milestone no. 1

hit a milestone today just as important as reaching the 21-mile mark in training (still working on that): quadruple digits in my fundraising effort. As of today, 16 parties have donated $1,027.40 to the cause. I'm more than one-third of the way there. I have to admit, at first I was pretty daunted by the amount, nervous that it was just a really, really bad time to ask for money. But people have this crazy tendency to surprise, and it's been as faith-inducing as running.

to that end, I'd like to thank: James Walker, Tim Albinson, Ruth and Nick Daniloff, Jean Kiedaisch, MJ Vielmetti, Chris and Meaghan Berdik, Nicholas Mancusi, Mike Berdik and Stephanie Jones, Tim Stoddard, Noelle LaCorbiniere, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous and Anonymous (you know who you are). I'd like to give a special call-out to "layed-off dude," who found it inside to give despite an economy that's got its foot on so many throats. Also, a big debt of gratitude to Nelia Ponte, who counseled me on my charity pick and has helped spread the word. And lastly but not leastly, my wife Chris, who's been holding her tongue now that I've turned our living room into campaign headquarters, training center, and blogging command post (it's only going to get worse). I really appreciate all of your support so far in this endeavor, and so do the folks at the michael carter lisnow respite center.

just before the holidays, I had arranged to visit the center out in Hopkinton to give you all a first-hand account of whom I'm running for, but some freak winter flooding got in the way, and into their basement. they've since cleaned up and I'm working on rescheduling my visit. Look for a post in the next few weeks.

again, a thousand thanks, I couldn't be doing this without you.