Thank you to my sponsors!

Thank you to everyone that made my 13.1 mile journey amazing through your support, encouragement, running tips, and companionship. I especially would like to thank those that went above and beyond through their sponsorship to help Team Challenge New England become the #1 fundraising region this season! With your help, we raised over $150,000 to fund improved treatments and a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

At the starting line at Cuvaison Estate
in Napa, CA.

Of course, with the help of my own donors, I raised over $5,041 for a cure! I would like to specifically acknowledge the following individuals and companies:

$1,000+
Rich Collins

$500+
Mike Jeurgens
Action Collection Agency, Middleboro

$250+
Liberty Bay Credit Union
Elaine Harrington

$100+
Kerry McStravick, Alarm Central, Quincy
Lynn Margherio
Kylee North
Cynthia Riley
Andrea Tarbet

$50+
Kristin's Breakfast, Braintree

I <3 Team Challenge!

Mary Burns
Leo MacNeil
Ed Morgan & Family
Sara Riley
Ashley Medlar
Hena Rizvi

$30+
Liz Farley
Sarah MacPherson
Donna Bulla
Susan Feld
Wendy Schottland
Suzanne Hinton 

California Day 3: RACE DAY!

Thoday was the biggest day of my life so far. I was up at 4am after little sleep, was dressed, had breakfast, and met my team downstairs by 5:15am.

Team Challenge New England - Napa 2013

We were out of the hotel, on the bus, and on the road before the sun even came up! In fact, here's a photo of the sun rising on our way to the starting line:



Leslie and I sat together on the bus and chatted the whole way. It felt like a long ride, and it was chilly, but we finally made it to Cuivason Estate Winery where the rest of the runners were getting ready:

Dede's panorama shot of the runner prep area

My non-panorama view of the runners at the Estate

Amazing to see all the runners in orange running for Team Challenge!

We spent some time stretching, taking photos, checking our bags, waiting in the bathroom line, and getting pumped!

Team Challenge New England getting ready!

With my mentor, Leslie, during warm-ups

Sporting my Team Challenge gear and getting pumped!

Beautiful view of the vineyards!

Great photo of Leslie with the vineyards in the background!

Then it was finally time to line up, and Leslie and I thought we were going to miss the start because we were standing in line for the bathroom for so long ;) But we made it! The line seemed to go on forever...

The line behind us...

...The line ahead of us!

And then we were off! Leslie and I ran together for the entire race. We didn't see anyone else from Team New England at the very beginning. We tried starting out slow because there was a huge hill right off the bat. But after mile 1 we sped up to a 10 minute per mile pace, and kept it strong until about mile 8.

We ran into Alicia and the other managers/coaches around mile 2 or 3.

Go Team Challenge!

Cheering stations!

Cheering stations in action!

We ran past Sam Madison around mile 3 or 4 - and then we just kept passing people! We were totally on a roll. I wish I had taken more photos of the scenery while we were running, but it pretty much all looked the same - in a good way :) Besides, I took it in for myself, enjoyed it, and kept running!

I took this photo from my teammate Rocco

Photo from my teammate Dede

Photo from Dede

Photo from Dede

Coach Dave caught up with us around mile 8 or 9, just when I was starting to feel exhausted. He ran with us for a couple of miles and gave us lots of kind words of encouragement. He told me what I already knew - that we could do it, and we could meet our time goal. Coach Dave (as well as Coaches Jenny and Chris) were there for us all season when we needed a boost. They seemed to be right by my side when I needed it the most - pushing me to go further or faster, pepping me up when I didn't feel so great, and reminding me why I am running with Team Challenge in the first place. Our coaches really are the best - thanks Coach Dave, Coach Jenny, and Coach Chris!

Coach Dave on the course! (Photo from Dede)

It was at this point though that I new we started out way too fast. We had to slow down for a few minutes and even walk several times. I had my shot blocs and my water, but nothing seemed to help me catch my breath, get a jolt, or stop my knees from throbbing. Leslie (did I mention she ran by my side the entire way?) kept reminding me that, "This is what Heartbreak Hill was for!" and I kept pushing. Leslie, thank you for your constant encouragement and moral support!

We ran into Alicia again around mile 10 or 11 or so (at least I think, I definitely lost track by then). She was so excited to see us, and ran alongside us for a minute to snap our photo :)

I'm actually smiling in this one!

Around mile 10 or 11 bystanders started popping up along the course that reminded us things like "only 5k to go!" and "less than 1 mile left - you can do it!" There were even some guys at the end of their driveway handing out shots of Guinness! (I passed if you hadn't guessed)

The Guinness guys! (Photo from my teammate Dede)

Also from Dede - the last stretch towards Sonoma Square! (Photo from Dede)

That was also around when the sun started to come out in full swing. Previously, It has been cloudy, breezy, and a cool 60 degrees with zero humidity. Perfect race day weather! But, alas, it was time to get my freckle on!

Finally, the end was in sight! Or at least we could hear the music and announcer from the finish line when we rounded the last corner in downtown Sonoma. I looked at Leslie and said, "That's the finish line. Wanna go for it?" She nodded her head, and we sprinted the last quarter or so mile to the end.

Sprinting towards the finish with what Nick calls my "race face"

Just before the finish I saw Nick on the sidelines to my right. I waved and blew a kiss, and that's right about when I started to cry.

Official finish time: 2:18:18 - yes!

I don't know if it it was the emotion from seeing him with his big grin smiling at me, whether it was because I was in so much pain, because I had finally finished, or because I saw the clock and was devastated because I thought I had ruined Leslie's chance at finishing sub-2:20, but the tears started to roll. I tried my hardest to hold them back, but I think everything from the entire weekend caught up with me all at that moment.

They handed us our finishers medals just inside the gate, and Leslie's sister was there to meet us and take our picture (photos coming soon!). Seconds later Nick was by my side and we were embracing. "I did it! I can't believe I did it!" I remember saying to him, trying to hide my tears. And just like that, the race was finished and the four of us were off to the Team Challenge tent to check in and let them know we finished.

But, WOW. What an incredible experience! It took some time for me to wind down, stretch, and prevent myself from just collapsing on the grass. But Nick and I enjoyed the after party with the free music, food, and most importantly - wine! We hung out for quite some time before heading to the local winery to buy a thank you gift for Duane and Julie, and then to the car to drive back to Davis for our last evening on the West Coast.

Finishers' medals that are practically the size of my face!

I did it!

Using Nick to hold me up while I stretch post-race

The last runner coming in!

Music too! (Photo from Dede)

Cheers to victory!

Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, to Alicia (the team manager), and to Nick, for making this day, this weekend, this last 6 months, the most incredible experience of my!

13.1 miles strong,
ashley

Post-race Sonoma scenery

More Sonoma scenery

Pasta with a side of Inspiration!

You all know the tradition of "carbo-loading" before a big race? Well, if you're thinking of this, then that's not quite it:




I won't go into a big rant about what carbo-loading actually is (for that, you can read this great article from Runners World), but I will share with you about my incredible evening of inspiration and carbohydrates at the Team Challenge Pasta Party on Saturday night before the big day!



The Team Pasta Party is a tradition for Team Challenge where all participants and guests get together the night before each race to, well, eat pasta! This year at the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon there were over 1000 guests at the Team Challenge pasta party - the scene was insane!

Alicia, some of our TCNE mentors, and Coach Dave were part of the greeting crew!

It was so inspiring to see how many people stood when they asked how many people were running (over 600!), how many people had run multiple years, and how many people in the crowd were IBD patients. I was proud to be able to stand as a runner, and to have Nick stand beside me when they asked about patients.

One of the evening's speakers was Saskia Madison, wife of former Miami Dolphin Sam Madison, who suffers from both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (you can see a video of her talking about Team Challenge on NBC 6). After 11 years of dealing with IBD on her own and with her family, Saskia heard about Team Challenge and the CCFA and decided to step out of her shell, join Team Challenge, and publicly share her story of living with IBD.



Her talk was moving, truthful, and really hit home for everyone in the crowd. I think I found myself almost in tears several times. She talked about the pain and embarrassment related to having Crohn's and colitis, as well as the struggles she had having children and taking care of her family with severe symptoms.

Thank you, Saskia, for sharing your story and helping to inspire us to continue to move forward, and to continue our work raising money and awareness for the cause!

The other speaker for the evening was Michael Ginsberg of Team Challenge Austin. Michael shared his sometimes hilarious, sometimes graphic, and altogether inspiring story of overcoming Hodgkin's lymphoma only to find he also was suffering from Crohn's disease. Below is the video of his speech that made me feel so proud to be able to run with Team Challenge in Nick's honor:



We also found out at the pasta party that Team New England (Boston Strong!) was the region to raise the most money out of all state/regional teams - over $400,000! Altogether, Team Challenge raised $2.4 million to help fund research for improved treatment and a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. That means that each mile we run this weekend will be worth over $180,00 for a cure!

Team New England had the top fundraiser in the country!

And, of course, at the Pasta Party - we ate! I didn't take any pictures of the food as I am usually wont to do, but I can tell you it was delicious! For us vegans, there was quinoa pasta with marinara sauce, an amazing and loaded salad bar, some delicious rolls, and sweet tea. I also stocked up on bananas for post-race :)

After all the eating, laughing, crying, and stands of solidarity, it was time to return to our buses to bring us back to the hotel.

Exhausted and armed with more food for thought, we returned for our team meeting where we received our bib numbers and our Boston Strong ribbons for race day :)

Bib #3516

I've never been so prouder to be part of a team, although tomorrow I think will be even better :) I'm off to bed now as we have an early start tomorrow (breakfast at 4:30am!). But I can't even tell you how excited, energized, and inspired I feel right now!

Running Boston strong,
ashley

Long Run + New England Humidity = A True Challenge

Today was possibly the hottest, most humid day of the year so far. And, of course, the day of our 12-mile long run. It was also a holiday weekend, which meant we were all pretty much on our own to get in the mileage any way we could.

I have gotten really used to completing our long runs with the team and not really running the longer distances on my own, so all of these things were really daunting for me. But I tried not to let it stop me.

I am so lucky to have the team that I have! I found 3 other runners (Leslie, Rocco, and Carolann) that were not going out of town for the holiday, so I coordinated for us all to meet up at DW Fields Park for an earlier long run (thanks to Carolann's suggestion, a 7am run instead of 8am would help us beat some of the heat). My parents also generously agreed to set up a water stop for us at the beginning of the 3.8-mile loop so we could stop for water 3 times during the course.

Me, Carolann, Rocco, and Leslie before our 12-mile long run in the heat!

We've run some shorter runs on that loop, so we were all already familiar with it. It was just a matter of cranking out the mileage.

So, this morning I packed the water, Gatorade, and ice, and headed out to Brockton with the picnic cooler where I met up with my parents and the rest of the runners. I was actually super energetic and in high spirits, which got me off on the right foot.

Leslie and I ran the first loop or two together, and then I pulled ahead on the last lap. I'm pretty good at maintaining my pace for longer mileage, which I think will give me a great advantage on race day ;)

Having my parents there to man the water stop was AWESOME. We definitely wouldn't have made it through all 3 laps without them. I owe them so much for my success this season, and this was just the icing on the cake! There were just sitting out in the sun/shade, reading books and waiting for us to come around to pour refreshments. And they were offering a ton of encouragement :)

It was ridiculously humid, and I was finding it hard to breathe at points. But it was encouraging knowing that the weather in Napa on race day will be really dry and probably a bit cooler. It's like we always say at Team Challenge New England, we train in all conditions so that we're ready for anything!

Sweaty and exhausted, Leslie and I finished our 11.4 miles, and Rocco and Carolann finished 10. We were also joined briefly by Marisa and Amanda who did a loop before throwing in the towel - it was seriously so hot out! It really is the thought of that beautiful run in Napa that kept me going today. That and the encouragement from my mentor, Leslie, who has so much faith in me and would never let me give up. I am so ready for you, Napa!

Sweaty and exhausted, but we finished!

The one downside to today was the pavement. Like I said, we've run this loop before, but only with shorter distances. About halfway through today's run I started getting ankle pain on my right foot. I thought it was just from lack of stretching, so I stopped a few times to to some ankle rolls and calf stretches. Nothing really helped, but I made it to the end in one piece.

It's been a couple hours since I've been home and I did some reading. It turns out that the pain I have in my Achilles tendon is from running too long on uneven ground. Much of the loop at DW Fields Park is uneven or slanted pavement, so the repeated pounding without evening it out on the other side really took a toll on my leg. We're not built to run at an angle, that's for sure! And we were even debating running the last lap in reverse so that we would have a change of scenery, but decided against it at the last minute. What was I thinking?

So 2 weeks out from the big day and I have to take a few days off to rest my ankle, roll it, and stretch it. I'm hoping for a quick recovery so I can get in my last few days of hard mileage before the taper week. I'm really hoping not just to finish my first half marathon, but to set a really good PR. If I could finish in less than 2:30 I would be really happy.

All I have to do now is take care of myself and hopefully the rest will follow.

15 Days and counting!
ashley

I MET MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!!!

Today marks the day that I complete my official fundraising for Team Challenge! I reached my 75% mark today ($3,390.30), thanks to some generous birthday donations from my sister, Andrea Tarbet,
and a former co-worker, Ashley Medlar. I then received my matching gift from Rich Collins to bring me to a total of $4546.30.

Thanks to Rich Collins and others,
I reached my fundraising goal today!

I am so excited that this has happened, especially ahead of schedule. I seriously never thought I'd be able to make it, but now I've surpassed my goal!

I'm not going to stop here, either. I'm going to continue fundraising until the cut-off date, which I think is August 1st. The more money I raise, the closer we get to a cure!

Please consider donating today, or spreading the word to your friends and family to help us fund a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis!

Happy birthday to me!
ashley

Rolling in the Dough!

I guess I spoke too soon!

I've been worrying about my fundraising for several weeks (read: the last 2 months) because I thought I would never be able to reach my goal. While my friends and family have been beyond generous, it's a lot harder than I thought to raise $4500.

But, just when I thought things were looking down, I received a matching donation pledge for $1100. Now, with less than 50% of my $4500 to raise, I have been rolling in the checks from local businesses that would like to support my cause. In the last week alone, I have received checks from:

Kristin's Breakfast
Liberty Bay Credit Union
Alarm Central
Kendall's Kloset
Action Collection Agency

All of their donations will be matched by The Collins Farm in Davis, CA.

So, it looks like I might meet my fundraising goal after all. And I'm learning so much about fundraising, making a pitch, and really selling my cause. Thank you for everything, Team Challenge - you keep surprising me!

Running strong,
ashley

I Want to Inspire

National Running Day!

I run for my health, for my family, for my future, and for all those that cannot. I run to stay in shape. I run to feel good. I run to have energy and to clear my mind. I run to be a role model and to show others that anything is possible.

This year, I am running a half-marathon race with Team Challenge on behalf of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. I am running because there is someone in my life touched by IBD and he has inspired me to challenge myself and overcome the odds. I run for Nick. I run for Erin. I run for Timmy. I run for the 1.5 million Americans suffering from Crohn's and colitis.

I run for a cure.

What inspires you to run? 

Keep Calm and Run On

Today's Workout Tip: Don't Forget to Stretch!

Invincible Superwoman!

I was having a conversation a few weeks ago with a customer service rep at Best Buy about running. I don't know how the conversation started, but we found out we both love running and started chatting about it. I told him that I was currently training to run my first half marathon with Team Challenge and that the training was definitely challenging and we have really only just started out. He mentioned to me that once you pass the 5 mile mark though, anything feels possible.

Since I was only up to 3 miles or so in my current training I had to recall the training I did last fall for the Tufts 10K for Women.  I do remember getting to the 5 mile point and feeling invincible. Wind at my back, I felt like I could run forever when I was out for my daily runs. Of course, I would always wear myself to a good level of exhaustion, but throughout the day I had this feeling of strength and fitness over my whole body. And on race day I beat my goal of finishing in under an hour - although I did feel exhausted to point of collapse afterwards.

But that good feeling - that invincibility - is what I felt a couple weeks ago after our first group long run past 5 miles - 5.4 miles to be exact. I ran alongside my mentor for most of the route until she gave me the go ahead to keep running ahead while she slowed down. I kept up a great pace and finished in about a 10:00/mile pace. I felt amazing afterwards - better than I ever feel after my weekly morning runs. And even better, I felt I could keep running forever! (well, at least another couple miles...)

But lately, I have not felt like Superwoman during my training. Things have been getting really tough. On top of everything going on at work and in my personal life, and my plateau in my fundraising, I've definitely felt a strain on my body from my training: shin pain, lower back pain, general muscle soreness, and a bruise on my pride from worse-than-desired times on my so-called "hard workouts". The last couple weeks or so have just made me feel - physically and mentally - that I just can't do this.

Enter training week 6.

I woke up this morning feeling well-rested and excited about training, but very nervous - would I hurt myself or otherwise be unable to finish? But I got dressed, put on my sunblock, and drove the 29 miles to today's route: Battle Road in Lexington. My team was already warming up when I pulled in to what looked like the middle of nowhere, and minutes later we were off on the dirt/gravel route through Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln.

And WHOA, was it awesome!

I ran the first 2.5 miles or so with Coach Dave, who gave me some great advice and training tips on the way. Before I knew it, I was at the halfway point where Alicia was set up with cups of water and electrolyte drinks. I was cruisin' through the beautiful park scenery, with no ipod or other technology to distract me from the beautiful weather and the fact that I had virtually no leg pain running on the off-road trail. I felt, in a word, invincible.

We will ignore the fact that I was so in the zone that I ran right past our starting point, went a mile off-course, and started having a panic attack when I realized that I was totally and utterly lost, without any form of map or way to call anyone on my team. Fortunately, everyone on that trail is super polite and the first person I came across let me use his phone to figure out where I was and how to get back (despite the fact that my hands were sweaty and trembling). I turned around, and about a half-mile later came across one of our teammates, Ben, wearing his memorable bright orange jacket. We made it back to the parking lot in no time with no problem at all, while Ben shared with me his own fundraising tips and tricks :)

But at mile 7, mere moments before I realized I was in totally the wrong spot, I felt like I could have kept going for miles. I had just conquered a rutted, never-ending hill (that I didn't remember from the beginning of our journey) and still felt great - high energy, pain-free shins, and just the right amount of Vitamin D from the partly-shady, partly-sunny trail. I was so proud to share with my team what I had accomplished, and received compliments on my time when I returned.

Above all, this week's run helped me believe in myself again. Armed with quite a few suggestions of local trail runs to try out during the week, and personal realizations of how I need to adapt my training to prevent injury, I know that I will be able to finish my training. Armed with countless ideas and a renewed vigor for fundraising, I know that I will be able to reach my goal of raising $4500 for a cure. And armed with the confidence that both of these weapons give me, I know I will be able to run Napa on July 21st for Team Challenge with Nick at my side cheering me on.

I am once again the invincible superwoman that I always knew I could be.

Thank you, Team Challenge!


Running strong,
ashley

Team Challenge with our honored hero, Timmy (back row, center), at Battle Road
for today's long run and re-commitment picnic!

A New Kind of Cardio

This weekend I volunteered at Camp Sunshine - an overnight "summer camp" type facility for children and families affected by terminal illnesses such as cancer. Camp Sunshine is located in Casco, Maine. As I was packing Thursday night I looked at the weather report and was disappointed to see a forecast of snow, rain, and a wintry mix for most of the weekend. Being the baby I am about snow and freezing conditions, I expected not to run at all while I was at camp. I brought my workout clothes though in case I had time for weight training or something.

I originally felt extremely guilty that I wasn't going to get my training runs in this weekend. I know I'm just at the very start of my training, but I'm out of shape from taking some time off during this winter's string of snow storms that I didn't feel like I could afford it physically.

However, once I saw the schedule for the weekend I felt much better about leaving my running shoes at home. On Friday night, after the families arrived at camp and we had dinner and the opening ceremony, I spent an hour playing freeze tag with my new 6 year old friends, Lily, Joey, and Maddie. On Saturday, I was assigned to the teen group, and together we spent an hour playing basketball once the rain cleared up, an hour playing nuke 'em volleyball, an hour rock climbing, and over an hour dancing our butts off during the "masquerade ball" after dinner. And on Sunday, we had a half day before the families were to depart after lunch, and played nuke 'em volleyball for another hour, floor hockey for an hour, and even tried out some archery (talk about weight training!).

So, at the end of the weekend, I felt fulfilled. I was exhausted from all the cardio I had done with the teens all weekend, and was so tired when I got home at 6pm that I fell right to sleep. But I also felt like my heart got a workout in another way - I had the opportunity to meet some amazing families that have overcome tremendous obstacles in their lives and that wanted to share their stories and time with a group of rag-tag volunteers, some of which they had just met for the first time. In just 2 short days we built a community of mutual love and support. The families trusted us with their kids who were healthy and/or recovering from cancer treatments, and they trusted us with their stories and their feelings about their experiences.

In many ways, this is how I feel about Team Challenge. We started out as a group of strangers, but every week when we get together for a couple hours we have the opportunity to get to know one another, and to share our stories about how IBD has affected our lives and our loved ones. I am so grateful for this opportunity to build this community of runners and to be raising money for such a worthy cause. Every week when we get together, and every week when we train on our own, we are not just conditioning our bodies for the half marathon that awaits us in July - we are also exercising our hearts and giving them an opportunity to share the experiences we or our loved ones have undergone dealing with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Thank you Team Challenge!

Group photo of all the volunteer counselors at Camp Sunshine this past weekend.

First "fundraiser" was a success!

I spent 4 hours today freezing my butt off standing outside the Stop & Shop store in Braintree to spread the word about the CCFA and Team Challenge . I was not dressed warmly enough, but I wanted to wear my Team Challenge t-shirt and it was really just my toes that were cold anyway.

Either way, I got to witness first hand today the generosity of the community I live in. Working for a nonprofit organization, I see good deeds being done for good causes every day - but this just blew me away! Altogether, I raised over $200 between change, singles, and even much larger bills. Many people who stopped at my table shared with me about a loved one in their life living with Crohn's or colitis, made a donation, and thanked me and the Team for our hard work running for a cure. A lot of people also stopped to make a donation not knowing about the cause, but asking questions and then wishing me luck.

One woman who stopped at my table revealed to me that she was 86 and had undergone surgery many years ago to remove 14" of her colon. She said they didn't have things like running half marathons for good causes when she was young, but if they did she would have gotten involved too. It gave me hope to see her at a "ripe age" looking healthy and living happily. Maybe by helping to fund research for a cure, and support services for families affected by Crohn's and colitis, we will be able to see many more living to such an old and contented age.

I also met someone today who is friends with one of our coaches, Rocco. He knew all about Team Challenge and wished me luck. He told me he is training for the Boston Marathon right now with Team in Training, but still stopped to encourage me and make a donation.

I even met the husband of another Team Challenge runner today!

When I was done with my "reserved" time slot, I packed up my table (see picture below!) and headed towards my car. As I was putting my blue and orange decorations into the back seat, I noticed the guy behind me stop and reach for his wallet. I smiled and said, "hello" (which I had been doing a lot all day) and then remembered that I was also still wearing my Team Challenge t-shirt. He handed me some ones and said, "I said I would catch you on my way out. I'm glad I saw you before you left. Good luck with your training!" I said "thank you" in a very shocked - and what I hope was grateful - tone and put the donations into my collection jar. I think that was actually the biggest highlight of my day. If I am able to inspire others to action - even an action as simple as tracking me down for a couple of dollars - then I have done my job as a Team Challenge runner, and as an advocate for the CCFA.

While I ended the afternoon with frozen toes, a runny nose, and very sore legs/back (because I also forgot to bring a chair with me so I had to stand for four hours straight) I would say all in all it was a very successful day. I walked away from my first "fundraiser" the happiest I've been all week! I seriously had a smile on my face today that would not go away! Thank you to everyone in the Braintree community that stopped at my table to support this important cause. And thanks especially to Nick's friends and family members that stopped by and I'm sure spread the word inside. With your support and generosity I am sure we will find the cure!

Happy spring!
ashley
<3

Tabling outside of Stop & Shop in Braintree. Thanks to my community for their generosity!

AmeriCorps Week Special: I'm Running to Serve

It's AmeriCorps week! #ACWeek is a time for AmeriCorps volunteers and alums to reflect on our service and share why #AmeriCorpsWorks for us. So, in honor of this national week of service and reflection, I would like to share the story of how my AmeriCorps service inspired me to run this summer for Team Challenge, and continues to help me along my journey:

After graduating college in 2009, I embarked on a year of national service as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer. I did a year of service as Volunteer Outreach Coordinator at a Boston-based organization called Cradles to Crayons, where I helped to provide everyday essential items to children in Massachusetts living in low-income or homeless situations.

If there is one thing that my year of service taught me, it's that in order to be a leader, you must serve others. Lao Tzo, known as the father of Taoism, once said, "To lead the people, walk behind them." I spent my year of service dedicating almost every waking minute working to ensure I did my best and the absolute most I could do to enable the organization to serve more children. In the end, I found that I was a role model and leader for others in the organization, and those volunteers that serve with us, to do the same. That is exactly what I hope to do as a runner on the Team Challenge New England team. I am already working hard on training and fundraising, spending every free minute I have to ensure I reach my goals and do everything in my power to support the CCFA in its search for a cure. I hope that my efforts in turn inspire those around me to give what they can to support this cause that is so close to my heart - whether it is words of support, a share of my fundraising link, or sponsorship of my run.

Passion is another value that I have taken away from my time in AmeriCorps. One can just care about a cause, and they will contribute to its success. But when a person has passion for a cause is when they can truly make a difference. I have been touched personally by this cause - someone that I love very much has been battling ulcerative colitis for almost five years - and he gave me the spark that ignited my passion for the CCFA. Over 1.5 million American adults and children suffer from Crohn's or colitis. These chronic, painful, and often debilitating digestive disorders most often affect adolescents and young adults ages 15-35. They are caused by both genetics and environmental triggers, and can cost over $8,000 per year in direct medical expenses for one individual. But together we can make a difference! The CCFA has played a role in almost every major research breakthrough since its founding in 1967. Together, we can support the CCFA in better understanding the causes of IBD, finding a cure, and supporting the individuals and families affected by these disorders. Please support me as I train to run 13.1 miles for a cure!

One last thing that I have been able to take away from my year of service, is that everyone can use their own strengths and interests to make a difference. I love to run. I'm pretty decent at it too! When I heard about the Team Challenge program to train to run a half marathon while raising money for CCFA I couldn't say no. I can continue to do something I love, while working hard to spread the word (talking is something I love and am good at too!) to raise money for a worthwhile cause. I have only identified as being a runner for a couple years. I started in order to get fit, and it has turned into a rewarding habit and hobby. This will be my first half marathon ever, and as I train each week I will set records for the longest distance I've ever run. I am sure that I will run more half and full marathons, but I am proud to be running my first alongside my Team Challenge teammates for the CCFA.

In short, my service in AmeriCorps has inspired me, and instilled in me the character I need, to continue to make a difference. Running and fundraising for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is one way I am choosing to continue my service through proven and effective methods. I hope you will join my journey to support the CCFA in finding a cure for Crohn's and colitis. You can support my run by visiting my fundraising page at: http://www.active.com/donate/napaNE13/ashleyt or by taking the time to spread the word to your networks, family, and friends - you never know who is affected and would love an opportunity to support the cause!

Thank you, AmeriCorps, for the opportunity to serve. And thank you for continuing to "work for me" as an alumni!

Yours in Service,
ashley

All facts regarding the CCFA, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, were taken directly from published literature provided by the CCFA.