Once again I am in training and I am proud to be running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence Half Marathon – August 7, 2011 as a member of Team McGraw for the Tug McGraw Foundation. The Foundation seeks to accelerate new treatments and cures to improve the quality of life for children and adults affected by neurological conditions such as brain tumors, Posttraumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury. As a part of Team McGraw, I am raising funds to support research in this effort.

In 1991, I met and fell in love with a beautiful girl named Christy Joy. Christy was my best friend and companion. We loved to be together and loved each other deeply. Our marriage was satisfying and beautiful; we thought we would grow old together, but life had other plans. In December 2007, Christy had a day of weird episodes that continued to escalate in length and intensity and led to a full blown seizure. After many tests and many guesses the words “brain cancer” became our new reality. Our life became one of blood tests, MRIs, seizures, and trips to the hospital. We tried to live as normal a life as possible, but the cancer was always present and always found a way to interrupt our moments of peace and happiness. Christy and I battled hard against this disease, but on February 19th, 2010, Christy took her last breath. As I listened to her heart beat for the last time and in the silence that followed, my own heart was forever broken.