I Did Graffiti...and met a New Hero

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to participate in my first formal Team-In-Training group fundraising event. TNT holds a few of these throughout the training season to help TNT participants achieve their fundraising goals (and mine is an aggressive $5,000). This was a simple event – spray painting “markers” on roads on a Saturday evening for a charity 60-mile bike ride that was taking place on Sunday morning. Paying me to do graffiti??? I'll take 2 cans!. Doesn't really get better than that. Anyway, the markers would direct the bike riders of the proper direction of the ride. Easy enough. The roads I had to mark were out in the country where I do my weekend group bike rides with the Mojo’s, so I was familiar with the area.

I was paired with another TNT member – Wendy, who is also training for a marathon, albeit in Kiawah, South Carolina in December. Wendy brought along for our graffiti fest (do I sound like a thug?) her recently adopted son, Jeremiah. We had a chance to get to know one another during our two hours together in the car, and share stories about why we are training with TNT. Wendy’s story was inspiring – she has served as a foster mother to 6 children over the course of the past few years. The children were primarily newborns and toddlers that come from often unfortunate circumstances, and are placed in Wendy’s care until an adoption family can be found. Wendy’s compassion for these children was evident, as she knew she was always meant to be in this role of service to others. Not expecting to adopt herself, Jeremiah is so fortunate to have found his way to Wendy.

Even more amazing, is that Wendy is training to WALK the 26.2 mile marathon in Kiawah, with Jeremiah (now 15 months) on her back!!! Talk about commitment, not just to the children, but to a training program. A special bond will continue to form between the two during the many hours of training that will be necessary to accomplish this feat. When I think about it, her journey is going to be even more time consuming and possibly more fulfilling than mine. I will be running, certainly with weight on my shoulders (for other reasons), but not with an additional 25 – 30 pounds strapped to my back.

Wendy and Jeremiah are just another example of the heroes I am meeting during this experience. I wish them well and hope our paths will cross again during training.

Walk on Wendy and Jeremiah!