There are a couple of ways into the NY Marathon.
You can enter a lottery, and if you're lucky you'll be one of the thousands chosen to run the 26.2 mile race. I didn't win in this lottery.
You can also run with a charity, and they'll get you entry into the race if you can guarantee to raise a specified donation for the non-profit.

I've chosen to run for the American Heart Association. This isn't a random choice. It's an organization that's directly connected to the reason that I run.

My family is filled with heart attacks. My dad died from a heart attack at 58. His dad died of the same, at an even younger age. And his dad, and his dad...pretty much every male within my traceable lineage has died from heart disease at an early age.

And then not long ago, my mom had a heart attack. I snapped the pic above after a triple bypass, as she was about to be wheeled from ICU into a last ditch surgery in an attempt to save her life from a complication with the bypass. They didn't think she was going to make it, and I took this photo believing that it might be the last photo of my mom on this side of the fence.

She survived. I keep this photo to remind me of how quickly things can go bad, and when things seem to be beyond bad, how things can always get better. Anything is possible.

I'm committed to breaking the chain of heart death held by my ancestors. I've become a runner. When I started, I couldn't even run a mile. I've spent the last couple of years running longer, running in races, and even finishing my first ever half marathon. Running has put me in the best shape that I've ever been in my life. Running has saved my life.

Now it's time to to go the distance. In November of this year, I'm going to run my first ever marathon in New York City. And here's where you come in.

I need to raise at least $3000 to cover my entry into the race. The entire $3000 goes to the American Heart Association - and in exchange, they'll give me a place on their team in the race of my lifetime.

So please give anything that you can. Five dollars. Five hundred dollars. Or whatever you can afford. You'll be helping future generations of moms and dads to live longer, healthier lives.

Oh yeah - and hug your mom, if she's still around. :)