Tag Archive for: Charlotte Running Team

We Will Train Together. Run Together.

Keith & Jackson, Dream Team Week #2

The Isabella Santos Foundation Dream Team, a Charlotte running group, has officially started training for 2018.  Members of our team run with purpose and heart… we always enjoy hearing about why they run, what inspires them and their goals to get them to the finish line.  When it kicked off a few weeks ago, we learned that two of our Dream Team members set a goal together for this year.  Jackson Lowry, at age 13, accomplished his second half marathon last year with a personal record time.  Keith Brent accomplished his third half marathon since training with the ISF Dream Team.  As they both were looking back on their accomplishments, they were trying to decide what was their next dream.  Jackson admires Keith, and he said “one day I want to be able to run a full marathon.”  Keith without hesitation said “I will do it with you.  You pick the race, we will train together.  Run it together.” 

And the bond was created. They have set their 2018 goal – the Rock ‘N Roll Savannah Full Marathon in November.  Training is officially underway.  This past Saturday, they ran 8 miles in step together as they planned out their training schedule for the upcoming week.  Daily texts, running together, and high fives – – they keep each other motivated.  They are already talking about how excited they are going to be when they cross that finish line together on November 3rd.  They have 108 days to finish their training, and they do it all for Isabella and other kids fighting cancer.

These goals and uncommon bonds are what inspires us at the foundation!

A little about Jackson…

Jackson Lowry, at age 12, started running with the ISF Dream Team in Summer of 2016.  When he became diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in November 2015, he understood how it felt to be diagnosed with a disease that had no cure. He was determined to not let his diabetes stop him from following his dreams.  He has trained with the ISF Dream Team, accomplishing several races including 2 half marathons.  This year, he is training for his very first full marathon while raising money for the Isabella Santos Foundation.  Jackson’s mission in life is to inspire more kids to give back.  You can support Jackson and cheer him on by making a donation to his fundraising efforts.

And Keith who has been supporting ISF since the beginning…

Keith Brent, and his wife Christine, both personally knew Isabella Santos.  When ISF was formed in 2007, they immediately became involved with the foundation.  Three years ago, Keith joined the ISF Dream Team.  Keith loves the challenge and fitness benefits of running, all while raising money in memory of Isabella.  Keith and Christine Brent have raised over $14,000 through the ISF Dream Team, directly crushing cancer in the Charlotte community.  Keith has accomplished three half marathons while being a part of the ISF Dream Team, and his goal for 2018 is to complete a full marathon.  You can support Keith and high five him on by making a donation on his fundraising efforts.  

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

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

 

Running To Zero

Isabella’s Dream Team week one is complete.  With our first group run behind us, one number gave us the inspiration needed behind every step, every bead of sweat and every sore muscle.  1843.  The number of missed kisses.  The number of missed goodnights.  The number of days since Isabella passed.    This season our team will run with an updated number on their arms every Saturday.  To remind us why we are running.  We run until that number is zero for parents of children fighting cancer.  It’s not to late to join.

Read the #Runningtozero blog below… written by Isabella’s Mommy around this time last year.  And why she started counting days.

 

#Runningtozero

Screen Shot 2016-07-31 at 5.28.01 PMI tossed and turned in bed. I knew my mind was racing. I had this feeling a lot back in the day and I know how to fix it. I had to write. I knew that if I did my mind would settle and I could sleep. But the “new” Erin convinced myself that my anxiety was due to the Dream Team 6 mile run at 6:30 am the next day. It was just nerves that I would oversleep or worse, not be able to do the run.

My mind and body tossed from 10:30 pm – 1:30 am.

I woke at 4:30 am and I knew it wasn’t running nerves. The day before while shopping I received a call from a new friend. Her Granddaughter just received results from recent scans and the neuroblastoma was aggressive, although I not sure aggressive accurately describes it. The neuroblastoma had become deadly. Palliative care options were given due to the rapid progression of the disease.

I tried to remain calm with the news because at this point in my life, I know that Doctors are really just guessing. You learn this when you too, have been given this option several times – yet your own daughter proves them wrong and makes a comeback. These Doctors are not God and you learn this the hard way. I gave the best advice I could give.

Tell the parents to read their daughter. If she wants to fight – then fight. If she is done, they will know and then the fight will be over.

We read Isabella each time we got devastating news. Doctors said she was done but her light showed “Green” so we fought. Sometimes it seemed “Yellow”, so we would cautiously continue. But when it turned “Red” for the first and only time – we stopped. She died quickly.

But I found myself Friday night at Nordstroms, crying. Sad and Angry.

It feels like we just made our decision. It was just yesterday right? I found myself at 4:30 am counting days.

1494Screen Shot 2016-07-31 at 5.40.54 PM

There is no way.

I began to freak out that another mother might soon be counting.

1 is the hardest number. But oddly 1494 still feels hard. When you see that number it may seem like a lifetime ago. But for me, it feels so recent. It’s 1494 missed kisses, missed goodnights, and missed smiles. I’m sure that number can be a hard motivator for some to take action. But to me, that number is as motivating as ever. Especially during these hot summer months when every number we see kills our motivation.

99 degrees, 100% humidity, 13.1 miles, 6:30 am, $500 fundraising goals. You may begin to wonder why you are doing this to yourself?

1494. That number motivates me because it’s an awful number. And next Saturday that number will be 1501. My number will continue to grow this season and I know that everything I’m doing, every time I ask for a donation, and every mile I run in this heat is so that someone like me will not have to write that number on their arm.

I will run and continue to ask until that number is zero.

#runningtozero

Isabella’s Mommy

It’s more than a running team…

We run and we fundraise. But we also make new friends, meet for socials, laugh and act silly. But there is nothing better than building relationships while making an impact in the community. Isabella’s Dream Team fundraises for childhood cancer research, but excited to add the following commitments as part of our giveback initiative:

2. Make dinner for families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte
3. Collect school supplies for Classroom Central
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WHAT’S THE FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT?

The fundraising component is minimal compared to the larger charities that ask you to cover the difference if you do not meet the minimum. We simply ask each participant to commit to fundraising at least $500, but our hope is that each person will fundraise much more than that. Don’t fret, we will help you along the way with fundraising ideas and examples.
 _____

WHAT RACES ARE WE TRAINING FOR?

  1.  Isabella Santos Foundation 10K/5K for Kids Cancer (9/30)
  2.  Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah (11/4)
  3. Charlotte Marathon (11/11).
  • New this year:  Train with the team for the ISF 10K on Sept 30th.
  • RnR Savannah offers a half and full marathon, and a half marathon relay (6-7 miles per person).
  • Charlotte Marathon offers a half and full marathon, and a marathon relay (5 runners: 4-6 miles increments).
  • New this year: “One to run. One for fun.” challenge to run back to back half marathons in Savannah & Charlotte. $1,000 minimum fundraising commitment comes with swag bag filled with lots of goodies.
  • We’ve had teammates in the past run: Chicago Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, New York City Marathon, and numerous others as part of our team. It’s your choice what race you’d like to do, and we could always adjust the training schedule to match your race.

WHAT WE PROVIDE?

  • Training schedules (10K, half, half marathon relay, marathon & marathon relay) – training starts the week of July 10th.
  • Team swag
  • Weekend long runs, weekday run options
  • Socials
  • Camaraderie
  • Motivation

HOW TO JOIN THE TEAM?

  • Email Coach Tom at tom@isabellasantosfoundation.org
  • Create your First Giving fundraising page: 2017 Isabella’s Dream Team
    • $500 commitment for 10K, half or full marathon.
    • $1,000 commitment for the “One to run. One for fun.” back-to-back challenge.
  • Register for your race and distance
  • Recruit your friends, family, coworkers to join via social media and let them know you just joined #isabellasdreamteam

Our goal this year: 200 participants raising $200,000. 

Learn more about Isabella’s Dream Team or contact Coach Tom with questions.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Over the past three seasons, Isabella’s Dream Team has been fortunate to have the support of our community. This year is no exception. Our team continues to grow and so does our community support.

Team Sponsor: OrthoCarolina

This is the second year that OrthoCarolina will be our sponsor and we can’t thank them enough for supporting our mission and help us grow in the Charlotte community. OrthoCarolina is one of the nation’s leading orthopedic practices and your destination for comprehensive orthopedic care.

Team Partners:

Omega Sports has been with us since the inception of this team, and has provided VIP treatment to us every year. We always look forward to our group runs with Omega Nation and we can’t thank them enough for their unwavering support. Best Service in Sports Since 1978.

Core Revolution is new this year and will be our cross-training headquarters. We are extremely excited to partner with them. Their South Charlotte location offers:

  • Cycle with smart software creating visual simulations and feedback throughout your ride
  • Rep N Ride is a circuit training class that builds strength and endurance as you rotate through eight stations during the 45-minute class
  • Barre Rev’d features dynamic resistance training designed to target specific muscle groups that will lengthen and strengthen core, legs, arms and glutes for a full body workout.
  • To check out their class schedule www.corerevclt.com. FIRST CLASS IS FREE.

The main thread that all three share is that they are all very eager to give back to our community. That’s why we are thrilled to have them on our team and excited to shine the spotlight on them, run with them and make them part of our training throughout the year.

What’s New in 2017?

New to our training schedule will be a training program for the Isabella Santos 10K (Sept 30th). If you’re not quite ready for a half marathon, this would be a great stepping stone. Fundraising Commitment Level: $500.00 minimum.

One to Run. One for Fun. This is a challenge to run the Rock N Roll Savannah Half Marathon Nov 5th and run the Charlotte Half Marathon Nov 11th. We’ve had several participants do this throughout the years, but this year we are adding additional swag and twice the fun. Fundraising Commitment Level: $1,000.00 minimum

Always an option:

As part of our giveback initiative, we are proud to announce that this year Isabella’s Dream Team will:

Our team has raised $314,165.00 over the past three years and if we hit our goal of $200,000 this year, that will mean over a half million dollars has been raised to help kids fighting cancer right now.

Want to join us? You can find out more information about us here: One Team. One Mission.

How to join the team?

  • Email Coach Tom at tom@isabellasantosfoundation.org
  • Create your First Giving fundraising page: 2017 Isabella’s Dream Team
    • $500 commitment (per person)
    • $1,000 commitment for the “One to run. One for fun.” back-to-back challenge.
  • Register for your race and distance
  • Recruit your friends, family, coworkers to join via social media and let them know you just joined #isabellasdreamteam

Training starts July 10th.

Are you in?