Norris Cotton Cancer Center Team Photo
Running a half-marathon for cancer research was one of the coolest moments of my life; even though I injured myself 3 weeks before the event shoveling mulch. I willed myself to the starting line anyway. It was easy to ask my friends, tennis team and family to make donations on my behalf because I was doing something out of my comfort zone to honor my dad, a cancer survivor for 18 years, and others like him. All of these people motivated me to the starting line.
On race day, I proudly donned my Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) t-shirt and I loved running every mile. Memorable highlights were giving a huge high-five to a random person wearing a Hamburger Helper hand,
tons of people thanking me for running for the NCCC, and getting help from a friend when my energy was waning up a hill. At the finish line, I gave a southern-girl yeehaw, raised my hands up high and felt my heart swell. So impressive was my “cele” that the people from NCCC asked if I would go through the finish again so they could get another picture.
A couple of years later, my 14 year old son, Emery, ran his own half-marathon in the CHaD HERO, a Positive Tracks event benefiting the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. 
He was supposed to run the 5K with friends, but announced his Plan B just minutes before the start. He hadn’t trained, had holes in his shoes, and was wearing pair of baggy lacrosse shorts. In the end, he was chafed, sore and tired, but he did it.
So, what did we have in common? Sweat? Check. Exhaustion? Check. But also something that isn’t easily articulated – a warm and powerful energy from all that sweat. It was a feeling greater than crossing the finish line, but couldn’t be separated from it. It was an uber-connection to something bigger than ourselves and it made all that sweat worth it. I love the way TED Talk star, Brene Brown, puts it, “Connection is why we’re here. We are hard-wired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”
Working on behalf of Positive Tracks, I’ve been privileged to see many kids making uber-connections for causes they care about. They are giving part of themselves to make it happen, and because it’s hard, it’s a lesson that sticks. When I left the CHaD HERO with Emery that day, I was proud that my kid had run a half-marathon, but my proudest moment came from a Facebook post a few days later:
He was 14 and he got it. He understood that all his sweat and soreness had helped the kids at CHaD, and the viral CHaD HERO video helped him put it into words and share it. Personally, I can tell you that having to walk down the stairs and hills backwards for three days after my half-marathon was totally worth it too!
By Liz Gray, Program & Marketing Manager
Me In 140 Characters Or Less: Enthusiastic Giver; Southerner at Heart; Tennis Addict; Serial Volunteer (AKA Sucker); Loves Live Music; Collaborator; Communicator & Sparkplug.
Nothing makes me prouder than being able to help Positive Trackers like my son find that uber-connection feeling. Contact me and I can show you too.
2015 Update: Emery (in the red hat) ran the CHaD HERO 1/2 marathon again!
