Chasin' a Dream: 10 mile run! I made it...but am discouraged.

So yesterday morning I did a 10 mile run. I was so excited to finish it, but know I have a long ways to go before the 26.2 miles are completed. Even though I was out physically exerting myself, I find myself to be heavy at heart. I am still running with my camera, even on the long runs, and I'm going to run with it in the marathon to round our my photo taking for this event. But this blog is going to be honest and tell why my heart feels so sad.

As I go out and run, and try to raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation I find it more tasking to present this idea to people. I thought I'd be good at this, but all in all, it's hard asking people to donate money. Especially in these times. Running a 26.2 mile race is not as trying on my soul, as asking people to see the true need these children have. It's very easy for people to get my messages and delete them and not think about my running, or my cause again. It's almost discouraging at times when I run and blog, and then see that my donation ladder doesn't move. I am not afraid of asking people to donate. It's definitely not for me. I wanted to do something with my life, and my abilities to help others. To bring true joy to someone that doesn't normally have it. That is why I chose the Make-A-Wish foundation to run for. When I received the email almost 5 months ago about running for charity, I printed out the pages with descriptions of each charity and narrowed it down to a few. As I went to each's website and read more, the stories of the children at the Make-A-Wish foundations website really touched my heart. I wanted to help so many, so I said, "I'm going to raise more than is required for me, I want to help so many children's wishes". As it seems now, I may only raise enough to help one child's wish.

I think it's crucial in life, to have something to wish for, to dream about. Think about it. When you were sick as a child, just with the flu, and you missed a sports game, or a band concert. What did you want so bad? You wished and longed to get back out there. You knew, as soon as you were healthy and beat the flu, you'd be back out there. What if you didn't know when the next time you'd be healthy again, or the next time you'd be out of the hospital. That is what these children deal with everyday. These wishes the Make-A-Wish foundation are able to provide, give these children that dream, that hope, to make their spirit soar. When your spirit is healthy, I believe your body will start to follow. So please, read these stories of these children, and their wishes that were granted. And even the smallest donation will help in the future to have another child on their website with a wish granted. You can proudly say that you helped that. If you read this, please try to find it in your heart to donate. And also, pass it along to friends or family that you may know who will also want to help.

My part in running the marathon is not the hardest part in this. The hardest part is finding in yourself the ability to donate. Dig deep, and know that you will make a difference.

Here is the website to look at. www.wish.org

Here are my photos from the 10 mile run