“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
~ John Holmes
Every now and then, we all embark on an endeavor that is way out of our comfort zone. We accept a tremendous challenge. These ventures are the sort of activities that keep our lives rich and interesting.
In February, 2013 my daughter, Alli, and my son-in-law, Matt formed a team to run in the New York City Half Marathon. Why? To honor Matt’s mother, Barbara White, who recently succumbed to the lung cancer she’d been bravely battling for nearly two years. When I heard that they had a team, I immediately said I’d join!
This marathon would also dedicated to my mother, Vivian Kornet, who fought lung cancer six years ago and is still being treated by the wonderful doctors of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
But wait a minute…what did I get myself into? Running is torture! I’m a very active and fit 57 year old, but running 13.1 miles was never something I ever wanted to do. It’s definitely out of my comfort zone. I couldn’t imagine running for more than two hours without stopping. Still, the opportunity to raise money for lung cancer gave me the inspiration to train hard and run with my family.
However, two weeks before the big 2013 New York City Half-Marathon, I felt a pop in my leg. It was a pulled muscle. I couldn’t train anymore and I certainly couldn’t run. Walking up and down stairs was too painful to do. But I was able rehabilitate my leg to the point where I could run the day of the race. And I finished…albeit in pain, but I finished for Barbara and my mother.
Our mission is to increase awareness about lung cancer and raise funds to support research that will help put an end to this terrible disease. I’m proud to be a part of Fred’s Team, a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center charity.
If you’re planning to make any charitable donations this year, I would appreciate it if you would designate a portion of your donation in support of Fred’s Team. Click here to make an online donation. Thank you so much.
~ Mitch Kornet