Last year’s race was a tremendous experience for all of us and one we will never forget. Our urge to run in the Falmouth Road Race in 2008 was mostly a personal challenge for each member both physically and mentally. Melanoma was always a thought in the back of our minds at the beginning of the race but it didn’t come full circle until we finished. We just thought it would be a great experience…something we had to do because of past experiences, childhood memories, family stories, and just to be able to say we did it when someone asked. Prior to the race we were more concerned about whether or not we’d be able to finish the road race but if someone asks us now we have a totally different outlook on the “experience” we had.
One memory we would like to share from last year took place about 5:00 a.m. on the bus ride to the starting line in Wood’s Hole. We met a man in his seventies, decked out in some army fatigues and a hat full of pins from his travels. He didn’t give us his name… he went by Colonel. The Falmouth Road Race registration booklet states specifically that you should be able to finish the race in 90 minutes, tops. Not Colonel…he has done all the major marathons and over 20 Falmouth Road Races. The Colonel planned on walking the entire thing. He said that getting older doesn’t make running any easier, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to share his story. He was a cancer survivor and he would complete the race in whatever time he could. He did it for the cause.
We were all blown away and overwhelmed by the outpour of love and support everyone showed towards our cause and we can never show how much that actually meant to us. We thought we would be reaching to raise the $750 dollars we were asked to do. And then come race time to know we raised over $2,300 for The Melanoma Foundation of New England was incredible. That’s where our drive is coming from this year. The cause. Last year it was breathtaking to see how many runners were wearing t-shirts, hats, shorts, etc. in support of their passions, pushing them to run the long seven miles around Cape Cod’s shoreline.
Once the race was done…no matter how tired or out of breath we were, those seven miles seemed the easiest seven miles we’ve ever run. From start to finish people are cheering you on, handing you water, and giving you the rush (and goosebumps) to push that much farther. You pass by cookouts sponsoring the American Heart Association Headquarters or Dana Farber’s Water Station; Bands are playing throught the course while the crowd sings along. They had people running hoses from their houses to the streets to cool runners down. But everywhere you turned there was a sign, poster, t-shirt for some sort of cause and once we got into the race we had such pride that we were one of those people. We were there because we raised money for Melanoma Research and we deserved to be there. It wasn’t a road race anymore. It was an experience of a lifetime and that is why we are back to do it all over again.
Team Skin is growing as Bridget Owen has joined the troops and is ready to help our team go that much further. Seeing the support we got last year by raising over $2,300 for Melanoma Foundation of New England, we are giving ourselves a new challenge and are hoping to set the bar higher. Our goal this year is to raise, as a group, $3,000 dollars and don’t think we’ll stop there. Any and every donation is as important as the other and we are grateful for whatever you can donate to help us raise money for Melanoma Research. We’d like to welcome anyone that wants to come down for the day, share the experience and cheer us on to the finish line. We’ll bring the sunscreen!!
No donations are too small and don’t forget to see if your company matches donations as we need all the help we can get. If you need to bargain with them Jordan and Chris are willing to give free advertising space. All donations are tax deductible and if you have any questions regarding that, don’t worry we know a few accountants that can help you out. ;) If you do not feel comfortable donating online with credit cards and such, please email any of us and we will gladly give you the address and any information you will need to send in a check.
Thanks again from Team Skin!!!