Three Things Thursday. These weeks fly by. Can’t believe tomorrow will already be Friday.
Real quick, just in case you’ve never been here before, I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 9-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. So, I started a foundation in his name to try to raise money to fight autism. I ran 61 full marathons in 2010 to kick things off (I named everything Operation Jack) and with the help of Train 4 Autism, a great charity I’m proud to raise money for, I put on an annual race called the Operation Jack Marathon. Between Operation Jack and the race, we’ve generated more than $160K since 2009. Now you know.
1. Jack update
Quick update on Jack’s school situation, since I haven’t posted about it in a month. If you want the full backstory, click here. In a nutshell, we pulled him out of the school he’s in because the playground is unfenced and only 86 feet from a parking lot. Since he elopes, which means he darts and runs away out of the blue, it’s absolutely not a safe school for him. We’re trying to get him back into the local school, but we’re not able to because … well … we’re not truly sure why. We have suspicions. But the decision makers won’t answer my questions.
I have so many things I want to say and talk about. But we have a lawyer for Jack and for now, I’ll be patient and let her do her thing. It’s incredibly frustrating that he’s been in school for about six hours since May, and it’s pretty maddening that we’ve had to hire a lawyer to try to get him in school. I hate what this has done to him and what it’s done to my wife.
I really want to come out swinging (figuratively, with words, in case there’s any doubt), but now is not the time. But there will come a time when I have more to spill. For now, it’s district vs. parents and the special-needs kid is losing big-time.
2. Operation Jack Marathon Update
We’ve crossed $25,000 raised and knowing how things work out every year with last-minute registrations as the race draws near, I imagine we’re going to have a lot more coming in. I am so excited to be able to raise money and I’m really looking forward to the event. It’s going to be our biggest one yet and I’m running an early start (like, 2:30 a.m.) so I can volunteer from the start of registration until the final runner crosses the finish line.
We also have various satellite events depending on where you are. Here’s details:
– Los Angeles (main race)
– Portland, Oregon
– Kansas City
– Portland, Maine
– Everywhere else!
3. Jolly is at it again
If you don’t know what Elf on a Shelf is, or if you don’t know what my wife Tiffany has been doing with ours, click here and check out my post from Monday. It’s all pictures and it’s pretty funny.
Here’s a couple more from this week that she did. It’s pretty awesome to hear Ava laugh when she discovers what Jolly has been up to.
That’s all for today/this week/etc. Have a great weekend! We’re getting snow … what’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?
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