Welcome to “Team Thank You,” which began as a one-girl marathon team running the MCM Marathon on October 26, 2008, in support of Operation First Response (“OFR”). The Team has now grown to include a virtual team of members spanning the country. OFR is an amazing organization that supports our Nation’s wounded heroes and their families. About a year ago I read an article about Peggy Baker, a mother whose son enlisted in the Army after 9/11. As Peggy explained in that article, "[w]e were a family that walked around and had no idea of the sacrifices that were being made every day and throughout history . . . All of a sudden, I was put into a position that my child was going to defend our country, and it opened my eyes." Peggy began volunteering with wounded soldiers, and, ultimately, became one of the founders of OFR.

Within minutes of reading the article, I made my first donation to OFR. More recently, I was blessed to donate an airline ticket to OFR for an injured soldier who needed to get home for the Easter holiday. I say blessed because being given that opportunity made my day. And by the time I completed booking the ticket, the Southwest customer service agent and I were both in (happy) tears. Almost sounds selfish, doesn’t it? Now I invite you to join "Team Thank You" as I embark on my eighth marathon, second MCM, and first to raise money for OFR. Last year at the MCM, I saw runners all around me running in honor of soldiers, in memory of soldiers, for buddies, dads, brothers, sons, moms, sisters and daughters. This year it’s my turn, and hopefully yours, just ordinary citizens who want a way to say “thanks.”

You can join Team Thank You through your generous tax-deductible donation, which through OFR, will reach our soldiers from Afghanistan to Iraq, Landstuhl to Walter Reed to Fort Bragg. Because of OFR: 1,987 wounded Heroes have received assistance with mortgage, rent, utilities & vehicle payments; 965 received air transportation; 998 received ground transportation & lodging; and 5,000 OFR Backpacks were sent to Combat Support Hospitals in Theatre.

UPDATE 10/24: With 2 days to go until race day, Team Thank You has blown past its fundraising goal and is ready for the start line. I am leaving for DC today with both nerves and excitement for race day. Mostly, I am inspired by the wonderful support for this important cause. And, yes, there is still time to donate and join "Team Thank You" as we head to the start line.

For more information, please contact me at dscil@aol.com. Please also visit operationfirstresponse.org

With love and gratitude, Diane