Running for the Garden of Dreams: Mission Completed
A most exhilarating and gratifying experience
by: Tina Cervasio
I did it!
On Sunday, I completed the ING New York City Marathon – my first marathon – in 4:24:13. But I could not have done it without my immediate family, my MSG family, and of course ... the Garden of Dreams. The experience was both exhilarating and gratifying.
Throughout my four months of training, I raised $7,682.20 for the "Garden of Dreams Foundation," while also raising awareness for Madison Square Garden's non-profit charity for "kids in crisis" in the Tri-State Area by contributing 12 television segments to the show "MSG, NY" and blogging about my experience. You can see most of the segments right here ... on this blog!
While the miles after Marker 20 were not kind, I did complete a life-long personal dream. But nothing can be more gratifying than what happened at Mile 17. To understand the emotion of this story, see my blog entry "Why We Run." It's the story of "Charlie," a 15-year old boy born with sickle cell anemia who lives with his family at the Ronald McDonald House just yards off 1st Avenue on the Marathon Course.
Ronald McDonald House is just one of the 18 Garden of Dreams partner organizations. At 73rd Street and 1st, Charlie and his little brother Kyle – who is both Charlie's and his other brother Michael's bone marrow donor – were there to hug me, hold up signs and give me Gatorade and water. I gave them little gifts, too, but your dollars are the gifts that get them and nearly 80,000 other kids through the day.
Garden of Dreams provides for the shelter, hospital, or organization where the children are being helped, or tickets to events they can attend at Madison Square Garden to live their dreams and give them hope to get through their challenges.
That's why I ran and finished ... and why I will run again (I also want to improve my time a little bit, too!).
MVP Award: Kevin McKearney, my husband. For dealing with my 5:30 a.m. wake-ups on weekends to get in the long runs, for making me ice baths after those long runs and for being my biggest supporter.
RUNNERS-UP: My parents and sisters; they were troopers running around NYC on Marathon Sunday with a beautiful sign!
Next year? Yes, I would like to run again next year, for two reasons: 1) to continue raising money for Garden of Dreams and 2) to run with my training partner, Laura Tagliareni. Laura had to stop training because of knee tendonitis just three weeks ago. She had to defer her entry to next year. But that's what's awesome; she'll be healthy and ready to run next year, and I hope to be with her.
SHOUT OUT!
Back at ya Sara!
I want to thank Sara, Lorraine and Meghan from the NYRR Public Relations Team. They were so helpful and so much fun to work with. Also, Liz Robbins was completely inspirational with her amazing book, "A Race Like No Other."
It was so wonderful running into everyone at NYRR, and around the city, from my interview shoots to fundraising events (Meghan and her husband came to my Charity Karaoke Party!). Sara gave me a Shout Out of her own on the NYRR Marathon Moments blog.
I look forward to telling more great stories with you guys in the future!
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