What I have been upto...

I am running a marathon to raise money for people living with AIDS. I am out to raise $40000 and need your help to keep these people rockin!

Last December I had the honor to run in the Honolulu Marathon for people living with HIV/AIDS. With a lot help from a lot of great people I raised over $5,000 for the AIDS Marathon organization, with the proceeds going to help people living with HIV/AIDS in California and around the world. This year I am doing it again, only bigger and I need your help.

In 2005 I was able to run for 26.2 miles and train for 6 months knowing that I had a great team of people supporting me and that I was running to help countless others who are living with AIDS. I was running for their lives.

Running for somebody else was very humbling; being at service to others, knowing that their needs are greater than my own. Living with AIDS in the US is not the same as it was even 5 years ago, but it is still a struggle. It is a larger struggle for those around the world and in Africa.

I had my own struggles while training. I had injuries that kept me from my weekly runs with the group. Sometimes after a run my knees would freeze up and I couldn't walk. But I knew I had to keep going, for myself and more importantly for people in the world living with HIV and AIDS.

On marathon day, halfway through the marathon in Honolulu I was exhausted. The heat was really bad. My co-pilot Will was doing his best to keep my energy up and keep me focused. I was tired. But every time I came around a corner there were people cheering me on, calling out my name, supporting me in my running and supporting the cause I was running for. Their energy became mine and I suddenly was able to accelerate, where moments before I was having a hard time moving at all.

Through the support of others I pushed myself further than I ever could have by myself. I don't just run for me. I run with AIDS Marathon so I can give back to the group that really showed me that real living is a feedback loop. In the same way the supporters energy became mine, I know that by supporting AIDS Marathon, my energy, and those supporting me, is received by those that we are helping in even greater quantities than we are giving out. and that is beautiful.

This year I am back in San Francisco and am training hard for another marathon. On Thanksgiving day I am travelling to Italy to run in the
Florence Marathon. I have a promise to raise at least $4,000 for AIDS Marathon. This year my running and fundraising goal is $40,000. yes.
with the extra zero. And I cant do that by myself.

I have put in close to 200 miles in training this season, and I have at least another 100 to go before Marathon Day on Nov 26th.
Will you donate to help me reach my goal? Will you be on my team to make a difference and rock out?!

Dont forget, all donations are tax deductible.
If you can donate, please go here:
http://aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=SF-4440&EventCode=FL06

or, If you would like to help me in my fundraising plans, please email
me. If you can help, thank you. if you are not able to help, thank you for taking the time and please let others know what I am up to.

thanks,
doug