Lessons Learned

This week has taught me that life is short and that the smallest things can have the greatest impact, expected or not.  On Monday morning, sometime between 12:30 and 2 am, a sweet little girl’s life came to an end.  You can read her obituary here.  This little girl was loved by many who were close to her, but she also had the love of people of all ages who may only have met her a time or two.  She was only 4 and spent half of her life fighting cancer. 

How did I know her?  Not well at all, but she made her mark on my heart in short order.  Her dance teacher, moved by Donna’s spirit, organized a group of us from PAL to run in a 5K supporting pediatric cancer research.  I am not a runner, but something about this little girl’s story compelled me to join the team and do my best to run for Donna.  I completed the 5K with a combination of running and walking, which was a huge achievement for me.  Our team, small though it was, brought in a good amount of money for the cause.  Donna was there in her tutu cheering us on.

Goodbye, Dancing Donna.

DancingDonna: Donna at the Run for Gus 2009

Although Donna won’t be there, I have vowed to get myself to the point of being able to run the entire race when it comes around again next year.  In this way I’ll do my part to help Donna’s legacy continue.  Who wants to join me in training and do some good?