I am an Army Veteran of over 17 years service, Husband of an Army Officer and Father of three boys. I have been a lifelong runner, but in May of 2004, shortly after my return from Operation Iraqi Freedom, I suffered a Heart Attack after an Army Physical Fitness test. I luckily survived a heart attack my doctor called the “Widow Maker.” Since then, with great physical rehabilitation, I got a second chance on life. I worked hard on getting back to running because I missed it so much. 

By 2009, I ran my first Marathon in 4:18. This proved to me I can do anything in running again, just not with the fast pace I once had, but I am still working on it. In 2010, I met a running coach that trained the Fort Lee 10 Miler team and with his expertise I was able to compete in that year’s Army Ten Miler. I ran it in 74 minutes and I felt that was a comeback race. Since then I have run a ton of half marathons, improved my marathon time with hopes to one day qualify for the Boston Marathon, and I started a Fundraiser project for the American Heart Association that consists of running, environmentalism and fundraising. I called it the RecyclingRunner Project. 

On every run I wear a backpack and push my twin son’s jogging stroller where I stop to pick up any litter along my run routes which I store in my pack and under the stroller. The items that are redeemable/recyclable I cash in and donate the money to the American Heart Association. This year’s campaign, which runs from Jan to Veteran’s Day, I’ve raised over $1,500 dollars from my collection redemptions and contributions from supporters. Every year I hope to continue to run, think green and fundraise. 

You can follow my progress on Twitter: @recyclingrunner and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecyclingRunner

AboutTheMaxLacewellFoundation:  Max "Little Dude" Lacewell was a vibrant little boy who  loved Star Wars, Legos and sushi. Two days before  Halloween, at the age of five, he was diagnosed with one  of the rarest, deadliest, and most aggressive forms of  cancer- Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Less than  10% of the 100-150 kids diagnosed each year live  beyond 18 months from diagnosis. In Max's case, he  survived only nine more months, until the fourth of July.  The Max Lacewell Foundation was created out of the  determination of Max's family and friends to fight back  against cancer. This not-for-profit aims to raise  awareness and fund vital research of pediatric brain  tumors, specifically, DIPG, with the ultimate goal of  establishing a brain tumor research scholar at the Lurie  Children's Hospital of Chicago.  Since MLF is run exclusively through volunteers, 100% of  the net proceeds of our fund raising events go directly  toward this goal. Thanks to participants who support our  fund raisers, we have raised over $250,000 to help  others who face DIPG.  We estimate that about $2 million would meet our goal  of establishing the MLF scholar. But our ultimate goal is  to make DIPG a thing of the past. Thank you for your  partin moving us a little closer to that goal!

About the Race:
The Max Lacewell Foundation Presents:
The Best 5k Evuh
5k Race and 1 Mile Fun Run
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Bolingbrook Golf Course, Bolingbrook, IL
Map to Bolingbrook Golf Course

Start Times  1 Mile: 7:15am  5K: 7:45am (wave start)

Parking  The Bolingbrook Golf Club has plenty of parking at  the start line. Car-pooling encouraged! Packet

Pick-up  Friday, September 27, 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm at:  Jersey Mike's Subs, 111 E. Ogden Ave #109, Naperville. Packet pickup also available race morning from  6:00 to 7:00 am.  Early Registration  Entry fee for individuals is $30 for 5k and $20 for the  One Mile Fun Run. Family registration includes up to 4  individuals for $60 for the One Mile Fun Run and $85  for the 5K Race. Participants receive a T-shirt. Early  registration forms must be postmarked by 9/13/2013. Race Day Registration  Available race morning from 6:00am to 7:00 am. Cost is  $35 for the 5K and $25 for the One Mile. Family  registration will be $65 for the One Mile Fun Run and  $90 for the 5K Race. There is no T-shirt guarantee for  race day registrants.

ENTER DISCOUNT CODE RUNJUNKEE and receive a $5 discount off of your registration.

For more information, or to register online, go to Best5kEvuh.com
or email: [email protected]
The Max Lacewell Foundation Website
Max Lacewell Facebook Page

I received this message the other day on my Facebook page (copied by permission)

My daughter is a musician. We are a family of runners, (all 7 of us) who like all, were touched by the tragedy in Boston. In conjunction with her upcoming album release she'll be headed to Boston for a series of shows. 

We put together a video tribute - with a song not on the album - as a possible way to raise funds for One Fund Boston. The idea is to donate 100% of our itunes proceeds from the single to the Fund from now through Labor Day. (essentially the end of the tour) 

She'll be getting a bit of press so we thought we could incorporate this effort with any free media the tour might generate. We have not publicized this at all at this point.  The video is on her site - but we've not promoted it. We wanted to get your feedback first. 

It, along with her story, can be found atwww.courtneyjonesmusic.com


I was completely speechless.  The video is amazing.  I was touched that they would ask my opinion and that Courtney took the time to put all of this together...not to mention the absolutely amazing voice!!   It was so cool to see some of those pics again,  I received so many that I don't think I ever even got a chance to look at all of them.

I got in touch with Andrew (Courtney's dad),  to let him know I would certainly do whatever I can do to support this.  Anything at all.  

That set the wheels in motion. Courtney's music team, including her producer - Boston's own Peter Malick - posted the video on YouTube, it can be found here -http://youtu.be/9ikjxTnyjoQ.  Uploaded the single to iTunes -  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/enemy-fire-single/id672743034?uo=4  and is featured on her website www.courtneyjonesmusic.com 


It's premiering here on the RunJunkees site and we'll be sharing it on our Facebook page. I hope you'll take a moment to visit and help support Courtney and her efforts here. Spread the word !

Submitted by Ellen Goffin from http://clnrun-seeellenrun.blogspot.com/ 
 
Some of you know that my husband and I have a son with Crohn's Disease. Crohn's is an autoimmune disease that affects the digestive system. I will write more about Crohn's and in particular our experiences with it in a future blog post. Right now I want to tell you about an event our family is participating in to raise awareness for this disease.

We are participating in the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA) Take Steps walk in Glenview on June 30.  Isaac has decided that raising money for the CCFA is his mitzvah project (he will become a bar mitzvah in November of this year). One of the ways he is doing this is by walking with our family in the Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis. Take Steps is CCFA's national evening walk and celebration and the nation's largest event dedicated to finding cures for digestive diseases. It is a casual 2-3 mile stroll to raise money for crucial research, bringing us closer to a future free from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Over 1.4 million American adults and children are affected by these digestive diseases. While many suffer in silence, Take Steps brings together this community in a fun and energetic atmosphere, encouraging them to make noise and be heard.

To join us please go to: http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR?fr_id=3886&pg=entry and click on "rejoin or join a team." Then type in "Goofy Goffins" in the team name box and click on search.

If you are unable to join us but would like to donate towards the cause go to:http://online.ccfa.org/site/TR?fr_id=3886&pg=entry and click on "donate." Enter any of our names in the search boxes (I know Isaac would love some donations on his