Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Race for Hope

In 2009 we were soaked by the rain, this year we were soaked through for another reason. In the space of about 48 hours DC went from winter to mid-August - 90F or 30C and VERY humid. It was seriously hot as we gathered with Team Impavido on 12th and Penn Ave at 8:30 am on Sunday morning. We were greeted with a loud cheer by our dear friends and family all proudly wearing the team t-shirt. This is most of the team, some were still pinning on their numbers as this picture was taken!

The day's events began with a tribute to all Brain cancer survivors - they paraded down Penn Ave in their yellow t-shirts to the front of the start line. Isabella was in the front row striding with great determination and pride. True to her name, Miss Fearless! There was not a dry eye around.

The race went well. We all completed the 5K course - some running and some walking. Despite the heat I ran faster than last year, though I am a little stiff today! Our oldest member and star global charity fundraiser in the family, Janie was the first to finish in our team. Isabella was determined to complete it too and ran across the finishing line with a big smile. Matilde, walking with Peter, announced on several occasions "this is the most boring thing ever!" I think she was fed up she had lost track of everyone else in the team and all she could see was a sea of sweating unknown people, 10,000 to be precise. But she, like Isabella felt a great sense of achievement on completing the race. See the certificate that Isabella produced for herself at the end of the day below.








Participating in an event like this is very emotional. There is a strong bond between everyone going through or knowing someone who has gone through a similar situation. As Isabella sat and rested after the event, a teenage boy came up to her and said "high 5, buddy!" He then wanted to know how long she had been a survivor and discuss tumors. We discovered that he had been treated by the same doctor. And as if on cue, out of the throngs of people, appeared the lovely, calm Dr P. Isabella was pleased to catch up with him on a day like this, here they are together.

We were thrilled to have such good friends and family with us. We are truly grateful for your support to us the past couple of years but also your generosity to such a vital cause. As Dr P says on his team's page and they announced at the beginning of the race, "we will not rest until we find a cure!" Near and far you have donated your time and money. We are around $5,000 for our team so far but the donations are still coming in and can be accepted for several months to come. A huge thank you to Susan, who ran her own charity race a couple of weeks ago (but 10K or was it more?) in Belgium and has raised nearly $2,000 for the cause.

And here is Uncle Billy  with some of Team Impavido. He spent the morning trying to promote the book I have written about Isabella's story. It has been beautifully illustrated by Marie-Isabelle, we hope to publish it for other children and families in a similar situation.

After a very hot but wonderful morning we returned home to a celebratory BBQ (using Gregorio's new machine) with all the team and their families.

Thank you for all your support.
Love,
Emma & Gregorio. xxx