One Fund Boston

Courtesy from RRCA website:

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Menino today announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, the purpose of which is to raise money to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded during Monday’s Boston Marathon.

“I am humbled by the outpouring of support by the business community and individuals who are united in their desire to help; The One Fund Boston will act as a central fund to receive much needed financial support,” Governor Patrick said. “At moments like this, we are one state, one city, and one people.”

According to Mayor Menino, support from the business community was immediate. “Within an hour, I had calls from business leaders and local philanthropists who, like me, were heartbroken by the impact this hideous tragedy has had on individuals, their families, and friends. And they want to do everything they can to help these people physically and psychologically in the future.”

The cornerstone donation to The One Fund Boston is a $1 million commitment from John Hancock. “John Hancock is honored to contribute to The One Fund Boston, aiding those who were affected by this terrible event,” said Craig Bromley, President. “The Boston Marathon is about courage and resilience and community. John Hancock, which has been headquartered in Boston for more than 150 years, will continue to stand by our city, the people of Boston, our community partners, the runners, and the Boston Athletic Association as we unite in recovery and in renewal of our commitment to the Boston Marathon.”

Other individuals and corporations making commitments to The One Fund Boston include Jack Connors, John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction, Brian Moynihan, President and CEO of Bank of America, Paul Grogan, President of The Boston Foundation, Steve Pagliuca, Managing Director of Bain Capital and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, Larry Lucchino, CEO of the Boston Red Sox, and Mike Sheehan, CEO, and Karen Kaplan, President of Hill Holliday.

Boston law firm Goodwin Procter has volunteered to organize The One Fund Boston and has applied for 501(c)(3) status. One Fund Boston, Inc. will apply for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. Although the Fund cannot guarantee that the IRS will make a determination that the organization qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity, if approval is received within the expected time frame, the determination will be retroactive to the date of the Fund’s formation, which is April 16, 2013.

“We are one Boston. We are one community. As always, we will come together to help those most in need. And in the end, we will all be better for it,” Mayor Menino said. To contribute to The One Fund Boston, click on onefundboston.org.

just believe

"Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you're young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don't let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself." 

 - John Bingham, running speaker and writer

I have recently volunteered to be the Administrator for our local community Fun Run. The really cool thing about the fun run is not only the course - 10km and 3km along the pristine foreshore area of the Sunshine Coast, but the fact that is run by one of the smaller schools in the area as its main fundraiser. It is organised and run by moms and dads from the school. .... as I said, pretty cool!

One of my duties as the administrator is to make sure there is some sort of an announcement in the weekly school newsletter. There are only so many ways you can put a reminder in for the date and that registration is open before it gets boring and people stop paying attention. So, I decided to put in weekly inspirational running quotes or training tips. It was a lot of fun trawling the internet looking for inspirational quotes and I came across far more than I will need. The quote above is the one I put in earlier this week (pre-Boston).

What I love about this quote is that it can be applied to anything. Running, cycling, rock climbing, surfing, skateboarding - anything. It doesn't really even have to be sport related. I think this message is one that needs to get out there to more people - we need to really believe in ourselves and that with the right tools and within the right environment, we are capable of doing anything we set our mind to.

A perfect example of this for me was a few days ago when I achieved something that I didn't think I could, and something that I was scared to try because I feel old and broken. In my CrossFit class I did my first solo, unassisted handstand against the wall and was able to hold it for 30secs. This may seem like nothing to some of you - but for me, it was a mental issue of me thinking that I could not do it. That if both my legs were airborne at the same time I would crumble to ground. The more I thought about it the more my anxiety kicked in and a huge mental block wall was erected whenever this exercise came up. But I did it! Finally! The first few were assisted with a 'spotter' - but now I can do them! I am still a bit hesitant, but I have confidence in myself and the strength of my shoulders to hold me up and not let me fall.

My other big achievement was something that I have spent a month working towards. I did know I was going to get there, but when I did I ran around like the gym like a giddy little giggling girl. This was the toes to bar exercise - where you hang from a pull up bar and swing your feet up to allow the toes to touch the bar between your hands. Slowly, slowly I worked on this starting with knees to chest and found that I could get a nice rhythm happening, and then the other day BAM I did it!

So - believe that you are young enough. That you are old enough. Strong enough. Be confident. Surround yourselves with supportive people of like minds and never give up. You can achieve anything you set your mind to if you allow yourself to BELIEVE.

We stand together...

Russ is the owner of Endurance and Marathon Sports in Akron New York and is also a fellow RRCA Coach.  He made the following comment to his clients and I thought I would share them here for your comments:

"All my life I have viewed sports as a sanctuary. A place to find yourself, a place to challenge yourself, a place of growth.

"Whatever the intentions of the attackers today, or those of the Munich Olympics and Atlanta Games, they pick the wrong arena in which to make their statement. Their actions are seen, but the message is lost. The message today is about the community, love, support and aide offered by those nearby. I hear that 1 million times louder than the motives of the attackers.

"See, in sports, we rally. We rise to the occasion. We break through barriers and hatred. We support out brethren regardless of ideology, beliefs or origin. One cannot rob our innocence. An army cannot bring us to our knees.

"We are strong. We stand together. We protect our own.

"Here's to swift justice.

"Athlete Nation."

Runners United to Remember

Nervous Much? Getting injections for the knee….

Cock a doodle do 

I'm not sure what to do

Injections with the essence of the roosters manhood

I don't know if I could, not sure I should

They say it will my knee fix

But I am wary of falsehoods and tricks

Only one way to find out you see

So c'mon and inject that shit in me 

The non surgical intervention

Rooster comb synthetic injection

Who seriously thinks up this shit?

Guillotine the rooster and give me a hit!

So what's your thrill, what's your poison?

Champagne, beer, vodka? Rum, schnapps, wine or bourbon?

Hair of the dog, cat nine of the tail

Fuck that - give me the caruncle of the fucking chicken and give it to me now! 

runner’s lament

in the beginning it was all I had

if I didn’t get out there and do it I thought I would go mad

day by day I struggled through

stronger, faster, fitter, leaner I got – as you do

with the various groups among the community

I read, wrote, talked, breathed and lived the reality

then one day it hurt and felt so wrong

after ice, rest, consultations, scans

goals, life dreams were taken away – gone

now the hurt and disappointment rides me

I’ve been let down

and seriously with the pain no fun to be around

it was an intimate relationship don’t you see

part of the characterizing lifeblood flows through me

without it I’m not sure who I am meant to be

Marathon des Sables

So, after many weeks of umming and arrrring I have decided to register for the Marathon des Sables 2012. 152 miles of walking and running through the Southern Moroccan Sahara.

Crazy or Courageous? You tell me!

Why? It is hard to put in words. Why does one run? Why does one run silly distances? Why does one run silly distances through insane heat and desert? Who knows – everyone has a different reason or a different story to tell. Mine… I don’t know. It is just one of those things I read about in a running magazine a few years ago that I thought sounded like fun. My training partner here in Dubai mentioned it again one of our Friday morning long rides and I thought “Yes – I must do this!”

As part of the registration you need to fill out a ‘fiche pour la presse’ or a form for the press. They ask why you are taking part in the Marathon des Sables and what image of yourself are you hoping to give. I answered:

“To achieve something some say is impossible or crazy. For the experience. Image: Nothing in life is too big, too small or too hard.”

This filled the limited space on the sheet, but I think it sums up my ‘why’s’.

So… onwards and upwards!