As some of you may or not be aware I qualified for the Boston Marathon last spring.  It was one of the happiest moments of my life.  I needed to cross the line of the Mississauga Marathon under 3 hours and 40 minutes.  I set out with a goal of 3 hours and 30 minutes..Some might say it was aggressive, some of my friendsies might even say it was Vingressive BUT I set out with this goal in the forefront and achieved it!  It was truly amazing!  I could not wait for my road to Boston 2010.  However in late 2009, I came across a roadblock.  The 2010 Boston Marathon had sold out.  How could this happen you ask?  I know I was asking myself this for days, weeks even.  I refused to even actually believe that my dream of running the oldest marathon in North America was being shattered.  I began calling the Boston Athletic Association to see what could be done.  It was so happen, nothing.   Come January I set out training like I was inIt was crazy even over optimistic of me but I could not give up the dream.  I have come to realize now that many of my besties never gave up hope and knew I would hit the road I was so eagerly after.  Thank goodness for their optimism and positive thinking.  Early Feb I realized that I would have to set a deadline meaning when I would have to give up on Boston and find another race to satisfy the urge for this year.  The thought  was heartbreaking but I had to face reality.  At that moment I began writing anyone and everyone in the Boston running community.  I wrote my story and pleaded with grace in hopes that someone might want to lend me a helping hand or point me in the right direction.  Someone finally did!  

On March 9^th 2010 I was told there was one spot on JOSLIN'S TEAM.  Joslin's team is an organization that raises funds for The Joslin Diabetes Center an affiliate of Harvard University.  Joslin is not only one of the top research centers in America affiliated with Harvard, it has an amazing pediatric and adult clinic that offers vital care to patients.  The funds I raise go to Joslin's High Hopes Fund supporting research, education and offering patients the best care possible.   

The challenge: I had to raise $5000 for this organization by April 30^th.  I hummed and hawed it for some time and with the push from a true friend I realized with some help from my friends and my family I could do this!  That morning I cried tears of utter joy.  The Vings and her nation was going to Boston to fulfill a dream and at the same time getting the opportunity to run for a reason, a true cause.  Man did it ever feel good.  BOSTON 2010 was going to actually be mine.  Is there a cloud higher then nine?  Because I was there!  Heart smiling so big it was laughing with tears streaming down my face.

I continued training and set out to raise that $5000 with the helps of my amazing fam and friends.  In less then a week, I raised the entire $5000!  Can you believe it?  I cannotI pinched myself numerous times over the course of said week.  The people in my life are incredible hopping on my Vingnation bandwagon giving what they can, to not only support such an incredible cause, but to help fortify my dream.  When I am off on the morning of April 19^th running the roads of Boston I will not only be running for myself and my next PR, I will be running for Diabetes research and for each and every individual whom believed in my dream!

Although I have reached mygoal of $5000 I am still accepting donations. 

To DONATE, Please go to: https://events.joslin.org/bostonmarathon/pfp/?ID=VS0002

For more info on Joslin's and the High Hopes Fund go to: 

http://www.joslin.org/about_joslin.html

V.

Sarah Vingoe
		About the author:
		Vingoe's column will share her perspective on the everyday things that enlighten her, the people in her life that inspire her and the places and products that motivate and excite her. An avid blogger, Vingoe is to the point, sincere and always looking for a way to learn a lesson, shed some light or discover something new about herself or others.
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