“Ordinary Miracle” as Sarah McLachlan’s song recites, “Life is like a gift they say,
wrapped up for you everyday. Open up and find a way to give some of your own.” The city of South Boston’s Finn family has exemplified this statement to the utmost through their outreach and support of Julie’s Family Learning Program, having given nearly twenty years of service to the organization.

I first heard of Julie’s through Miriam Finn Sherman, a former colleague of mine. After hearing stories about the amazing work and the “ordinary miracles” that have taken place because of this organization, I became inspired to offer my assistance as well. The Boston Marathon was one way that I could participate and give back to Julie’s families who are taking manageable steps to breaking the cycle of poverty. It is through Miriam and the Finn family’s service to the program that I would like to dedicate my Boston Marathon efforts and in memoriam of their father, John J. Finn, who passed away in the fall of 2007.

Hailing from the tundra that is Minnesota, I am currently the Alumni Relations Coordinator at Emmanuel College, though I also moonlight as a classical pianist. I grew up around a mother who loved to run great distances and friends who ran even longer distances. And then there was me, who only desired to exercise long distances with wheels. I have always been very involved with athletics, such as tennis, swimming, soccer, rugby and numerous others. However, it was always a dream of mine to some day run a marathon and prove to myself that I too had the stamina to withstand such excursion while on foot. The dream became even greater once I moved to Boston after completing college in 2005.

It is with great pride that I will be representing Julie’s Family Learning Program at the 2008 Boston Marathon. I would like to thank Miriam, her family, and those at Julie’s for giving me such an exceptional opportunity.

To end this not-so-brief biography, I would like to conclude with these additional lyrics to Sarah McLachlan’s “Ordinary Miracle” composition:

“When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away;
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we’re all a part
Of the ordinary miracle.”

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