Kona Run for Super Sam: Post Race

Kona Run

My 5th race and 2nd 10K is in the books! This was such a challenging, fun, hilly race! I think it was so fun because I kept thinking about Super Sam and being able to do poses like this one:

Remember, I'll be collecting donations for Super Sam throughout the month of June!

The Kona Race boasts the "Kona Hill," which runners have the pleasure of meeting within the first 3/4 of a mile into the race. Unfortunately for me, I thought this was the only hill of the race, which it definitely was not. The start of the race was held at Northville Downs, an old horse racing track. Seriously, how many times do you get to run on a horse track!?

This was such a cool start!

I was very grateful for the guy in the picture with me. He warned me about the hilly course (sadly, we had already started so it was too late to change my mind) and helped me pace for another personal record! I had planned to take it easy since I had been having some issues after my long runs and tough work outs. As my watch beeped to let me know I had completed mile 4, I looked down to see that I currently running an 8:05 min/mile pace!

Ready to Rock and Run!

My new personal record for a 10K race is 51:22 (8:17 min/mile)!! I also took second in my age group (25-29 year old females). Well, so much for taking it easy!

Still smiling with only 1/2 mile to go!

I felt like a celebrity as I crossed the finish line. A guy was sitting there with a computer and microphone and his sole purpose was so call out the name of every single runner who crossed the finish line! It was so cool!

Super star! Check out that form!

After many races, they have awards and events and vendors giving away things. One of the vendors is usually a chiropractor or massage or physical therapy place offering free massages after your run. I made a bee-line to what I believed to be a massage table. Not true! This guy made me work. I kept trying to tell him I actually ran the race...

Not fun, especially after 6.2 miles

My little man decided to sleep in that morning so he wasn't able to see me finish but he did come to see all the festivities and show his support for Super Sam!

Thumbs up for Super Sam!

Ben was such a ham! He kept getting compliments on his Super Sam hat and his shirt and cape (yes, there is a cape that is attached to the back). He found a great place to stand - right in the center of the tables with the race results! He kept congratulating and saying hi to all the runners, waving his flag and Ben Bunny. It was adorable!

"Great job running! Shwoppy!"

Another little fan came to the race - Gracie Girl! She had a ball watching Ben run around. Ben and Grace are BFFs.

I am so cute and I know it!

The Kona Race website advertised the Pollenisian community of Northville, which I did not know was so prevalent. People really got dressed up for the event in grass skirts, leas, and I even saw a coconut bra!

Yes, they ran in these skirts. Why didn't I think of that!?

The after-race was even more fun that the actual race - probably because I wasn't huffing it up a hill...again!

Authentic drummers. The guy in green in the front was totally in to it!

Even the kids showed off their musical skills. Ben kept asking to go join them.

Hang lose with the "Kona Girls"

Traditional hula

We also enjoyed the post-race food along with the music! Yay for Asiago cheese bagels!

All in all, it was a very fun, very successful race day!

Oh man, are those ladies checking me out!?

I feel truly blessed! The Lord has blessed me with a body able to run. He has blessed with family and friends who are so encouraging and supportive of my 13 in 2013 racing (though I am pretty sure most of them thought I was crazy...and likely still do!). He has placed families, like the Cooper family, in my life and allowed me to pour in to them as a means of healing the hole left in my heart. He has moved the hearts of many for these families, to pray for them and help them financially. God is so good! Right before I sat down to write this, I opened an envelope containing another check for this family! Praise God! That brings the 13 in 2013 donation total to $1,275! How is that even possible!? It is possible through the mighty movement of God and His provision for those hurting and in need. Thank you all so very much for the encouragement you have given me, the hope and financial relief you have provided for these families, and the prayer lifted up before our Heavenly Father!

All praise be to God!

Kona Run benefitting Super Sam and the Cooper family in 1 day!

The kiddos and I picked up my race packet for the Kona Run 10K race taking place tomorrow in Northville, MI! Once I cross the finish line, I will have 5 out of 13 races completed! I will be running in honor of Super Sam from Texas. This three year old boy is amazing! He has completed his 6 rounds of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a brain tumor called medulloblastoma in November. Radiation begins for him next week so please remember to keep him as well as his family in your prayers. If you have a Super Sam hat, a Super Man shirt, or any thing along those lines, please consider wearing it tomorrow and sending me a picture! I would love to post a ton of pictures of Super Sam supporters here for Sam to see!

Super Sam is Stylin' and Profilin'

Cancer does not discriminate. Cancer does not care if you are male or female, young or old, single or married, with or without children, in school or retired. It is a disease that comes in many forms and affects many different people. Sam is only a year old than my Ben. The thought of facing what this family has faced is heart wrenching. I can only image the sleepless nights, the feeling of helplessness, the desire for things to be different because I walked through it with Aaron. However, as I have learned along the way, caring for a child versus a spouse versus a parent brings with it an entirely different yet similar set of circumstances and challenges. Sweet Sam, keep trusting in the Lord, keep loving your family, keep being the little fighter. I can say as the widow of a childhood cancer survivor, this unimaginable trial will shape you in to a wonderful, amazing, compassionate man who can truly understand the meaning of leaning on God with joy even in the storms.

Such a sweet big brother to sister, Sarah

I will be collecting donations through the month of June for the Cooper family. Please make your checks to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" with "Super Sam" or "Cooper Family" in the notes section and leave a comment with your e-mail address if you need my mailing address. Please remember you can help in ways other than financial: Spread the word! Run the race in Northville, MI! Pray: continue to pray for this young family, pray that Sam handles radiation well with very little side effects, pray that his therapy for encourage him to open his mouth goes well and is successful, pray for the runners in the race tomorrow.

13 in 2013 donation total : $1,175! That's right! Over $1,000 raised for hurting families! You guys are amazing!!!

This is what I looked like 2 years ago today, the day Daddy was diagnosed with cancer.

Upcoming Races
June 15: Rochester Hills Government Youth Counsil Charity 5K (5K) in Rochester, MI. I am honored to run on behalf of Chad Rutherford (diagnosed with colon cancer) and his young family
June 29: Caledonia Kilt Klassic (5K) in Caledonia, MI. I will be running in support of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

July 4: Volkslaufe (10K) in Frankenmuth, MI. I am honored to run on behalf of Amy Sain (diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in her brain) and the Remi Savioz Glut1 Foundation ("RSG1")
July 13: 3rd Annual Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma 5K Walk/Run (5K) in Pittsburgh, PA (North Park). I, along with the other members of The Great Lakers team, will be running in memory of Aaron Moeller (nerve sheath sarcoma) and Laura Fellows Campbell (liposarcoma) to raise funds for the Sarcoma Foundation of America
July 20: Gopher the Gold (5K) in Shelby Township, MI. I am honored to run on behalf of Alyssa Wright (diagnosed with cervical cancer) and her young family

August 7: Red Carpet Run (5K) in West Bloomfield, MI. I will be running in support of the Hillman Cancer Center

September 8: Montour Trail half-marathon (13.1 mi) in Pittsburgh, PA (Montour Trail). I will be running in support of The Gideons International 

October 13: Step UP for Down Syndrome Walk in Grand Rapids, MI. I will be walking in honor of Ellie Helmus and the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan

November 2: Give Kids the World 5K Gingerbread Run (5K) in Kissimmee, FL. I will be running in support of Give Kids the World

Completed Races
Fifth Third River Bank Run (10K) - 51:3  Donation Total on 5/11/13 - $810

MOM 5K walk/run (5K) - 24:14
Run with the Cops, not from Them (5K) - 24:32 
Passion for Life (5K) - 26:27   

The Kona Run benefitting Super Sam and his family!

Oh. My. Goodness! How adorable is this little guy!?!?! Everyone, meet Super Sam!

Super Sam sporting his hat in April, 2013. All proceeds from the hats are donated by a friend to the Cooper family!

The Kona Run is coming up on June 8th in Northville, MI. All proceeds will go to Sam and his family and I could not be more blessed to be running in honor of this family. In just 6 months their world has been turned upside down as their little boy was diagnosed with cancer just 2 months before his 3rd birthday. Leslie, Super Sam's mom, has been keeping a facebook page to post updates, prayer requests, and pictures. She has graciously taken a couple spare moments between cuddling Sam and caring for their almost 2 month old daughter to tell their story so far:

Sam's Mickey had been lost. He is beyond happy that they are reunited!

"This journey began November 1, 2012, when we had to take Sam to the emergency room at Saint Luke’s Hospital. After a month of trouble walking and several weeks of daily vomiting, Sam was having trouble walking again and out of fear of dehydration, we took him to the hospital to get checked out. An immediate MRI showed Sam had a golf ball sized brain tumor sitting in the cerebellum of his brain. The upside, they said, was that this was one of the easier locations for removal, and it was positioned directly in the center of the cerebellum, which also was promising for surgery. They also continued forward with the MRI to evaluate his spine. The MRI revealed, praise God, that the tumor was self-contained in his brain and none of the tumor had spread to his spine, which in many cases it does and is fatal.

Sam and Mickey at the hospital.

After the MRI, we were transported by ambulance to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. He spent his first night in the hospital since birth preparing for surgery that would occur the next day. We managed to get the best of the best in Neurosurgeons, Dr. Dauser, who performed surgery on Sam on November 2nd. God had His hand at work, and thankfully, they were able to remove the entire tumor. The tumor is called a medulloblastoma, which are always malignant, so chemotherapy treatment was necessary for the best chance that the tumor would not to return. Sam spent the month of November, and half of December in the hospital recovering from surgery and battling a few diseases he had picked up while there. Around December 10^th, he started his first round of chemotherapy. He has had 6 rounds and is done with his chemo treatments as of May 3, 2013! The next step is radiation during the summer.

Due of the location of his tumor, Sam was diagnosed with what they call Posterior Fossa Syndrome early on after surgery. Posterior Fossa Syndrome has the side effects of selective mutism (no talking) and no or very little eating. Basically, he does not open his mouth except when he laughs or yawns.

Sam is a precious older brother to Sarah, born in March, 2013

These are our current prayer requests:

-that he will begin to open his mouth, to eat and to hear his voice again – to hear him talk is priceless. He has been on TPN (an IV nutrition supplement that is a mixture of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, fats, and lipids as well as liquid for hydration). He also has a g-tube (referred to as his g-button), which allows him to intake formula for additional nutrition
-desire to eat again soon since his chemo is done and the nausea will go away
-continued strength to regain his ability to walk - his walking is very close, he just needs his full strength back. He walks now but has to hold on to someone as he is still unstable.
-for upcoming radiation - that he will handle radiation fine and not have many side effects.

We appreciate everyone’s prayers and support and everyone following his facebook page. We are thankful for Sam's progress, and most importantly, thankful we still have him. God's hand has been covering Sam, lifting him up, as well as holding ours."

I love my Super Sam hat!

How can you help Super Sam and the Cooper family?
1. Donate: There are 2 different ways to donate to the Cooper family. 1. By Check - You may also send a check made to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" and indicate the Cooper family or Super Sam 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. 2. Purchasing a Super Sam hat - Visit the Crochet Creations facebook page for information on how to order a handmade Super Sam hat (sizes ranging from newborn to adult). All proceeds go to the Cooper family to assist with medical costs!  I will be taking donations for Super Sam through the month of June even after "their race" is completed!

2. Run: Come check out Northville with me! 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 by sharing the link to this post on your Facebook or in an e-mail, or directing them to the Super Sam facebook page.

4. Pray:
* Please see Leslie's prayer request list above
* Praise for God's strength and love shining upon them through this trial
* Pray for Sam, that he will continue to be strengthened by God, his family, and friends
* Pray for Sam's parents, that they will continue to put their trust in the Great Physician, and have the energy to care for both Sam, and his sister, Sarah
* Pray for Sarah, that she would be an easy baby for her parents and that she will see and know the love that surrounds this family
* Please also pray for the runners of this race and the fundraising of this race initiative

Thank you!