On Monday, I announced I was going to have a contest and give away $250 to a charity runner. I had several inquiries. Now it’s time for y’all to pick a winner! Just go to my Operation Jack Facebook page and vote for one of them. I’m going to close voting up on Sunday night. Most votes wins! I want to thank everybody for participating. Have a great weekend. But go vote first! And tell your friends!
By the way, just in case you’ve never been here before, take a quick look and see what Operation Jack is all about.
** Note: I didn’t realize I could only have 10 options to vote for on Facebook, so I had to turn away four folks who got their info in on time. I’ll do this again, though, and they’ll be automatically in.
Here are the nominees, with the charity they’re raising money for.
Beth Clark, Autism Speaks
Hello my fellow philanthropists! My name is Beth Clark and on September 16, 2012 (Jack’s Birthday!), I will be racing my very first half marathon in Boston with the Autism Speaks team. I have committed to raise $1000 and with your vote, I can increase that donation dramatically! On July 8, 2012 I completed my very first Triathlon with Autism Speaks and raised a whopping $3150! A mere 18 months ago I was 52 pounds heavier when I set out on a personal mission to find my true self. It turned out to be more than just a weight loss journey, it became a journey of finding a deeper meaning of self and how I can be the best me I can be. Training and racing and fundraising for the NYC Triathlon with Autism Speaks allowed me to discover just who I really am and what I am capable of. I intend to continue training, racing and fundraising to a cause that I believe so deeply in. As a special education teacher in the Bronx, I interact with autistic children on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this developmental disorder has silenced some of the most vibrant, smart, and enthusiastic children and I fully intend to stand up for their chance at happiness and the ability to communicate with their families, friends and teachers. Through my weight loss and new found love of endurance sports I’ve found a community that allows my true inner self to shine. I race each race to give each child the fighting chance to discover the same thing about themselves!
Joy Gaeraths, Lymphoma and Leukemia Society
I joined Team in Training in 2009 when I saw all the different people who ran/walked marathons. My Grandma had passed away from Leukemia in 2006 and I wanted to honor her in some way and give back at the same time. In the 3 years I have been involved with TNT, I have met many more Heroes who I lace up my running shoes for. Melissa, one of our Honored Heroes who I have become friends with, who trained for her first half marathon while undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She is currently cancer free and running a different race; chasing after 2 kids. I had never met Len, but I crossed paths with his daughter, Cathy my 2nd season with TNT. He lost his battle right before we headed to San Diego for race weekend. I will never forget watching her throughout the season as her father fought an amazing fight. He is one of the many wings on my feet that make the miles and heat bearable training here in Arizona. Stories like Len’s and my Grandma make me want to fight even more and raise money and awareness about blood cancers as the research done helps all forms of cancer. We are all on the same TEAM and hopefully someday, we will all be running marathons as a celebration because a cure has been found. I am currently training for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon and am raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which is where the $250 would go. Thanks for your vote! Go TEAM!
Genna Himelfarb, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. It is a great offer!
I am running Disney’s Goofy and a half challenge this year on behalf of The Leukemia and Lymphoma society’s Team in Training. This consists of a half marathon on saturday and a full marathon on sunday. This is my 4th season being involved. This year is extra special to me, as I have increased to more than just a marathon, I am also running on behalf of a good friend I have, Erin. Erin was diagnosed with cancer after battling pneumonia. She is one of the strongest people I know. She has not let anything deter her from being happy and so positive. In addition to Erin, I was also told a friend from college, who is now 26 was just diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
This cause is important for me because it allows me to bring attention to those who cannot run. Each run I think to myself, running is easier than cancer. It is sure hard to run a 39.3 mile race in 24 hours, but it is sure easier than cancer.
I want more people to have more birthdays 🙂
FUNDRAISING PAGE |BLOG | TWITTER
Marci Holland, Make a Wish Foundation
I am raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in memory of my brother, Kyle, who passed away as a child. I would like to help bring joy and happiness to children whose lives are otherwise filled with doctor visits, treatments, and surgeries. My goal is to participate in 10 running events to raise funds.
Thank you for including me!
Ann Pistone, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation
On October 21, 2012, I will be running my third marathon. This time, Its not about me. I decided that I would do things differently and I will be running for a cause. Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the official charity partner of the Nationwide Columbus Marathon. We are very lucky to have two healthy boys, although we have had to utilize the services of Children’s Hospital for our youngest a few times. Every time we’ve been there, they have been great not only with our son, but also with a freaked out mom. I am running as a Children’s Champion to be sure that EVERY child (&parent) gets the help and care they need.
Jen Price, Roads Scholars
I am running the Chicago Marathon for Road Scholars, a program that changes the lives of at-risk high school students through mentorship and half-marathon training. I have been a volunteer group leader for Road Scholars for two years and witnessed the transformation made in the lives of these amazing kids. Road Scholars not only provides students with the tools they need to start running (running shoes and clothing), but arms them with the tools they need to succeed at life: a sense of hard work, determination, and goal setting.
These students face significant obstacles in their life. Running gives them an escape. Running builds their confidence. Running makes a difference.
Jojo Reuland, San Francisco Suicide Prevention Center
I want to nominate my sister Jojo. At The SF Marathon in July, Jojo will run the marathon backwards, starting at midnight before running the full 26.2 with the rest of the SF Marathon runners. She’ll complete the 52.4 Ultramarathon in honor of my boyfriend’s brother, and all other families who have lost someone they love to mental illness. She’ll run to raise support for the SF Suicide Prevention Center, to help raise awareness of depression, mental illness, and suicide. Running the 52.4 Ultramarathon will be her longest, most challenging run ever, but I will finish the last 26.2 with her as a reminder and celebration of how precious life and family are. Jojo is truly an inspiring woman, and I’m incredibly lucky to have her be the voice behind supporting such a great cause. — Nellie Reuland
TEAM PAGE | Jojo TWITTER | Nellie TWITTER
Jeremy Sale, Scott Rigsby Foundation
The Scott Rigsby Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring, informing, and enabling amputees to live healthy, active lifestyles. When Scott Rigsby was just 18 years old, he was thrown from the back of a pickup truck and dragged over 300 feet on hot asphalt. Scott’s left leg was amputated immediately after the accident and, more than 10 years later, Scott’s right leg had to be amputated as well. Over the course of 20 years, Scott endured more than 20 surgeries, bouts with alcohol and drug addiction, and depression. Then, in 2006, after asking God to change his life, Scott began the Scott Rigby Foundation.
That same year, Scott also dedicated himself to becoming the first double amputee to complete Ford’s World Championship Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. Scott completed 13 triathlons and five road races on his way to setting world records for a double amputee in full marathon, half Ironman, and international distance triathlon races. One year later, on October 13th, 2007, Scott achieved his goal and became the first double amputee to complete the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. Scott was one of the featured athletes during NBC’s broadcast of the event and, in 2011, Scott returned to Kona and finished his second Kona Ironman triathlon.
Members of the Scott Rigsby Foundation compete in endurance events, such as marathons and triathlons, to raise awareness and funds for the foundation. The foundation, in turn, uses those funds to sponsor four Georgia Warrior Alliance Wounded Warrior Family Retreats, held at the Roosevelt Rehabilitation Center in Warm Springs, Georgia. These retreats offer a chance for soldiers who have been wounded in combat, including many who have lost limbs and/or suffered traumatic brain injuries, and their families to enjoy a “getaway” from the everyday challenges they endure and work on physical and emotional healing. These camps including professional counseling for both the soldiers and their families and recreational activities in which all soldiers and their families can participate, including hand cycling, wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball, archery, and others.
Thank you for your vote and helping out The Scott Rigsby Foundation!
Danielle Sterling, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of New England
My brother in law, Aaron T. Sterling, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. From the day he was born Aaron was unable to do something that the majority of people on this earth take for granted: breathe. When he was born in 1981, the doctors told his parents he wouldnt live to the age of 6. With the evolving miracle of technology and medicine, Aaron was able to greatly surpass the age of 6. He graduated from high school, and attended the University of Maine. In 2003, Aaron underwent a double lung transplant, receiving a lung from his brother and another from a family friend. After having a second single lung transplant in 2007, Aaron ultimately lost his battle with CF in 2011- but not without fighting. He left behind a fiance, a loving brother, mother and father, and countless friends who fought right along with him.
Approx. 70,000 adults/children in the world are currently living with this devistating disease, but with the help of donations and medical research they are coming close to finding a cure so that no one has to know what it feels like to be born unable to simply take a breath.
I am the assistant race director for the 65 Roses 5k road race in September, and all of our proceeds go to the CF foundation of New England.
Elisabeth Waller-Scott, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
I would love to get the $250 and use it toward my fundraising with LLS/TNT. I’ve been training with the Los Angeles chapter’s Ironteam and on July 28th I’ll be racing Vineman 140.6, a full ironman. It counts, right? There’s a marathon to run after I swim 2.4 miles and bike 112. When I signed up for Vineman with TNT last fall I had never completed a triathlon and my training has had some major ups (from completing my first tri to biking 112 miles) and downs (from crashing my bike and getting a concussion to DNFing my first half ironman attempt). It’s been rewarding and humbling all at the same time. Training for an ironman has been the hardest thing I’ve ever undertaken, and while the training has been exceptionally difficult, I know that in the end its all worth it. The money we raise is going to help people and families living with and fighting blood cancer and helping find a cure.
OK, that’s all! Go vote and then have a great weekend!
Marci Holland says
Can you add to my paragraph? I thought you were going to ask for that later.
Here is thhttp://friends.wish.org/041-000/page/Marci-Holland/Wishes-and-Running.htme link to my fundraising page:
I am raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in memory of my brother, Kyle, who passed away as a child. I would like to help bring joy and happiness to children whose lives are otherwise filled with doctor visits, treatments, and surgeries. My goal is to participate in 10 running events to raise funds.
Thank you for including me!
Joy says
Thanks again for the opportunity to win a grant! Please click onto my website for my Thank You note. I appreciate the opportunity!
Joy