance to lead a full life because of ALSF’s efforts.  We will run for Tyler and Alex who were on this earth such a short time but somehow touched so many lives and have taught us – have reminded us “grown-ups” that when life hands you lemons, you don’t need to give up or give in.  Make some lemonade, and smile.

So thank you, Tyler and Alex for reminding us what is truly important.  And tomorrow we will run all 26.2 miles for you.

Our thoughts and prayers to Tyler’s family and friends and all who will be missing his smile.

xoxo

Alaina

Meet Our Inspiration February 1, 2010

An Ode to Josh January 20, 2010

We have to send a special “Thank You” to our new friend, Josh, who only 2 weeks ago was nothing more than a stranger.  Josh, who is rooted here in upstate New York, actually works in one of the most dangerous countries in the world – a place quite unfriendly if you are American.  However, he has managed to do good for the poverty-stricken locals there, doing his best to persuade several companies to donate bags of clothing for them.  While doing his part to change the world abroad, Josh has managed to be a tremendous help to us as well granting us an extremely generous donation of $1,000.  We were honored by his generosity and even more thrilled to get the opportunity to meet him in person.

While home for the holidays, Josh came across an article about our cause in The Times Union.  After having to tell a man abroad that there was little hope for his 5 year old son suffering from brain cancer, Josh saw donating to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation as a way that he could help.  And so, not knowing us at all he tracked us down, donated a generous sum, and took us out to a lovely dinner at Jack’s Oyster House!

So here’s to you, Josh, for taking a chance on 5 crazy cousins and giving unlimited chances to even more crazy kids

As Josh says, “Giving is contagious,” sooooo……….

*Are you interested in helping out Josh’s friends?  They need clothing, shoes, and jackets.  If you would like to help, please a comment on this blog with your contact info and we will be in touch!

Larger than Life December 22, 2009

Like Alaina’s piriformis syndrome, holidays can also do damage to the bootay!  Luckily this marathon keeps us trim no matter how much we celebrate!  Running around in general and seeing the season in full swing always reminds me of the past… The first Christmas I remember was when I was maybe 2 or 3 years old. Christmas Eve. Unlimited supply of M&M cookies.  My mom told me to stop eating them or I’d be sick- 24 hours later I was opening my gifts next to a garbage can.  Although I’d rather not recall the colorful yuletide yack, it’s remembering my mom and that from some of the earliest memories I have, to the every day things I find myself doing now, that she was usually right.  But every year, on the anniversary of her death, I’m always wondering what I’m supposed to do or how to pass the time.  For all the things my mom did for me, she never prepared us for this… I do know though, that she’d want us to be ok and do something good or productive- so, what I decided to do was come up with a little list of some of the things that my mom did teach me or things I remember about her.  In doing this, I hope she is somewhere watching and finally knows that I realize what she meant all times she told me that “someday you’ll understand” and that all the good things we do, like raising this money for Alex’s cause, are because we are following her lead…

A few things I remember:

- convince a child that taking a nap is just “resting your eyes”

- let your daughter be Barbie Princess for 3 consecutive Halloweens; you are spared a tantrum and you save a buck, too
- “Don’t listen to the kids on the bus. Ask ME!”

- don’t touch everything in the store

- how to fold towels the right way, using windex on the mirror is not considered cleaning the bathroom, and noxema and other facial cleansers will never clean whatever was spilled on the carpet
- that making someone write “I will not be disrespectful” 200 x’s is an effective strategy to keep a mouthy child quiet

- say a prayer everytime you see or hear an ambulance
- you can never have too many friends

- work ethic and punctuality (ripping the covers off of me and lecturing until I got up to make the donuts)
- respect differences in others
- the importance of traditions, and how to accept changing them

- you can’t choose your family, so get over it and love them! (and I so dooooooo)

- knowing how to agree to disagree,  and when to shut up
- men definitely have p.m.s., too
- it doesnt matter if you can sing or not, belt out your favorite tune
- “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.” —> worst guilt trip words ever…

- not to be lazy, “…if I go up there and find it myself, you’re done.”
- trust can only be earned and is easily lost, i.e. turning 16, going to a kegger, and losing my driving priviledges. Not wise.

- ” I don’t care what so-and-so does, she’s not my daughter- you are!”
- how sometimes less is definitely more, i.e. cleavage + midriff top = not leaving the house
- how to break two eggs into the bowl at the same time without getting any shells
- how to pull a really good prank
- the value of a hand-written note or card
- not to compromise your standards for someone else and to trust your instincts
- that some lessons can only be learned the hard way
- do as I say, not as I do (not in many instances, but some)
- there’s nothing wrong with imperfection

- there is a very fine art to getting even, ex. pretending to buy shots for a guy who treated his girlfriend very poorly & spiking it with urine… and getting the entire bar in on it, too

- you can almost always get a deal, you just have to be persistant! (I used to be embarassed to go shopping with her)
- playing Ring n’ Run is a perfectly acceptable game- at any age!!!

… and last but surely not least…

- It’s always better to be weird than boring!!!

This is just a glimpse of the past, and I wish every day that I had 20 more years with her… however, as clueless as I might be about everything else today, I’m sure of one thing: Ali, Katie, and I have a mom who was and will always be better than the best.

Chasing Pavements… and big dreams December 15, 2009

Just got back from a nice outdoor run – something that may not be possible much longer if the temperature keeps dropping!  The weatherman and I are not good friends these days. But I have to say there is nothing like a nice run outside.  It might take a lot of willpower to get on your running shoes and bundle up to brave the cold for an hour or so – but once you do you’ll be so glad you did. You might think you don’t have the time, or its too cold, or you’re too tired.  But suck it up.  It WILL be worth it!  Too busy you say?  Well when is the last time you could honestly be alone with your thoughts?

I am no Hercules woman who hasn’t any trouble getting herself out for a multi-mile run in the dead of winter – trust me.  Today I struggled with the idea.  My nose is running, my head kind of hurts, I just worked for seven hours in a room filled with 21 five-year-olds (hence the headache)…..AND its about 30 degrees outside – every time I step outside my nose stings, my eyes water and my entire body shudders.  Seems like the PERFECT time to go running!  Well funny enough…I think it was.  At a time when you’re not feeling so hot and life is stressful – its the perfect medicine.  Out on that road its just you and the pavement.  There is no one to bother you with work, or anything to remind you that you should be doing your holiday shopping or laundry or any other chores that may continually nag you.  You even get some fresh air while you’re at it!  And if you run long enough, that road might just find you some peace of mind.

While this whole marathon thing is certainly a personal challenge of ours, the real goal is raising money for pediatric cancer research.

“Pediatric cancer” seems as though it should be an oxymoron – two words that don’t belong together.  Today I found myself talking to a co worker whose 12-year-old son’s best friend has been battling brain cancer for four years.  We started talking about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and then about this young boy who has been suffering endlessly for the last four years but never complains.  We thought, a child suffering – it just seems so wrong, no matter which way you put it.  As if Alexandra Scott’s story couldn’t get me out to run today, seeing the look in my co worker’s eyes as she talked about this boy who calls her a “second mother” certainly did.  Because, yes, to say “I ran a marathon” would be great, but saying “I ran a marathon to do my part so no child ever had to suffer from cancer again” is something that will keep me running no matter how cold it is, how busy I am or how lousy I’ll feel.  Its going to keep me running 26.2 miles all the way to that finish line…and on to the next one… and the next one…

~Alaina

*BELIEVE* December 12, 2009

‘Tis the season of giving and believing, and I wanted to share a story that exemplifies just that.   At work, we have a patient who is very ill.  She is pregnant and her chances of surviving childbirth are grim.  She is from a different country and speaks very little english.  I cannot imagine what she goes through on a daily basis.  However, this woman is truly an inspiration to me.  She is- for the most part- confined to her bed, and sees more nurses and doctors than she sees her own family, all while battling a potentially fatal disease.  She is doing this so that the baby inside her can grow to be healthy enough to survive on his own, yet she may not survive herself.  She is paying the ultimate price, yet giving the greatest gift to a child that will never know her.  Whether she knows or not, I’m always thinking of her and feel that she is a great example.  No matter what the outcome, I will remember her and how brave she was.  In the spirit of the season, we should all hope for a Christmas miracle for this woman- so that she can spend many more holidays with her family.

This is just another example of what Alex- the leader of the Lemonade Stand- represented… doing something meaningful for someone else, even if they may not see it through to the end.  We are lucky to have people like this around to remind us of what is actually important.  This marathon is our attempt to join in and contribute in some way, too… and we always remind ourselves that our 26.2 mile battle is nothing compared to what others are facing.

So here’s to the brave ones… And especially to my own mother, who will always be my ultimate inspiration.  ~Naunie~

Laughter*Thought*Emotion December 11, 2009

Morning thoughts… December 3, 2009

Children have this spectacular way of thinking that is hard to come by and almost impossible as we grow into adulthood and learn the restrictions of the world.  Big dreams, endless possibilities and imagination, simple answers, and asking the why and why not to almost every statement spoken to them, all make up the innocence and unique mindset that are illuminated through young children.  Whether we know it or not, all of us at one time in our life were the greatest innovators.  Unfortunately, it is very easy to allow those dreams and simplistic ways of thinking to be battered down with reality and experiences as we travel through life.  There are and will always be these roadblocks preventing us from going back to our childhood mentality where our ideas were generated freely and we could think clearly and simply.  That being said, I believe that is one of the most important things to be drawn from Alex’s compelling story. Although Lemonade Stands typically are more fun than business savvy, it took one child’s vision and one purpose to resonate throughout our country.  The impact it has made on so many children and families of those who are struggling or recovering from all that encompasses the sickness of cancer is an incomparable accomplishment.  With fear, doubt, and failure pushed far aside, the vision of one child made its way into the hearts and homes of millions.  The five of us are taking this same mindset and purpose and running with it (pun intended).  Although we may not be professional runners, and will see a lot of faces that doubt our ability, we will not get side tracked or discouraged.  Just as this foundation upholds, we will see through to the end of our goal.  Believe.

-Jenny