Alex Reid is running the Boston Marathon for TargetCancer Foundation on April 20, 2015!
POST-MARATHON UPDATE:
I wanted to take a moment to update everyone on my COMPLETION of the 2015 Boston Marathon!!! Yesterday I took on the Boston Marathon, and little did I know, I would cross the finish line wanting more!! I cannot find the right words to express how amazing yesterday was! The crowds of people and the friends and family at the marathon and watching from home contributed to my completion of the marathon! What carried me through the most was my fathers spirit which I could feel next to me the whole time! Also, knowing that all my hard work is being put towards making a difference in others lives diagnosed with rare cancers gave me that extra pep in my step! I cannot begin to thank everyone for all the support throughout this entire journey! It has been a long and wild ride but every second of it was worth it, and yesterday capped it off with the most indescribable feeling ever! I am still on a runners high! It is just amazing! As you can tell from my Crowdrise page I have gone above and beyond my fundraising goal! I cannot thank all that have donated and supported me enough!! Every donation helps TCF come another step closer to providing hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers. The money that has been donated and that continues to be donated has gone to immediate use for research! I hope to continue blowing my goal of $7,500 out of the water! Thank you to everyone for all your support and to those of you who have donated so far and who plan to donate within the next couple of weeks before my Crowdrise page will be closed! I could not do this without all of your support! This has been such an amazing experience and it has warmed my heart. Thank you thank you thank you!
This one was for you dad!! I love you!!
APRIL UPDATE:
I wanted to take a moment to update everyone on my fundraising and training! As you can tell from my crowdrise page I have gone above and beyond my fundraising goal! I cannot thank all that have donated and supported me enough!! Every donation helps TCF come another step closer to providing hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers. The money that has been donated and that continues to be donated has gone to immediate use for research! Updates on any progress made can be found on the TCF website which is located at the end of my story! I hope to continue blowing my goal of $7,500 out of the water! As for my training, thank goodness the weather is warming up!! The marathon is just two short weeks away!! I ran 20 miles on 3/29/15 at the Eastern State 20 Mile race! We ran from Kittery, ME to Salisbury, MA. It was a beautiful coastal run! Since then I have begun my taper weeks! Thank you to everyone for all your support and to those of you who have donated so far and who plan to donate within the next couple of weeks! I could not do this without all of your support! This has been such an amazing experience and it has warmed my heart. Thank you thank you thank you!
FEBRUARY UPDATE:
As you can tell from my crowdrise page I have passed my fundraising goal! I hope to continue to go above and beyond! Every donation helps TCF come another step closer to providing hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers. The money that has been donated and that continues to be donated has gone to immediate use for research! Updates on any progress made can be found on the TCF website which is located at the end of my story! I hope to blow my goal of $7,500 out of the water!
As for my training, as most of you can imagine, this weather is not ideal! Although the snow and the bitter cold has been difficult to train in I have still been able to get out there and rack up the miles! My longest run to date (2/17/15) is 15 miles! My motivation lies in my story! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far and who plans to donate down the road! I could not do this without all of your support! You all rock!
ALEX’S STORY:
I am honored and excited to be lucky enough to represent TargetCancer Foundation in their first marathon, as well as MY first marathon. This is something that I have been waiting to do for a few years now. Cancer affects everyone in life, whether it is close to home or not. For me, it hit very close to home. Please take the time to read and share my story as to why this is so special to me.
My story begins and ends with family. I am one of four children. I have an older sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother. My mother and father gave us an amazing childhood, filled with memories and adventures. We enjoyed family vacations, like our annual trips to cape cod or camping. I was even lucky enough to have my father coach my Middleton Youth Soccer team growing up. Then one day our lives changed. My father and mother sat us down to break the news that my father had been diagnosed with cancer. The fight was a hard one for him. About a year later when I was 11, I arrived home from school to be told that my father lost his battle with cancer. He was a young 38 year-old man. I still remember that day so vividly. My mother, my siblings, and I could not be more grateful for the family and friends we have had over the years to help support us in all sorts of ways, big and small.
When my father was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, the same rare cancer as Paul Poth, founder of Target Cancer, was diagnosed with, there was no treatment or cure, and there still is not. TargetCancer Foundation raises awareness and does the research needed for rare cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma. The hope is that someday TCF will be able to find some hope for those diagnosed with rare cancers. My goal for fundraising is $7,500 although I think it would be amazing to exceed this! I run this Boston Marathon in memory of my father. I know he will be with me through the months of difficult training, as well as every step I take toward the finish line on April 20, 2015.