If any of you have ever trained with the New York City chapter of Team in Training, then you all know what an amazing and cool coach Ramon Bermo is. Ramon has trained and inspired thousands of runners to safely complete (or to qualify for Boston, yes, us charity runners are not all back-of-the-packers) in marathons and half-marathons for over six years. And now, he’s decided to focus on the other side of the charity racing coin: he’s running the Vermont 100 on July 19th, 2008, with a goal of raising $50,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As it trns out, he’s already raised more than his goal, but, surely as runners you can understand: why stop there? There’s always the next breakthrough on the horizon.
So, this post is just my little shout-out for him. I know many of you have run in races for charity yourselves, I know all of you have had at least one coach or mentor who has helped you turn the corner from “jogger” to “runner.” And, I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that all of you have had your lives touched by the devestating effects of cancer.
If you’re feeling generous (or even if you’re not — Ramon accepts donations of $5), click here and help get Ramon to $100,000. (I just set a new goal for him. Hope you don’t mind, Coach.)
In Ramon’s words:
I am aware that many of you have a direct connection to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s cause, and I plan to run in honor of all of you that have been affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I will run in honor of all of you that I have met through all those miles of running.
A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of meeting Kate Davis, an amazing little lady!! Since I first saw Kate’s picture she has always been my own reminder of why we do what we do. Everytime I looked at her beautiful face and happy little eyes, I always wondered “Why?” such a beautiful little person had to go through that.
That’s why Kate, as well as her two sisters Emma and Olivia, will be my inspiration as I take on a new challenge. They will be the faces of all of you, the Honorees, and the family’s affected by all of these diseases.
Important Links:
Pigtails Flying 
[…] many of you know last year was a very amazing year for me, I had the opportunity of fundraising a good amount of money for a cause and a program I totally believe in and so proud to be a part of, a program that has […]