A MESSAGE FROM Carol
Hello!!!
Thank you SO much for visiting my fundraising page. I would like to take a trip down memory lane if you would be so kind to indulge me. In August 2011, I moved to Boston for my third year of college and by a stroke of fortune, one of my ~14 housemates happened to be this girl called Fionna McDarby from Mayo. She very quickly became the light of my life and we had the best 9 months known to man. At some point during that year, I started running with Fi around the Reservoir as a form of exercise to burn off all the Chinese food and Domino’s we were living off of and I somehow got it into my head that I might run a marathon one day (see Facebook screenshot). For her 21st birthday in April 2012, a group of us went to Vegas to celebrate (I think Fi was my first boujee friend?). Her fabulous sister Rachel flew over from Ireland to meet us there. Ray asked all of us if we wanted anything from home - I asked for a creme puff (I had presumably ran out but so cheeky of me to ask a girl I had never met). She brought me over TWO. I always think about how generous and kind it was of her to bring me more powder than I would ever need in my remaining few weeks stateside. Fast forward a couple of years and I had stopped running, mainly because I hate it. I was then living in Ringsend, Dublin. Ray happened to be living in the same complex. I always saw her running towards Sandymount and what inspired me the most was that she didn't particularly look like she was enjoying it but she did it anyway. She always challenged herself despite the fact that the odds were against her. She had Diabetes Type 1 from a very young age and was an avid supporter of Diabetes Ireland. She hiked Kilimanjaro in 2016 and ran the London marathon in 2017 to raise funds in their name! I asked her would she ever run a marathon again and she said "absolutely not". I think that is going to be my answer too.
Unfortunately, Ray passed away very unexpectedly and tragically in Feb 2019 from Diabetes related complications. Fi visited me in New York that May and we had as nice of a weekend as we could given the circumstances. Upon her return to Ireland, she found out that what we thought was a just a REALLY bad hangover turned out to be the onset of her own Diabetes Type 1 journey.
Around this time, I started to be inspired by my running friends again who all motivate me in different ways - namely Cian Scott (in awe of his achievements and living in fear of receiving "WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN TODAY" texts), Aisling Flood (constant encouragement by virtue of how much she pushes herself) and Krystal Alfonzetti (forces me to achieve the potential she sees in me before I do like the half marathon we finished together in October 2019). The idea that I could run a marathon was back and all the stars were aligning for November 2020...cue COVID.
So here I am two years later, trying to finish what I started and Ray, I am running it in your name with even more gusto now.
If you can afford to donate to my page, I would be so very grateful. Here is some background on Joslin: Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to creating a world without diabetes and its complications. Part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and one of only 18 NIH-designated Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S. Team Joslin is a group of generous and dedicated individuals from all over the world who participate in athletic events to raise funds for Joslin Diabetes Center. All of the funds raised by the Team Joslin program supports the High Hopes Fund here at Joslin Diabetes Center. These funds ultimately contribute to Joslin's capacity to prevent, treat and cure diabetes through cutting-edge clinical care and research programs. Help support Team Joslin for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon by making a gift today to help patients and their families living with diabetes and its complications.
All my love, Carol xx
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