Success! Mario loved this fundraiser which i presented to him on April 10th, his birthday, and was extremely touched and grateful to everyone who donated in memory of his mother.  

On April 29th we will both be running in a New York Road Runner's race called Run As One, a 4 mile race in Central Park that donates proceeds to lung cancer research.    Raising money for the American Lung Association in memory of his mother who passed away 2 years ago is so important to both of us that we decided to generate more awareness, raise more money, and therefore extend the deadline to accept donations!

Below is a brief description about the woman who inspired this fundraiser:

On March 22, 2010, his mother Elaine Fields aka "Sherry" passed away from emphysema. She fought this lung disease for approximately 20 years, yet remained a strong role model and caretaker for her children. Her daughter, Margherita Traina Hagan, explained her overwhelming desire and will to live, even after being placed on an oxygen tank full-time in 2006. Elaine kept track of and daily read a journal of medicines, which detailed dozens of different medicines doctors instructed her to take.  "She battled every single day until 2010, totally outliving any statistics or doctors' opinions," expressed Margherita.    

Elaine’s perseverance through her hardships of wellbeing made a significant impact on her family members. "I promised my mother I would never again let smoke near my face," said Mario Traina, son of Elaine. He smoked for 16 years before deciding to quit 4 years ago. Now an advocate and model of health, exercise is a way he honors his mother, thinking of her every time he steps into the boxing gym and experiences fatigue. As soon as I start to feel too tired, I think of my mother climbing stairs or bringing groceries to my house while she was carrying around her oxygen tank, he said. When I remember what she went through, it reminds me of how much I am capable of, he added. "I've never known anyone who endured so much in their life. She's the strongest person I've ever known."

 The goal of this fundraiser and run is to celebrate Elaine Fields, allow her life to inspire others to live a healthy and smoke-free life, and ultimately to raise as much money as possible so other families in the future can see their loved ones affected by a lung disease cured. The American Lung Association’s website states: "Now, more than ever, we find ourselves on the precipice of limitless medical discoveries- each one leading us closer to a day when we will be able to reverse, treat, prevent and ultimately find cures for all suffering from lung disease."  

According to the American Lung Association’s website, since 1904, the organization has been saving lives by helping people quit smoking, funding research, advocating for healthy air, and educating millions about asthmaand other lung diseases.

Its website provides alarming statistics:

-Every year in the U.S. over 392,000 people die from tobacco-caused disease, making it the leading cause of preventable death.

- Another 50,000 people die from exposure to secondhand smoke.

-Tragically, each day thousands of kids still pick up a cigarette for the first time. 

Their work is possible only through public donations. With your donation, you are supporting a myriad of benefits that ultimately affect everyone on the planet:

-research for discoveries of prevention methods and cures of lung cancer, COPD, emphysema, Influenza, and asthma.

-advocating for healthy air at worksites

- dedication to help people quit smoking

-providing clean air for children in their schools

-eliminating pollution sources in and around your home

-fighting for the reduction of pollution in the air outside 

American Lung Association:   http://www.lung.org/

Run As One:   http://www.nyrr.org/run-with-us/run-as-one-4m

All donations are made to the American Lung Association and no amount is too small. Whatever you can give is sincerely appreciated!