First, I am a Christian saved by grace who loves to run! Secondly, I am a wife and a mom who loves my family. The Lord has blessed me with an incredible immediate family and extended family. They support my running all the way! I run for God! The Lord has given me the talent and desire to run. Now that I have quailified for Boston...The next step is running Boston...this is my journey! Hebrews 12:1

Originally, I was trying to run Boston on my own.  God had different plans.  I quailifed for Boston after two attempts.  The first attempt was in San Diego at the Rock 'n Roll Marathon on June 5, 2011.  I missed it by 53 seconds.  It hurt! I came back with a venegance and the Lord on my side.  I ran the Tupelo Marathon in 3:48:59...one minute one second under my goal of 3:50:00. I had done it.  

I registered for the 2012 Boston and waited to hear my fate based on the new entry guidelines. Needless to say, I missed the second performance cut-off by 13 seconds. It hurt again! But, what I didn't know is God had a bigger, better plan! He wanted me to run with TEAM HOYT...a team that has inspired so many and run with a passion...helping others!  Their motto...YES, YOU CAN is one I lived and try to pass on to others I meet.

A friend told me about Team Hoyt's charity team knowing I hadn't heard from a different charity team.  I emailed Team Hoyt, knowing they were full, to just ask if there was a possibility of running with them.  They indeed said they were full...but, about one week letter there happened to be an opening...so this time I really had done it. I am running the 2012 Boston Marathon....with TEAM HOYT!!! 

As a Pk-8th grade physical educator, fitness and inspiration are important to me.  I share similar goals with the Hoyt Foundation. Their goal is to build individual character and self-esteem of America's disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life.  To be able to run and raise funds for the Hoyt Foundation is truly an honor and an answer to prayer.   

Find out more about my journey to this God-given opportunity:

www.thenextmailboxboston.com

Let's find out more about the team...

www.teamhoyt.com

HOYT FOUNDATION wrote -

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt.  During child birth, Rick's umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck cutting off the supply of oxygen to Rick's brian.  He was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.  Doctors advised Dick and Judy to institutionalize Rick because he was a vegetable.  Dick and Judy refused and brought Rick home.

Dick and Judy could tell that Rick could comprehend his surroundings even though the medical doctors continued to insist Rick was a vegetable.  In 1972, the Hoyt's took a second mortgage on their home, borrowing $5,000.  They paid that amount to a group of skilled engineers at Tufts University that built an "interactive computer" for Rick.  Rick was able to see the letters of the alphabet and select the ones he wanted by pressing a pad on the headrest of his wheelchair with his head, the only part of his body he can move voluntarily.  The first words Rick ever "spoke" were "Go Bruins!"  The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup that year and it turned out Rick was a Bruins fan.

In the spring of 1977, Rick told his dad that he wanted to compete in a 5 mile road race to help raise money for a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident.  Dick, a non-runner pushed Rick for the full 5 miles, and they finished next to last.  Later that night, Rick typed "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped."  And that is when it all started.

To date, Team Hoyt has finished 240 triathlons, 6 Ironman distance triathlons, 92 half marathons, 69 marathons, 32 Falmouth 7.1 milers, have a marathon PR of 2:40:47 and half marathon PR of 1:21:12.  They are two of only 25 total members of the Ironman Hall of Fame, carried the Olympic torch in 1996 and rode a bike from Santa Monica, CA to Boston Harbor in 45 consecutive days.

Last August, the Hoyt's received an e-mail from Boston Bruins' defenseman Andrew Ference that read, "I wanted to let you know that the Boston Bruins watched and were inspired by your video prior to our Stanley Cup victory.  It would be my honor to meet you and have you join me in Boston during my day with the Stanley Cup."  And they did.

On Monday, April 16, 2012, Dick and Rick Hoyt will be running their 30th Boston Marathon.  They will be joined by a team of 40 carefully selected athletes from Australia, Canada and across the United States to form the 2012 Team Hoyt Boston Marathon Team.  The team will be runningt to raise money for the Hoyt Foundation, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) charity whose purpose is help integrate handicapped people into everyday activities so they may live fruitful and productive lives.

None of the funds raised go to administration of the Hoyt Foundation as it is 100% run by volunteers.  The Hoyt Foundation gives gifts each year of $25,000 to the Easter Seals of MA.  summer camp programs, to Children's Hospital Boston- Augmentative Communication Enhancement Program,  and to the Elm Hill Center in Brookfield, MA. The Foundation also makes various donations to camps for the disabled and therapuetic horseback organizations in the Massachusetts area.

This years team is made possible by our generous sponsor and principal sponsor of the Boston MArathon, John Hancock.  We are very fortunate to be coached again this year by three time Boston Marathon Champion, former No. 1 ranked marathoner in the world, New York City Marathon Champion, Berlin Marathon Champion and former world record holder Uta Pippig.

Our team of both qualified and chairty runners have set a fundraising goal of $200,000 which would eclipse our former record by $75,000.  Please give generously as our runners train, sweat, hurt and raise funds for the Hoyt Foundation, Inc.  The Hoyt Foundation, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) charity.  Checks can be made payable to the Hoyt Foundation, Inc. and mailed to 241 Mashapaug Road, Holland, Massachusetts 01521.