My inspiration:
My dad was paralyzed from a battle in Vietnam,when I was young,
and if the VA hadn't provided the funds for his rehab / apparatus needed
to make himself mobile, my life would have been totally different ,
and much less fulfilling with my father.
He was also impaired mentally from his injury so connecting
with him emotionally could've been tough.... but because he was mobile ,
he could still participate with us kids in different ways.... ways that
allowed him time to process ,interact experientially, and
connect in a special way with us kids..
One time, 24 years ago,someone asked me why I ran. My initial response was"because I like it"-- in my head I heard myself say "I run because my
daddy can't"---a reminder that when things got tough that
I should and could be grateful that I have legs that can run on at all..........
This all might sound really random ,but as I looked over the event I heard
this little voice in my head say "I run because my daddy couldn't,but now,I
have a chance to run to give the gift of mobility to others like him--a gift
that enabled him, and us kids, to have a more fulfilling life.
I have great memories of my dad and the things we did
together--without his mobility I wouldn't have known him but from
a hospital bed--I was only 1 1/2 when he was shot . He lived in Chicago
nearly all my life --I saw him 3 times a year,but ,through the simple things
we could do together ,I became the biggest daddy's girl ever.
I heard a friend once ask Dad " How ya doin' Eddy ?" Dad answered in his usual way "Believe it or not , I'm alive." Someone who didn't know the situation might think "how sad","that's it?"........but my dad knew very well that when the medics found him in the field he was all but dead--so to"just" be alive was a great thing,in and of itself; the gift of mobility gave him even more to be happy about in so many ways...... mobility gave him freedoms immobility could never allow...oh, and
mobility gave me my daddy.
Without getting too mushy...that is how I see this mission...
that's the honor and opportunity we have been given...
pretty cool ,huh?
Well,we did it !!! I had a strong finish in the race and we totally
nailed our goal....wow... Our $12,210 goal reflected my hope to send atleast 1/2
of a container overseas---275 wheelchairs in all...and we did it !
You all are so awesome... Praise God !
Our page will be open until April ...
so if you know anyone who would still like to join in this blessing, please forward our page to them.:0)
" Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. ! "