It is five days until the NYC Marathon. I am running it again. I know that this might be boring for non-runners, but its a very big deal for me. This year I am running for my brother, a four time cancer survivor. He has been dealing with cancer since he was seven years old. I am running for Fred's Team and all the money that I have raised will go to help find a cure for lymphoma, the type of cancer my brother had.
So, this year I will run with a shirt that has my name on top and says under it "running for my brother Bob." When you run the NYC marathon, people scream your name when they see it written on the shirt. It is one of the most amazing experiences one will ever have. Thousands of people yelled my name and words of inspiration. They told me that I inspired them. It was profound; it would bring tears to my eyes that I was a source of inspiration to these anonymous voices.
I hope to do the same for my children. My goal is that my hard work will teach them to work hard,and that being in-shape and working out will keep them feeling good. When you work hard for something, especially when it does not just come to you naturally, you appreciate it more. Running a marathon is about discipline; it is mind over matter. Running through the pain, knowing that pushing yourself those miles that hurt, through the exhaustion, will ultimately give you such an incredible feeling of accomplishment. You know you are capable, you know that you are strong and you know that you can survive almost anything thrown at you.
So I am a survivor of the marathon, a survivor of my husband walking out on me after over twenty years of marriage and five children. I have survived and thrived even though it has been very difficult. My brother is a survivor of childhood cancer twice, and adult cancer twice. The last time he was diagnosed he had tumors throughout his torso. One was 20cm long; they were in many of his organs, including his heart. The doctors did not know if his heart would stop as the tumors shrunk from the chemotherapy. It did not though. Bob kept on going. He never gave up. His resilience through all the hardships he has been through is a testament to the man that he is; the uncle, brother and son.
So, I will keep on running. I will draw strength on Sunday from the anonymous voices yelling my name, yelling to run for Bob. I will hear them and I will keep on going. It will hurt and it will take a long time, but I will run for myself and for my brother. All of this to help in any way that I can to try to find a cure for cancer.
This year I run as Monique Goudreau, without Ravazzani associated into my name anymore. That is who I am now. I'm very happy to be her again.
So, this year I will run with a shirt that has my name on top and says under it "running for my brother Bob." When you run the NYC marathon, people scream your name when they see it written on the shirt. It is one of the most amazing experiences one will ever have. Thousands of people yelled my name and words of inspiration. They told me that I inspired them. It was profound; it would bring tears to my eyes that I was a source of inspiration to these anonymous voices.
I hope to do the same for my children. My goal is that my hard work will teach them to work hard,and that being in-shape and working out will keep them feeling good. When you work hard for something, especially when it does not just come to you naturally, you appreciate it more. Running a marathon is about discipline; it is mind over matter. Running through the pain, knowing that pushing yourself those miles that hurt, through the exhaustion, will ultimately give you such an incredible feeling of accomplishment. You know you are capable, you know that you are strong and you know that you can survive almost anything thrown at you.
So I am a survivor of the marathon, a survivor of my husband walking out on me after over twenty years of marriage and five children. I have survived and thrived even though it has been very difficult. My brother is a survivor of childhood cancer twice, and adult cancer twice. The last time he was diagnosed he had tumors throughout his torso. One was 20cm long; they were in many of his organs, including his heart. The doctors did not know if his heart would stop as the tumors shrunk from the chemotherapy. It did not though. Bob kept on going. He never gave up. His resilience through all the hardships he has been through is a testament to the man that he is; the uncle, brother and son.
So, I will keep on running. I will draw strength on Sunday from the anonymous voices yelling my name, yelling to run for Bob. I will hear them and I will keep on going. It will hurt and it will take a long time, but I will run for myself and for my brother. All of this to help in any way that I can to try to find a cure for cancer.
This year I run as Monique Goudreau, without Ravazzani associated into my name anymore. That is who I am now. I'm very happy to be her again.
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| Robert Goudreau, my younger brother, and I |
