It’s that time of year again!! Time for me to keep Jay Pearson’s memory alive and well by running the 2010 ING Half Marathon & honoring him by raising money for 65 Roses!! In 2009 I had no stated goal and thanks to many of you I raised $3,180! For 2010 I’m setting a personal goal of $5,000 and I know I can do it with YOUR help. Please see below and thanks again for your help!

 

In 2000 my brother-in-law, Jay Pearson (Carla’s brother), received a double lung transplant. Twenty-seven years of battling Cystic Fibrosis had left him with no other options. The surgery was a success and the long-term prognosis was promising. About a year after having that surgery I was having a conversation with him about some trivial problem that I was having and he laughed and said “Tim…that’s just small stuff. Let them open up your chest like a hood on a car and then come talk to me about your problems.” That statement changed my life.

 

In July of 2002 Jay passed away due to complications stemming from the scarring of the tissue from his bronchial tubes, which attached to his new lungs. To this day I love and miss him. If you did not know Jay, you missed knowing a great person. He was highly intelligent, he loved cars, he loved his family and most of all he loved life.

 

In his honor I am running the 2010 ING Half Marathon on March 21, 2010 and raising money for 65 Roses. http://www.milesforcysticfibrosis.org/georgia.html

 

Why “65 Roses?” In 1965 a little boy with Cystic Fibrosis couldn’t pronounce the name of his illness. In his four year old world he had something he called “65 Roses,” and since then his simple mispronunciation has come to stand for much more than a large bouquet of beautiful flowers. Over the years the Cystic Fibrosis community has adopted the phrase for fundraisers.

 

I would like to ask you to help make a difference by simply making a donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford to Miles for Cystic Fibrosis. Click on the "Sponsor Me" link at the bottom left side of this page or send a check to my address at 4550 Guthrie Cemetery Road, Loganville, GA 30052 made payable to Miles For Cystic Fibrosis. If paying by check, please have it to me before March 14, 2009. Your donation is tax-deductible and 100% of it will go directly to support people like Jay living with CF. Thank you in advance for being part of this very important cause. Together we are adding tomorrows every day.

 

Thanks again,