Hi Everyone,
In the two months since I started this journey, we have made incredible progress. Together, we’ve raised over $11,000, far exceeding any expectations I put on myself. Thank you again to everyone who has offered their support.
On April 27th, I will be participating in the NYC Race to Cure Sarcoma. Alongside my family and friends, I will run a 5k around the North Lawn of the Rockefeller Park in NYC! At the end of this race, I will speak at the closing ceremony.
If you are interested in joining my team and willing to run, walk, or support us, please sign up using this link: https://p2p.onecause.com/newyorkcity/team/team-brenneman Thank you to those who have signed up already!
After seeing what can be accomplished in a very short period of time, my mind has been racing all week thinking of the endless possibilities that this journey has in store. However, all my hopes boil down to one thing: reassure and maybe even inspire others.
I do think one of the most important things when you’re going through a really tough time is to feel that you’re not alone. Speaking for myself, I know that if I had heard a story of a teenager who was doing something like this project, I would have taken action a lot earlier in my childhood.
This is why I think it would be valuable for this story to reach as many people as possible (so please share this if you haven’t already!). My biggest hope is that my efforts help various people, organizations, and communities.
This is the trace I hope to leave behind after my 200 miles.
My journey — which makes me look to the future — also reminds me of my past.
When I was 5 years old and dad was in the first months of his sarcoma treatment, Will and I asked mom to give us buzz cuts so we would look like dad (who was going through chemo). I also really wanted to start a lemonade stand.
So, one summer Saturday mom and dad helped me to set up my stand. While dad went up and down the street spreading word of our event, mom and I squeezed a ton of lemons. After adding in water and sugar, we had two humongous pitchers of fresh homemade lemonade. (We also made cookies for good measure.) And I created a sign to put at the bottom of our street to advertise my lemonade stand. It seemed like everything was coming together.
However, for what seemed like forever, I stood alone in my driveway with no customers. Disheartened and fed up, I was about to give up. But then neighbors and friends began to trickle in. Soon more than three quarters of the street showed up. My little lemonade stand quickly turned into a big party in our driveway. What has stuck with me is all the laughter, hugs, and conversations. At the end of the day, I earned $42 — a totally priceless $42.
It’s this sort of coming together and turning something small into something much larger that fuels my motivation.
This journey was originally supposed to be just my immediate family: us three kids and mom. However, by now this has grown to something bigger and I’m curious and eager to see where this road will lead.
Thank you again. And hey, please come to my driveway for some homemade lemonade this summer (details TBD)!
Until next week!
You and your family are an inspiration, AJ