Mission Moment - Delaware Team Member

A message from Amanda Goble, our Team In Training Campaign Coordinator:

This week's mission moment comes from a member of our Delaware Team (we are part of the Greater Delaware Valley Division along with Lehigh Valley, Southern New Jersey and Delaware):

My older brother was diagnosed with leukemia when he had just turned 50. He went through his initial treatment and did well. He lived in Iowa and came to visit us when my daughter Reagan was (who was a pole vaulter) going to compete in the high school State Track Meet her sophomore year. Although she was a favorite to win the pole vault championship, she did not have a good day, and came in 4th. My brother said, "Don't worry Reagan, I will be here again next year and next year you will be the champion."

Two weeks before the State Track Meet was scheduled the following year, my brother called and told us he wouldn't be able to make it because his leukemia had returned, and he was going to have to start chemo again. On the morning of February 19, 2000, the day of the track meet, my mother called me at 5:30 AM to tell me my brother had just died. I knew I couldn't tell my daughter before the meet, and decided to tell her after it was over. So, we followed the track team to the UD field house, and watched my daughter win her first State Championship in the pole vault.

After the meet, when I told her that her Uncle Ron had died that morning, she said, "You know mom, I got this calm feeling right before I competed, and I really think he was here with me." I believe she was right. As I was running my 10 mile training run yesterday, I kept thinking to myself (as my body was trying to tell me how tired it was) if my brother was just another mile away waiting for me, I could keep going... I kept his smiling face in my mind, and I kept running. I know he was with me.

Thanks for letting me share this with you....it was the motivation for Reagan and myself to join Team in Training and be a part of this wonderful mission. As you cross the finish line on your event weekend, I know that you will carry Ron's spirit with you.