On April 19th, 2010,  I will be running the Boston Marathon, in honor of a very special man, Brad Pinney,  In September 2008, Brad Pinney passed away at the age of 58, after a couragous six-month batte with Melanoma. 

I had been dating Shaun Pinney for a few months after he decided to introduce me to his father, Brad.  All I remember thinking was,"This is a big deal, I'm meeting the parents!"  We met at Fenway Beer Works and in walked Mr. Pinney, a towering man of 6'5".  But as soon as he smiled, my intimidation dissapeared.   When we finished dinner, I remember going to shake his hand.  Instead he gave me a huge hug and we both chuckled, because we were on a "hugging status now." I will never forget that hug.

Although Brad had recently been diagnosed with cancer, his strengh and giving spirit was immediately evident.  I soon learned  Brad Pinney spent his life going above and beyond for others - whether it be in the line of fire as Captain of the Wilbraham Fire Department,  volunteering his time on countless community boards or simply by being a good father, husband, coach and neighbor - he was an example of what it truly means to give 100% to others.  When Mr. Pinney passed away, there was a line for hours outside the door, hundreds of people from the community coming to pay respects and thank him for his generosity.

Although I never got to know Brad like his friends and famlly did,  I consider myself  closer to him than ever before. The Pinney family has welcomed me into their home and I am so grateful for that.  Their strength and generosity is clearly a legacy of the love and closeness Mr. Pinney built within his family.

Please donate to our cause by making a donation in honor of Brad.  All proceeds will benefit the Melanoma Foundation's programs for early detection and skin cancer prevention.  I recommend a donation of $50, but any little bit helps!  Together we can support the end of skin cancer and help other families detect and prevent melanoma.

If you would like to follow my marathon progress, learn more about Brad or the Melanoma Foundaiton, please visit my blog: www.helpicerun.blogspot.com

Many thanks for your support --  it means so much to me and the Pinney family.

Love,

Nat