Spring arrived early this year, so although I love to ski, I must admit, the warmth of the sun makes everyone so much nicer!
As many of you know, my new found passion is to lace up and go for a run. In this newsletter I would like to share why running has become such a big part of, not only SMILE Mass, but also who we are as a family.
Over the last 5 years, SMILE Mass has created many programs that help families create happy, healthy memories despite disabilities. Most of our programs consist of offering equipment for families to borrow, so they too, can get out and about doing some of the things we all take for granted; such as a trip to the beach or perhaps a simple bike ride! All of our SMILE Mass programs have always been created from the heart. We want families to play together, to give hope and create new opportunities, despite disabilities.
The SMILE Mass Running Program is very close to my heart because it started out of a simple request from my son, Nicholas - Mom, take me running!
You see my son is now 15 years old. He was born with severe disabilities, he is confined to a wheelchair and he eats with a feeding tube, just to name a few of his obstacles. His friends consist of doctors, nurses, teachers, his care givers (that I pay for) and, of course, his family. His world consists of therapy instead of soccer. But, if you ever had the chance to meet my son, you would know there is nothing he would rather do than be with other kids. When he sees his sister play soccer, he wants to play as well. As a mother, it broke my heart knowing there weren't many team opportunities for him.
So, about 3 years ago I took a chance. I signed my son, my daughter and myself up to run a 5K road race in Sudbury. I had an old running stroller that was a bit on the small side, but it worked. What happened that day has forever changed our life, our family and the way we interact with sports!
If I could only explain what Nicholas and his peers get out of our running program, you would be amazed. When we run, he thinks the world is out there just for him. He loves it when people cheer him on. When we cross the finish line, he holds both arms in the air as if we just climbed Mount Everest! You see, he is a lucky young man and we take him everywhere. Normally he is the one on the sideline watching others. But on our runs, spectators are watching him as he "speeds" past them - this was a new experience, one that so many kids with disabilities never get to experience.
At SMILE Mass, we just want kids/young adults with disabilities to have the opportunity that every other child has at their age. Over the last 3 years, our running team has come a long way! We have invested in better strollers and taken our running to a whole new level. In 2015 we ran approximately 20 races - 5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2 marathons, and for the first time ever, we will be running a full marathon in 2016. Nicholas, Chloe and Victoria, whom are the lucky three young adults with disabilities, will be taking the challenge with SMILE Mass, running our very first full marathon in Copenhagen, Denmark. You see, these 3 young adults are not only wheelchair bound, but have other everyday struggles with things that most of us take for granted. This kind of a trip will strengthen their self esteem, give them a sense of accomplishment, and for the first time in their life, they are part of a team.
I am officially inviting you to join our running team. Seeing the joy on the faces of the children/young adults we assist through road races is something that just can't be described - it has to be seen. If running is not your thing, you can always come out and walk with us, sponsor us or simply cheer us on! We are always looking for volunteers!
The commitment to be part of the running team is not big - we ask that you agree to join us for a minimum of 4 races per year (
click here to see the calendar
). The
one race we ask for your commitment is our own Gobble Wobble 5K/10K/fun run that takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in Sudbury, MA, on November 19th - more information coming soon. It is at this race that we have the biggest number of children that need some assistance. I promise you, your heart will be full of joy at the finish line should you be so privledged to be one of the runners assisting a child with disabilities.
Thank you for your continued support. Together we can do so much!
Happy Spring.
