HAPPY BELATED HOLIDAYS!
Yikes, I apologize for how late this is being written and shared. I went to Rwanda, California, and then got back to New Hampshire just in time for the holiday craziness. I also was waiting on some more donations and things to follow though before telling the whole story. So! Happy Belated Holidays to everyone. I hope they were as successful as Run the 1 was this year! This blog post does feel strange as I write it. Usually, I would be in Rwanda now or nearing there. Even though, I was just there, it feels like I should be going back right now. Anyway, let me share the awesomeness of Run the 1 this year. I will also share a bit from Rwanda too!
So grateful to see Evode running again
BACK TO SCHOOL
Usually, I share the quick stats first but the most important and awesome thing is that our kids are already back in school, largely in part to our efforts. We even added a couple more extras to our efforts this year. We have one boy going to a local university. We had said before, in our current state, we would not be able to see our kids through to the university level. It would be on them to earn scholarships. We made an exception for Lewis because of all he did for Evode when he was sick. Lewis essentially stopped his life for well over a year to look after Evode everyday. We felt we were capable of supporting him. He deserves it more than anyone I know. Additionally, we have one boy who has had an awfully difficult time studying over the years in primary school. We fear he has some serious learning disabilities. I am beyond excited that we are able support him now. We found a tutor for him who can also help other kids struggling if need be too. We always talk about our finest scholars and rightfully so. However, Amurand is one of our kindest, honest, and hardworking kids and he needs this.
THE MONEY
As you read above, we succeeded in raising enough money for 2020’s school fees. We raised about $10,500! What’s even cooler is that $2,500 of that was matched thanks to my cousin and her company. So the real number is $13,000 raised. I am at a loss for words for that. It was tough coming for less time than ever and trying to raise something…anything. To think that we raised just as much, if not more than some years is incredible. I am a lucky person to know so many amazing folks, which means you guys sure are lucky too.
THE RUNNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Expectedly, we had less runners in California this year. That is totally cool. Considering all the factors of change I have expressed over the years, AND the crappy weather; I am pretty stoked about our turnout. Also, we had some help from the kids in Rwanda and some of our brothers and sisters in Boise. About 25 folks in Boise ran for the kids too. I jumped fires with Andrew Thibidoux. He now works for the Boise municipal fire department. He gathered folks from there and from the Boise Smokejumper Base too. I can’t thank all of them enough. And the kids AND Evode ran too! It was amazing to see Evode out there too. Another special moment was in California was my great friend Doc’s participation. Doc works for the Forest Service on my first Engine, Engine 16. He has been with us since the first year of Run the 1. He suffered a heart attack a couple months ago. Thankfully he has recovered well. He grabbed a bike and crushed those miles and hung out with us that night. I was so proud of him and humbled by his courage, generosity, and love.
Runners:
Ben Holmes - 26
Sky Reeves - 26
Kallen Kao - 26
Sam Kane - 26
Ish Canas- 26
Kyle Nakazawa - 26
Mike Welker - 26
Spencer Gordon - 26
Doc - 26 (bike)
Russ Thomas - 26 (bike)
Eagle - 5
Billy Reeves - 5
Me - 26
25 Boise Runners - 5k x 25 = 75+
Rwanda Runners - 15 x 5? = 75
TOTAL = 472 Miles
SUPPORTERS :
Claire Mellien
Demi Castonon
Cain Silvey
Melissa Canas and Roxy
Billy Reeves
Hayle Trengrove
PALMER VILLAGE
My wonderful friend Laura in Palo Alto put on another evening at her home for the kids. As always, I got to see so many familiar faces and some new ones too. The kids are barely kids anymore as they navigate high school. They used to play music and it was cute. Now they literally played jazz standards throughout the night as if we were in a bistro. A lot of money was raised, and another special gathering occurred and I couldn’t be more thankful to her and them. Also, her eldest son Noah beat me in ping pong one time which really showed how far he has come!
I brought back some Rwanda beer to share with Laura
THERE DOES NOT EXIST BREWERY
Our good friends Max and Paige helped us out. We needed a place to gather after the run that gave us a chance to get more donations, drink beer, and play music. All of that happened and more. Huge thanks to my band mates with The Glorified Gardeners for coming together, winging it and for having a blast. I like to tell them that I need our annual gig to get me through the year. Best therapy I know. The beer was delicious and it felt like we were home. Max and Paige donated all of the generous tips too. In years’ past they had run with us, and this year they welcomed us into their home and refueled us. Writing this now, I realize we never took a picture and we should have. So many more people came out and while our numbers have dipped over the years due to life, it was a wonderful reunion none-the-less.
The pulse of The Glorified Gardeners and The Arroyo Grande Hotshots - Mike Hickey
WHAT’S NEXT?
Most of what is next is meant for another, later blog post. I have some really cool ideas for the future of Run the 1 but they are just ideas for now. I am in a the middle of a massive personal life change. I know that sounds dramatic. It is but it is totally fine. Life is great. I just have to change some things. What I can say is that I am never going to stop supporting my other family and kids in Rwanda. I will never stop going there too. And I will always have love and visit my other family in California. I just need to rework how and when I do that. So stay tuned because next Run the 1 will be our 10th and I can’t believe I can say that!
MUSHY STUFF
To the kids we missed to help, to those we do, and to those we will. And to folks who have helped, ran, walked, biked, swam, donated, drank, ate, played music, cared, came together, laughed, sweat, bled, and continue to do so. To the people reading this right now… I love you. I love all of you. Thank you for keeping so many dreams alive. Happy 2020. so much more to come. Stick with us if you will. Be strong, KOMERA
Sully
P.s. We’re always accepting sponsors and donations for our monthly running costs. Until next time! Much Gratitude.
Thanks to Billy Reeves for taking such lovely photos. He caught us on the beach near the end and we couldn’t resist the classic dog photo. As awful as the last miles of a marathon can be sometimes, it is moments like these that make it worth it.