Hey, this ain’t easy!
If anyone has followed me for awhile this may be a bit of a repeat post for you all.
Sorry!
You see its that time again. Every year, this time of year, I try to take a deep breath, enjoy the Oxygen flowing in my body, and thank God that I am able to do so.
You see there are many people out there who have difficulty or discomfort breathing in. And that’s why I dedicate each Saturday in July to raise money for the American Lung Association through running in our local “Fight For Air” Stairclimb, taking place this year taking place on Saturday July 26th.
Yes, a ‘sensible’ person might opt to stay in bed on hot Saturday mornings, but that adjective has always eluded me somehow. So this Saturday, and every Saturday I hang out at our local Coliseum, where our stairclimb takes place at and run up and down some stairs to get ready for this event. Sound like fun? Take a look:
Its not always easy at first but the Saturday practices slowly get my legs in stairclimbing shape. And true to its name, this event really effects your lungs, compared to other 5K or marathon races. You really get a new appreciation for the need and the work that your lungs do after running some 1500 stairs! Oh there is a monster 5000 stair climb event, but I am not that crazy!
And, even at my old age, and a bout with cancer, I am still in this to win it! I run hard on those stairs on Saturdays.
I am watching my weight so these old legs don’t have so much weight to lug up and down those stairs; meaning no more of this:
I even have taken to riding my bike to work to help with my goals.
…..and I am doing all this for you….and your money.
(you knew it was coming didn’t you?)
Yes, I am trying to raise money for Lung Health. I am busting my butt so you might feel sorry for my cause, feel I am committed, and hence, cough over a dollar or two to help those unfortunate young and old people that are tragically affected with poor lung health.
I will spare you the details or the facts you have seen every year. If you are interested in them you could click here.
Lung Cancer kills thousands each year. It is not the same uninvasive Cancer (it’s a word I just made up) I had.
This cancer is for real!
And did you know Asthma is the number one reason for children missing school? It is.
So these are just but a few reasons I am dedicated to raising money for improved Lung Health each year. I appreciate what my lungs have done for me over the years and I hope other young kids get the same opportunity to enjoy running and biking like I did.
In fact, part of the money raised at this Stairclimb goes to a week-long camp, Camp Puff-n-Stuff, for kids that teach kids how to deal with their asthma. Rebecca Balitsaris, the Area Director for the American Lung Association told me this good story on the success of this camp:
Rebecca told me, “I do have a good story from this year’s camp. A school nurse shared with us that one particular child used to visit her room 2 or 3 times a week due to his asthma the year before he attended camp. The child attended camp last summer, and he only visited the nursing room 2 to 3 times the whole year last year!”
So the money you and I donate actually does visible results each year. And I think that is part of the great intrinsic feeling of running climbing in this event each year: It actually helps real people and deserving kids. And, hey breathing with asthma Ain’t easy!
How many people with asthma do you know?
If you are interested in donating a few dollars or would like more info on our stairclimb please click here.
So instead of doing this, this Saturday and the next….
Picture Compliments of the incomparable Steve Jordan
I am going to make my lungs burn so that others can breathe easier.
And if you can help (please, please, please), or participate in other charitable causes to help others, give yourself a high five!
You Rock!
OUR LIFE IN 3D 