Hello All!

I’ll be running the Disneyworld Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness for The Hole in the Wall Camps. Believe it!

Now you might say, “Marc, that’s crazy! Running is terrible for your knees, and it’s so much fun to sleep in on the weekends, not wake up early to run twenty miles!” You may be right, but it’s also not much fun to grow up with cancer, muscular dystrophy, HIV, or one of the many other serious illnesses served by the Camps.

As a bit of background, Paul Newman founded the first Hole in the Wall Camp in 1988 as a place where kids could “kick back, have fun, and raise a little hell.” Twenty-two years later, there are 13 camps around the world, collectively serving over 42,000 children and family members year-round. There’s a certain healing that takes place at Camp that is impossible to replicate in the hospital setting. While at Camp, taking medications, blood transfusions, and wheelchair ramps no longer make kids feel “different”…at Camp, they’re just normal kids. While it seems simple, thousands of lives have been changed because of a week at Camp. Each camper heads home with a renewed spirit, knowing that there are other kids out there living through the same medical treatments and extended hospital stays. If my running 26.2 miles can give that gift to another child, then it’s worth every step!

I know that we’ve seen better economic times, and there are hundreds of very worthy causes to support, so I very much appreciate any amount you’re able to contribute to the Camps. For each $2,500 raised, we’ll cover the cost of sending one child to attend Camp for a week. (The Camp programs are always provided free of charge, thanks to charitable donations)

I have a team commitment of $2,000 to raise, and I am far off from reaching my goal. If 100 people were to donate just $20 then I would reach my goal easily, if you can donate more that that is great as well.

To make an online donation, please visit my website at http://teamholeinthewall.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=432452&supid=305724043.

Thank you again for your time and consideration!