“Let’s shatter the ceiling we have built over our own head” – Me. And I need your help!

Do you have a childhood memory or maybe a series of experiences that defined who you are today? Maybe it was meeting a singer or artist. Maybe it was the support of a parent or relative helping you discover science and engineering. For me, it was being the chubby kid, but being involved in sports and seeing that I could still accomplish goals, despite being bigger.

Sports for kids has a special place in my heart. I play soccer, baseball, football, and rugby throughout my childhood. Not only did I learn the value of hard work, but I learned the value of teams, how to treat others, how to communicate with people, and how to get gritty for me and for others. These values have served me very well today. These core childhood experiences have shaped me to believe that I can do something crazy, like running the Boston Marathon.

As I said in my last post, I have the audacity to dream big. Well, I got my bib and I am running for the Boston Bruins Foundation, raising $10,000 to help their mission to bring sports, fitness, and movement to kids and families (My Charity Page is here). This may not be as high profile as some other charities, but how core are those values I gained to a safe and effective community? Not only fitness and health, but health in how we treat each other and our community with respect and kindness. The more I think about it, the more I believe this cause is monumental to our future.

So I am training. I started training training December 2, so I am now finishing week 9 and have about 16 to go before the marathon. I have been doing physical therapy to stay smart with my body and have started working with a run coach so that I can get expert guidance on the safest way to achieve my goals. This team is incredible helping me and I also have my family and friends supporting me. So much support thus far with well-wishes and donations to my charity. You all fuel me to keep going. I feel a bit in the doldrums right now of training. The darkness of winter and a recent cold have me feeling knocked off my track, but it is the support and love of this crew that helps me.

Further, I am thinking of young Ben. I am thinking of that bright-eyed, big smiling chubby kid struggling to find his value, but knowing he could succeed in sports. The encouragement of coaches, teammates, and family kept me going and I felt success. I felt the outcome of hard work. So I am running to show my young self what he accomplishes 30 years later. I am running to make him proud, and to inspire people around me to not settle with where they are in life. If there is a hint of desire to strive for more, I want you to go for it. I want you to feel the spark of success. The success of pushing you beyond where you realized you could go.

I humbly ask that you consider donating to the cause. My charity Page is here and I am also trying to sell super bowl squares, and have many to go. The details are below. Your support is not only a vote for me to keep going, but a contribution to our families and kids to get access to another opportunity for positive influence. It is a step towards a stronger future.

Thank you!