Give Kids the World in 1 day!

Tomorrow is travel day and in less than 36 hours I'll have completed my 13th race of the 13 in 2013 series! It is so exciting and hard to believe!

The shirt is ready to go!

As I packed and prepared myself for this trip, I was able to reflect. Reflect on the fact that this is a huge accomplishment. 13 races in 6 months raising over $11,000 for families and organizations. Reflect on the incredible support and encouragement I have received from my family and friends, and even strangers! My mom and step-dad have been so amazing through this journey. They have endured freezing cold winds on Belle Isle to early morning jitters on race days. They have ridden the waves of emotions as races come and go, some hitting tender nerves stronger than others. They have constantly made ways for me to train and run these races, supporting me through the giving of their time, prayers, and love. Thank you!

I have also reflected on Aaron's life. His first cancer diagnosis was, medically, supposed to take his life as he was given only a 5% chance of survival. God had other plans for him. Aaron had 22 more years of life! That's double-digit birthdays, numerous fish caught with his dad, lunches home from college with his mom. He got his driver's license, graduated from high school, college, and graduate school. He was given the privilege to encourage his sister to give that southern guy a chance (that southern guy is now her husband of 6 years!). He got to delight in an indecent amount of Coke and brats over college football Saturdays with his best friend. I had the greatest blessing of being his wife and mother of his child. Think of that! 22 years. What a gift! How many people he was able to touch, share Christ with, and befriend. How many cherished memories have been made in those unexpected 22 years. Thank you, Lord.

You can read about Aaron's GKTW story and my GKTW story by following those links.

Thank you for your amazing support and encouragement!

Ellie's Entourage: Post Walk

We finally made it! After years of wanting to join in this walk and schedule always prohibiting it, we finally joined the Helmus family and friends for the Step UP for Down Syndrome walk. It was quite a change of pace compared to my typical race morning. Ben and I joined Aaron's parents for breakfast before the walk, I wore jeans, and there were no pre-race jitters. It was a little weird!

Step UP for Down Syndrome - Ellie's Entourage

Once we got the the park for the walk, it was all I could do to keep Ben off the playground! Who could resist swings and slides on a sunny fall day? Definitely not this toddler! Fortunately, Grammy and Bobba were more than willing to get some playtime in with Ben.

Ready to fly!

Yeah, I know I'm cute!

Ben was not excited about being peeled away from playing to walk with Mamma. However, he did a great job and even walked some of the 1K walk around the park. It was so nice for me to be able to catch up with some friends, especially Ellie's mom Lacey!

Why must you torment me with this walking business?

Ellie's Entourage!

As soon as the walk was over, Ben bolted for the playground!

That's better!

Coming up: November 2: The Gingerbread Run (5K) in Kissimmee, FL benefiting Give Kids the World.

Give Kids the World: Jenny's story

The carousel and entrance the castle at Give Kids the World

It's almost here!!! In 4 days my feet will be walking in this amazing village again and in 5 days I'll have crossed the finish line of my 13th and final race of this series. That will make 62.7 miles of races and about 530 minutes of racing over the course of 6 months. Wow.


During my junior year of college at Western Michigan University, I decided to join a group of WMU students to head down to Kissimmee, FL to an amazing place called Give Kids the World. I was so excited to volunteer and interact with children who have had their world rocked by cancer, deafness, among other life-altering or life-threatening diagnoses. Aaron and I had been dating for almost 6 months at this point. I could not stop telling him about what a wonderful place GKTW was and Aaron excitedly agreed when I mentioned inviting his sister, Christina, along with our group. As I told Christina about the trip, she told me that their family had gone there just after Aaron finished all his treatments in 1992. That just made me more excited (and laugh at how typical it was for him not to mention anything about having been there)!

Christina and me in the entrance to the village!

My imagination was not creative enough to even touch the wonder of GKTW! I spent the first day in awe of the thought, care, and fun that went in to designing this village to offer a reprieve and a time of joy to families who have been forced in to determining a new normal for their life.

The Gingerbread House where families are provided meals.

Of course, the ice cream parlor was one of my favorite places to volunteer. Free ice cream for the families from 7 am-10 pm!

This is where an arcade and other games were held

Onsite movie theater!

A giant looks in on kids playing in the castle

This train can be found offering rides throughout the village

One of the things that struck me was that every single person, from volunteers to children to parents, had a smile on their face. Parents were able to take a breath and watch their child have fun. Siblings were able to run around together. Volunteers poured out laughs and hugs. When we left for Florida I imagined all the giving I would be able to do for these families. However, I drastically underestimated all that I would receive from them.

As volunteers, we took our job of having fun very seriously!

We were just a tiny bit jealous of these women who get to regularly volunteer at GKTW

During our trip, Christina had the privilege of making a star for Aaron. Give Kids the World has each child make a star during their stay so that they or their families can come back and find it and remember their time together. This started after Aaron's 1992 trip so Christina was invited to make one on Aaron's behalf. Looking back on it now makes it even sweeter. When she would visit Aaron in the hospital, she would hold his dry, thin hand while he was in bed. It seems like a small thing but he mentioned to someone that he really liked to hold his sister's hand when she visited. This became a special thing because it was something she could do for him that made him feel comforted. She was needed. I thought of this story as I looked at this picture; as Christina had such a positive, joyful role in a difficult journey.

Christina putting the star in the box for the "Star Fairy" to put on the ceiling of the castle

Stars fill the castle ceiling. Aaron's is there somewhere!

Christina, because of your thoughtfulness and love for Aaron, I get to take Ben to find his daddy's star. I get to tell our son about how brave his daddy was as a boy and a man. I get to tell him about why Give Kids the World is so special to our family and so many others.

I wanted to share my fundraising total at this very moment: $10,790. How is that even possible!? How did a little idea with a hope of maybe raising a total of $300 turn in to thousands of dollars!? I was so excited about raising $1,000 and now we are almost at $11,000! I am so humbled, honored, and it just makes me weep to think that I have had the privilege to see God move in this way. This process of running, fundraising, and meeting families has been one of the most powerful, meaningful, emotional, and fulfilling experiences in my life. I am so grateful to be used by God in this way. He has used incredible pain and heartache to bring joy and blessing to others. He has turned my mourning into joy. It makes me think of this verse in the song This I Know by David Crowder Band:
"Up on the mountain
Where You took me by the hand
Taught me to dance again
This I know
Up on the mountain
Where You took this heart of stone
Put life back in these bones
This I know"
God is so good!

How can you help Give Kids the World?
1. Donate: There are two different ways you can donate! Online - Please follow THIS LINK to donate to my fundraising page for the Gingerbread Run benefiting Give Kids the World. The race is on November 2nd so please make any online donations prior to that date. By check - As always, you may send a check to my mailing address made to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" with "GKTW" in the notes section. If you need my mailing address, please leave a comment below or you can e-mail, Facebook, or text me with your e-mail address so I may reply privately. I will be continuing to accept check donations to Give Kids the World through the month of November!


2. Shop: This is a little different! I am "hosting" two online parties. Each of these parties allow you to purchase products you may be looking for anyway and a percentage of the proceeds go to Give Kids the World! Please follow the links and enjoy shopping with a purpose! To go to the Tupperware party (now-Nov30), follow THIS LINK. To go to the Thirty-One party (Nov 1-26), follow THIS LINK.

3. Spread the word: Please share this post and information about Give Kids the World with family and friends by posting a link on your Facebook page or sharing by e-mail...

4. Pray:
* Praise God for His mercy, care, and love
* Praise for the volunteers who give and receive so much at Give Kids the World
* Pray that Give Kids the World will be able to continue loving children and their families for decades to come
* Pray for the children who enter this village to play and take a break from their difficult reality
* Pray for the siblings of these children, that they would realize the power of just being there
* Pray for the parents of these children, that they would be filled up, encouraged, and helped
* Praise for God's gift of memory
* Please pray for the runners as well as the fundraising efforts of the race and this race initiative

Completed Races: 
Ellie's Entourage walk (1K)                 Donation total (10/13) - $10,465
Montour Trail half-marathon - 1:56:32
Red Carpet Run (5K) - 25:05
Gopher the Gold (10K) - 55:12
Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma (5K) - 25:15
Volkslaufe (10K) - 55:21
Caledonia Kilt Klassic (5K) - 24:20
RHGYC (5K) - 24:28
Kona Run (10K) - 51:22
Fifth Third River Bank Run (10K) - 51:37
MOM 5K Run/Walk (5K) - 24:14
Run with the Cops, Not from Them (5K) - 24:32
Passion for Life (5K) - 26:27

Give Kids the World: Aaron's story

Is this really happening? Am I really about to do my first blog post about my last race!? Yes! I get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes just imagining what crossing that last finish line will look and feel like less than 2 weeks from now. A great deal of healing, grieving, and growing has occurred throughout the 9 months of this race series, not only for me but our families, our friends, and the families impacted by your generosity.

My 13th race is coming up on Saturday, November 2nd in Kissimmee, Florida. I'll be running this race in memory of Aaron, as I do every race. This time, however, it is not just for him. It is for me, our son, all the beautiful children who get to "take a break" in a village full of volunteers ready to love, play, and hug! All the money raised for this run will go to Give Kids the World. Give Kids the World provided a backdrop for Aaron, along with his sister, parents, and grandparents, to celebrate the end of a terrifying year. His parents took some time to share their experience:

"In March of 1991, when our son Aaron was eight years old, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.  After two major surgeries and ten 5 day cycles of Chemotherapy and 30 intense radiation treatments Aaron had completed all treatments and was cancer free on April 4, 1992. While going through these treatments we had heard of “Give Kids the World” and someone at the hospital had urged us to look into it. When we found out that we qualified for it, we got interviewed, approved and they set us up for a trip to Orlando, Florida.

Aaron and our family could hardly wait until the first week of May 1992 when our trip would begin. The morning we left, a limo arrived to pick us up and drive us to the Grand Rapids airport. We all thought it was really cool to ride in a limo for the first time. When we reached the airport they let us board the plane early so both Aaron & Christina (his 7 year old sister) could go into the cockpit and talk to the pilot. We also got to ride in the first class section of the airplane.

Upon our arrival in Florida we were pleasantly surprised at the “Give Kids the World” complex with its’ beautiful grounds which included fishing ponds and a train with games inside it that the kids could play during our stay there. Our comfortable Condo was conveniently located not far from the “Castle” building where our meals were served. Of Course the highlight of our trip was visiting Walt Disney World, Epcot Center and Sea World.

Our “Give Kids the World” trip was the nicest vacation we had ever taken and it meant so much to see our children smile and enjoy themselves after such a traumatic year for all of us. Not only was this trip a blessing for Aaron to experience, but it also gave Aaron something to look forward to during the final months of his treatments in the most difficult year of his life."

Aaron was just a kid when he faced cancer the first time. He is not the only child to have had their world drastically changed. Give Kids the World provides a place to celebrate, regroup, and take a break from the realities of life turned upside down. Praise God that He has given such warm hearts and open hands that we have places like this for families like Aaron's.

How can you help Give Kids the World?
1. Donate: There are two different ways you can financially support Give Kids the World. Online donation - Please follow this link to donate to my fundraising page for the Gingerbread Run. All proceeds go to keep GKTW supporting smiles, laughs, and memories! By check - As always, you may also send a check to my address (message me if you need the address). Please make the check to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" with "GKTW" in the notes section. I will be taking check donations until the end of November. Online donations, however, should be made by November 1!

2. Spread the word: Please share this with your family and friends by posting a link to this post on your Facebook or sharing by e-mail...

3. Pray

* Praise God for Give Kids the World and the work they do
* Please pray for the families who walk into the village that they would receive the support, encouragement, and break that they need during this marathon of illness
* Praise for the volunteers who hug, smile, and serve these families

* Please pray for the runners who will join us in the race as well as the fundraising efforts of the race and this race series

Ellie's Entourage!

I am loving fall! The leaves are changing colors, our activities have started up again, and the jeans and sweatshirts are coming out! We are enjoying lots of outside time (and giving Mamma's legs a break after 12 races!).

I love the grass!

This Saturday we have the privilege to walk with Ellie's Entourage in the Step UP for Down Syndrome walk. I have wanted to participate every year and we finally get to this year!!

Ellianna (Ellie) born in June, 2008

The boys of the Helmus family were life-long friends of Aaron's. As I went through Aaron's pictures after his death, the history of their friendship was so much fun to see. Since I came on the scene, we attended weddings, gone on a trip, and have watched their families grow. Brian, the oldest of the three, and his wife, Lacey, have been involved in the Step UP for Down Syndrome walk since their daughter Ellianna (Ellie) was born with Down Syndrome in 2008. They now have three beautiful children and continue to grow in faith and trust as God leads them, blessing them more than they imagined. Lacey wrote a little bit about their journey and what they have learned walking in God's perfect plan:

Brian and Lacey with Ellie, Laylee, and Jack

"Why we walk.... we walk because a little over 5 yrs ago I had been in the hospital for 3 weeks waiting to finally have my baby girl named Elliana Mary (Elliana means answer from God). The doctors decided today was the day so a little after noon my sweet and tiny (6 weeks early) baby was born. Although she was not what I thought she would be, she was exactly what our family and myself needed. An answer from God! If I could go back in time and tell myself something I would say this: it's just an extra chromosome! She will bring you EXTRA love, EXTRA joy, she will teach you EXTRA patience, she will bring EXTRA smiles and laughes, and most of all she will bring EXTRA blessings beyond belief to you and your family! So dry your tears and be happy because she will breathe the essence of heaven into all that know and love her. And keep calm; it's only an extra chromosome. I can honestly say she has changed my life for the better!"

How can you help the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan in honor of Ellie?
1. Donate: Online - Please consider donating online by following this link. By Check - Please send a check made to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" and indicate "Ellie" in the notes section. If you need my mailing address, please send me an e-mail or leave a comment with your e-mail address so I may reply privately. If you are considering making a donation and would like it to be included in the team's total, please do so online. I will be taking donations in Ellie's honor through the month of October!

2. Walk: If you are in the Grand Rapids area, consider walking with us! You can register online. Be sure to let me know so I can look for you!

3. Spread the word: Please tell your friends and family about this fundraising opportunity by sharing the link to this post on your Facebook or in an e-mail...

4. Pray:
* Praise for the increasing support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families
* Prayer for continued grace as Brian and Lacey raise their family
* Praise for the testimony of this family
* Prayer that other families will find the EXTRA love, EXTRA joy, and EXTRA blessings that come with having a child with an extra chromosome
* Please also pray for the fundraising efforts of this walk as well as this race series