Last week I wrote about Kathy Giusti, the business executive who made a turn in life to focus her substantial talents on raising funds for the fight against the blood cancers. That so many cancer victims are still alive today is testament to her devotion and talents.
New York's Capital Region has its own version of Kathy Giusti. Last week, she used her incredible drive and skills to make her own contribution in the battle against cancer.
On Saturday, June 4, the "Make It A Great Day" Race raised over $8000 for the Capital District Cancer Resource Foundation, a fund that provides financial assistance to those locals who lack the full resources to win the fight against cancer. Some 80 or so runners took advantage of perfect weather and wonderful countryside to run a half-marathon, and seek pledges for the CDCRF. Those who prefer to stroll rather than run added to the CDCRF coffers by walking a mile. It was a phenomenal success.
Many volunteers, too many to name, contributed their efforts to this event, and have won our thanks. But one name was responsible for it all.
If there is such a thing as a cancer fund-raiser Hall of Fame, we must now add the name of Heidi Bentley Barcomb.
Heidi used her contacts, skills, drive, and devotion to organize this event and make it a success. She proved herself to be a one-woman tornado. A neophyte like me has no idea what it takes to assemble an event such as this. It never occurred to me at the start of planning that we would need a race route, timers, T-shirts, sponsors, banners, forms, charts, tables, road signs and cones, ditty bags, water stations, police coverage, an Internet presence, staff, magnets, pencils, prizes, music, microphones, local support, adverts, furniture, etc, etc, etc. I realize now that it is a monumental undertaking.
And Heidi pulled it off. It was a phenomenal success.
And so I offer my enthusiastic congratulations to her. I know she is already planning for next year's event, with ideas to make it bigger and better, if such a thing is possible. I also offer my thanks to the army of volunteers who helped to make it work. Finally, I want to express my admiration for and congratulations to the winners of the race, Peter Zimmons and Kristin Grab. You made it look too easy!
And stay tuned to Heidi's foundation, thedragonflyadventure.com. More is yet to come, if I know Heidi.
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