Olivia's Race

From our sweet friend, Olivia:

Dear Friends,

(PIC: Christi helping at one of the Red Cross Blood Drives she hosted.) Christi had a way of bringing sunshine into everything-- from lemonade stands, to schoolwork, to chemo. Life gave her some pretty rotten lemons and she made the sweetest lemonade.

Christi is especially on my mind when I run. When the alarm goes off at 4:40am, I think of her and I remember her words (""Determination is what keeps you going. It's like a best friend." Said by Christi, age 7). And I find whatever determination I can muster at 4:40am and get my morning run going. She's the best friend running beside me when I want to stop and the one helping me up when I trip over myself and fall. I'm in good company at 4:40am.

(PIC: Christi with dad and grandpa)My second challenge is to ask you for a donation (of any amount) to our cause (http://active.com/donate/christirun2009). And whatever amount that you give, if anything at all, just know that in giving you are sharing Christi's spirit with others. The funds go to dance scholarships and academic scholarships and care packages for other children struggling with cancer. The arts, academics, helping those in need-- even though she was only 9, I can say without hesitation that these were Christi's passions. Her passion deserves to live on, even if her body could not. Know that in contributing to these causes, you're giving a piece of Christi to someone else. Someone who may never have even known her. And in sharing her spirit in this way, she lives on. We still miss her, but this is a comfort, a vital comfort.

Olivia

(Christi, May 2003 - just turned six!) Our deepest thanks to sweet Olivia for doing this race again in Christi's memory and to raise money for Kids Cancer Crusade and the Christi Thomas Memorial Fund. (The money will be split between the two organizations.) Christi had so much in common with Olivia - a love of books, a desire to help others and challenges with health. (Quite frankly it's nothing short of amazing that Olivia can walk, much less jog like she will be doing in this 10K with everything she's been through.) I know times are terribly tough right now, but if you can give and want to, please consider doing so. The link is: http://active.com/donate/christirun2009

Many thanks,
Angela