Running for a Great Cause

My cousin, Victoria Hines, is running the Boston Marathon on April 16th. She is a student at Northeastern University and is preparing to tackle Boston as her first marathon, running for a cause that is very close to my heart.

Victoria and Heather at our Wedding

You'll have to ask Victoria what she's doing here

She is running for The Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The Respite Center, known as the ‘Big House’ by my sister Heather and others, describes itself as ‘a place that provides emotional and physical support for individuals with disabilities and their families.’. I can tell you it means much more than that to Heather. After those with disabilities finish with the public school system at age 22, there are limited opportunities for them. Thanks to generous donations, the Respite Center operates as a place where they can go for the day, and sometimes overnight, to work on life skills. Often, they are able to gain employment in the community as a result. Since Heather has been going to the Respite Center, her communication skills and independence have dramatically improved. The entire group is like a second family to her.  It’s an amazing place. There are people of all ages and various disabilities and you’ll find a warm smile from everyone you meet there.

Check out the website to read more about the history and the programs the Respite Center provides as I’ve only scratched the surface: http://hopkintonrespite.com/index.htm  

If you’ve met Heather, you undoubtedly have experienced her warmth and big smile. If you haven’t, I think you’ll get a little sense of her spirit through these pictures:

Heather and I in Sedona



Heather showing off her biking skills

Dana and Heather at Bryce Canyon

Heather and friends from the Respite Center

Heather racing with Doug Flutie versus Drew Bledsoe and a friend. 

Heather and Eunice Kennedy Shriver (founder of the Special Olympics)

The Respite Center is allocated 65 official entries as a local charity in the Boston Marathon every year. The first $75,000 raised by the runners is matched by EMC2, a very generous global data storage company that happens to be headquartered in Hopkinton. EMC2 has donated $1 Million to the Respite Center over the past 12 years.

Dana and I have made a contribution. We hope some of you may also find this great cause worthy for your donation. Here is the link to Victoria’s fundraising page:

http://www.razoo.com/story/Victoria4respite

The blog is also going to make a contribution. The site allows us to put ads up on the side column. We will be doing this and donating any proceeds to the cause. So visit the blog often……just by clicking on A Visit To Tomorrow, you’ll be funding a good cause.

Thanks for your generosity!