Tag Archive for: Charlotte running program

Mother-Daughter Duo Making a Difference

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Charlotte and Jennifer Gaston

Charlotte Gaston was just 11 years old when she got involved in the Isabella Santos Foundation. Her mom, Jennifer, was serving on the ISF 5K/10K for Kids Cancer marketing committee and brought Charlotte to a meeting. It was there that Charlotte shared some great ideas and was asked to join the committee.

Since getting involved in 2012, Charlotte has volunteered on the marketing committee and at the race, run in the event, and used her creative skills to fundraise for ISF. She made earrings and hair ties to sell for donations for ISF, and painted a canvas at Bella’s Birthday Bash at Small Hands Big Art. The painted canvases from the event were used in various ISF events throughout the years.

“I was just along for the ride with Charlotte’s great ideas that she brought to the table,” said Jennifer. “Charlotte and I have volunteered, distributed race materials to retail stores and have done her projects together. Sharing this experience with her has been very rewarding.”

Charlotte also helped coordinate ISF’s T-Shirt contest where she brought together students from area high schools to collect the entries and select the winning design, which was featured on the kids’ race shirts. In addition, she assembled bracelets for ISF’s Coffee For A Cure.

“It is so cool seeing how much the Isabella Santos Foundation has grown and the impact we have all had over the past six years,” said Charlotte who is now a senior at Ardrey Kell High School. “I want to stay involved as much as possible this year before I head off the college.”

Jennifer also continues to stay involved as a volunteer for the race and Coffee For A Cure, and is passionate about introducing her friends to ISF. “Volunteering with the Isabella Santos Foundation has been a great experience for both of us and has helped Charlotte see what an organization like this is capable of with the support of a lot of people,” says Jennifer. “This experience has been very meaningful and will help her in college about how to get involved and make a difference.”

I Run for a Cure

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Christine Brent, Isabella’s Dream Team

It’s amazing how someone can impact your life forever.  For Christine Brent, it started almost a decade ago.  Christine met The Santos’ when they were expecting Isabella.  She helped Erin decorate her nursery, she knew when Isabella was diagnosed with cancer, and she committed to help the Isabella Santos Foundation any way that she could.  Family donations.  Fundraising support through her career.  Volunteering on the marketing committee.  Joining the ISF Dream Team.  It has been life changing for Christine, and nothing gets in her way.

About two years ago, Christine started to notice that her hip was giving her fits.  After several visits with doctors, they concluded she had hip dysplasia.  It got to a point where she could not sleep, barely walk, and the pain was no longer tolerable.  She only had one option left – a hip replacement.  

On March 19th, Christine received a hip replacement.  She walked on day one.  She was off of a walker by week two.  She followed every exercise and stretch they recommended.  She was released and back to work 4 weeks after her hip replacement.

So how is she today?  She is training with the ISF Dream Team for a race this Fall.  She has accomplished the Savannah Half Marathon, the Savannah Half Marathon Relay, and the Charlotte Marathon Relay with the Dream Team.  And, she will do it again!  Christine Brent will not stop giving back for Isabella.

“I run for all those who fight now, have fought in the past, or will fight in the future.  I run for a cure.”

Christine’s goal is to raise $7,000 this year for Isabella.  Help her reach her goal by donating to her First Giving page:  https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/keithandchristine-brent-1/2018-Isabella-s-Dream-Team.

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

 

Exercise to Help Save Lives

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Isabella’s Dream Team

Exercise.  Whether we run, go to the gym, attend a yoga class, or simply power walk – we all exercise for a reason.  Most of the time, it’s the obvious reasons . . .   Stay healthy.  Lose weight.  Challenge yourself to see if you can do it.  Relieve stress.  Gain muscle.  Sense of accomplishment.

What if one of those reasons to exercise could be to help save a life?  Would you do it?

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) Dream Team does just that.  We exercise to help save lives.  

Join us  Saturday, August 11th, for a group run!

  • Who: ISF Dream Team
  • What: Group run!
  • Where: Little Sugar Creek Greenway
  • Meet at Park Road Shopping Center 4101 Park Road, Charlotte, NC
  • When: Saturday, August 11 at 7am
  • Why: Help save a life!

Email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org for more details.

The ISF Dream Team is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams. You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.

Testing the Limits of the Human Heart

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“The real purpose of running isn’t to win a race.  It’s to test the limits of the human heart.” – Bill Bowerman, track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc.

Geo Neto, Isabella’s Dream Team

Geo Neto, a new member to the ISF Dream Team, knows what it feels like to test the human heart.  In 1988 at the age of 14, he was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).  He knew this diagnosis wasn’t good –  but he was young, naïve, and didn’t truly understand what would happen to him.  30 years ago, information on ALL wasn’t as readily available.  He was sick.  He was scared.  And it scared his entire family – parents, siblings, uncles, and grandparents.  Everyone felt the pain, fighting together to save Geo.

Geo fought for his life and he has gotten to the other side.  Through this journey, he has learned how important it is to remain healthy, so he challenges himself to stay active.  In 2017, he ran the Isabella Santos Foundation 10K.  At the race, he learned more about ISF and the mission of raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer.  As he was setting his fitness goals for this year, he was also motivated to make a difference in our Charlotte community.  So, he joined the ISF Dream Team.   

Geo is making a difference . . . running, raising funds for pediatric cancer, and honoring those who are battling cancer.  His human heart is also honoring his family. “There is nothing that I can do that will ever thank them enough for everything that they did for me” when I was fighting for my life.

What an honor, Geo, to have you as a part of our ISF family.

Let’s all put our hearts together and support Geo.  Please click here to make a donation to his ISF First Giving page.

ISF Dream Team

The ISF Dream Team, created in 2014, is a running group that assists you in training to run the race of your dreams.  You can train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, half marathon relay, full marathon relay, or a full marathon.  You are provided a training schedule, invited to group runs, and inspired by a phenomenal team of people.  Not only will you meet a dynamic group of people, but you will also be inspired through your friends and family as they support you through the training.  The ISF Dream Team has raised over $400,000 to date, with the funds contributing to our local Charlotte community.  If you want to join the ISF Dream Team, we would love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

2018 Isabella’s Dream Team: Seeking Volunteer Cancer Crushing Leaders

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After conquering many miles and many milestones over the past four years – we are Crushing Cancer again this year for your choice of several races. This team will be training in memory of Isabella Santos, who passed away from Neuroblastoma at the age of 7. We will train as one group starting in mid-July and then you can pick which race(s) would work best for you and your schedule!  The idea is to give you a choice- but also help cheerlead each other in our training schedules. Of course…along the training path- this determined group of runners will crush The Isabella Santos Foundation 11th Annual 5k/10K for Kids Cancer on Saturday, Sept 29th. The Dream Team tackled these races last year and raised over $110,000…and over $400,000 to date! Lets crush the pavement, crush our fundraising goal and crush cancer together again in 2018!

As many of you know from being part of this great group…the team work makes the dream work, so we are taking that motto and are implementing a new structure this year that will allow our passionate people to join forces to crush pediatric cancer together. This structure can apply to anyone that is interested in taking on a more active role on our dream team. 

We are seeking leaders. We are seeking cancer crushers. We are seeking passionate individuals with a desire to take their role with our team to the next level. We have committed  $5 million to establish The Isabella Santos Foundation Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital.  This program will impact more than just Charlotte as it will be the first of its kind in the United States. This is a volunteer based grassroots effort without the overhead of the large cancer charities.  Please email info@isabellasantosfoundation.org for more information

We are seeking leads for the following areas to help run our Dream Team in 2018:  (Please email info@isabellasantosfoundation.org for more information)

  • Fundraising LEAD: (Still Needed)
    • Help People Set Up FG Pages
    • Help Develop Fundraising Incentive Program
  • Training LEAD: (Fullfilled)
    • Develop Training Schedules
    • Coordinate Group Runs
    • Identify 2018 Race Options
  • Communication LEAD: (Fulfilled)
    • Coordinates Emails
    • Communicates Socials, Group Runs, etc. 
  • Recruitment LEAD: (Still Needed)
    • Help Coordinate Socials 
    • Attend local events/races to recruit members
    • Help Develop Referral Incentive Program
    • Work with Local Businesses for Monthly Partnership
  • “Hype Squad” LEAD: (Still Needed)
    • Coordinate and Develop Cheerleaders/Hype Squad for our DT members
    • Coordinate Cheering sections at local races and events
    • Coordinate the spotlight of Dream Team Members and Weekly speakers

If you are interested, please email us ASAP at info@isabellasantosfoundation.org