Pf Changs Marathon
Today, not only is the House on Pleasant Street Sherry prosperous in the exercise of Why Me mission, but it is expanding its programs and activities to ensure a reassuring presence for
families coping with the dreaded disease.
And while Sherry’s House Marathon All-Star Team played a key role in fundraising by participating in events around the world, he approaches the finish line of one of its objectives.
Tomorrow FP Rock ‘n’ Rock Chang Marathon and Half Marathon in Arizona, the All-Star Marathon Team and will celebrate reaching 1 million in funds raised, 11 years to the day after running his first event in Bermuda. Twenty-six members of the team will line Sunday morning, taking to the streets of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe.
“In this first, we had about 55 to 60 people and raised about $ 155,000, I threw a number of trying to raise one million,” said Terry Shepherd, why Sherry’s & me House co- founder and executive director. Her daughter Sherry was in pediatric oncology a patient in the first UMass Memorial Medical Center while fighting against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Sherry, with her parents, formed Why me shortly before she lost her battle against cancer at age 13 in August 1985.
“Did I really think we would do 12 years and we still had a lot of the very soul of riders in the group? Not really. But people fell in love with the organization and the group. It’sa lot of fun. ”
For the former Holy Cross football star Gordie Lockbaum, who is on board the government body, this is his 12th marathon, all for the team of Sherry House. His father, Bob, died in April 2000 after a spirited battle for six months with colon cancer, and Lockbaum had wanted to run a marathon, “which seemed like a good way to honor him.”
“The thought of children going through what he went through was painful and inspired me to train and raise money for Why Me,” said Lockbaum, whose previous best marathon was 3 hours, 38 minutes. “Hours spent training gave me time to reflect on the life of my father and the impact it has, and my mother had on me and my six brothers and sisters.”
The team became a family affair for Lockbaum. Son Gordie, now 21, and her 13 years, Olivia is in the half-marathon this weekend, and his wife Denise ran in four events Sherry House team. “We all take ownership of this responsibility to give back,” the 45-year Lockbaum said, “being involved in charities, it is a grassroots organization that really resonates with us.”
Phil Renaud Brimfield was also with Sherry’s All-Stars from the start, and his wife, Tammy, and daughter Sarah are working as well. A manufacturer, Renaud heard a radio ad in 1999 looking for members of the team, and he was taken a little time.
“Ultimately, why I wanted to participate, is that as a father, I felt very lucky,” said Renaud, 48. “My daughter was 8 or 9 years old then, and good health. What motivated me was to realize how lucky I was, and I could do something here and Terry opened the possibility. ”
Running for the first time is Austin Rice of Worcester, the nephew of Shepherd’s. “When Terry started this team, I told him when he got to the point where it was going to hit a million that I run,” said Rice, a graduate of the University of Bryant who ran background and track at St. John’s High. “I did not have time or resources to do this every year, but I wanted to do it. It’s a special moment.”
Her younger sister Courtney is also running, and the two have teamed up for their fundraising success, in large part to come through social networking relentless. To date they have raised and 5700. People on the team are invited to gather at least 3500 and, and the goal is 5000 per family.
People can sponsor Sherry’s House Marathon All-Star Team by visiting www.whyme.org. Shepherd said the organization expects to raise and 115,000 to 120,000 and through the Arizona marathon.
“We got the $ 5 and 10 donations and people I have not spoken for years,” Austin said. “People want to help, and it is particularly gratifying as it goes.”
Shepherd notes the contributions of the family were not only through participation. “It’sa lot of hard work to get out into the street and training and being away from family,” said Shepherd, of Shrewsbury, “if that way is a family event because you have the joint participation and understanding of children because you are away for a while – over long distances, you’re away for three to four hours. ”
And those family sacrifices they have played in the decision of the shepherd that this marathon will be the last team under the House All-Star Sherry nickname. Of course, none of the riders is treating this as a final career. Shepherd, 58, said he took a sabbatical while promising a return to Paris some time. This team may be too difficult to break, as one can drive for the cause.
“There is such a connectivity once we’re there as a group,” said Shepherd. “We go out to dinner in advance as a group, encouraging each other as a group, have a few drinks later as a group. We cannot wait to see everyone again. “
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