Any amount makes a difference, and to misquote Notorious B.I.G., "Mo money, NO PROBLEM!"

Let's do this for the kids!!

I somehow roped myself into running the BOSTON MARATHON this April - a long-time goal/terror of mine - and I would LOVE your support!!

This will be my first ever marathon, so I'll be checking one off the 'ol bucket-list and also supporting an amazing cause that is close to my heart: the Child Witness to Violence Project at Boston Medical Center (BMC) where I intern as a clinician. The Child Witness to Violence Project (CWVP) is an incredible service that provides essential, life-changing therapy for free, to families affected by violence. We work with kids who have witnessed severe violence in their home, neighborhood, or community, and as clinicians our role is to help these families regain a sense of safety and security that we often take for granted.

The kids I work with are incredible: a four-year-old boy I see weekly carries a plastic superman in his pocket to protect his mom and sisters from "Monster Man." A ten-year-old girl who witnessed the death of her father spelled out "Courage" when we played a word game together. A set of sisters encouraged each other to play with a wooden dollhouse in my office and reminded each other that, "This is a safe place. We can play here."

Just think, you could help create more and more of those moments for so many families involved in CWVP! The fundraising minimum to run with Team BMC is $5,000, and anything I raise over that can go to the organization of my choice. The first $5,000 will go to BMC as a whole, and help this not-for-profit, 508-bed hospital continue to provide excellent care without exception. Every cent I raise over $5,000 will go directly to CWVP. This means that the program will able to continue to serve Boston families, and the amazing kids and parents I work with every week will be supported by our team long after those miserable 26.2 miles are behind me.

It shouldn't take more than a minute to do, but your donation will impact families for years to come. In addition, every single one of you who donates (regardless of the amount!!) will be entered into a Julia Raffle, with the chance to win an incredibly useless but heartfelt surprise!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you and I hope to see some of you on the sidelines come April 15th!!!!

much love,
   Julia

Boston Medical Center wrote -

Team BMC is running the Boston Marathon in support of Boston Medical Center. Boston Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit, 508-bed, academic medical center located in Boston’s historic South End. The hospital is the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine. Boston Medical Center emphasizes community-based care, with its mission to provide consistently accessible health services to all. The largest safety net hospital in New England, Boston Medical Center provides a full spectrum of pediatric and adult care services, from primary to family medicine to advanced specialty care. With the largest 24-hour Level I trauma center in New England, our Emergency Department had 131,288 visits last year.

Team BMC helps raise awareness of Boston Medical Center's mission and supports the hospital's ability to offer the necessary services and programs to meet patients' needs. Some of the exceptional programs at Boston Medical Center include: The Kids Fund, Cancer Support Services Fund, the Preventive Food Pantry & Demonstration Kitchen, Nutrition and Fitness for Life and so many more.