We did it!

What a life changing adventure!!! I mean from last March to now. I couldn't in my wildest dreams expect what has happend to us. All of the love , support , and hard work from friends and strangers.
I know that the road for our daughter could be a hard one because she has arthritis and there is no taking that back, but as you all know I wasn't raising money for a band-aid I am looking for a cure . I won't stop the fundraising because I am a mum and we have to do what we can for our kids!!! and help others along our way. Your support has made me such a better person and I thank you all so much for that, I will continue to help fight this disease.
I would like to take you all to race day because this was one wild emotional ride if I do say.
3am we are at the bus stop waiting with our JIM group(team Disney) how proud I am to have this shirt on my back, we have a group photo done with a huge canadian flag, I am trying to fight back the tears because I don't believe I am standing in these sneakers and this day is here.
I am not scared I have been a basket case to this point.
We get on the bus and we have people that look like they know what they are doing and you have us no body of an athlete,but I knew I had the mind and spirt of one.I am sitting there thinking of all the wonderful people that have given so much to get us to this point, and thinking of all the things that our trainer has told us.
No one could have prepared us for the sight we saw when we got off the bus THE PEOPLE oh my it was unbelievable , we had to walk over a mile to get to our start line and I am thinking all the way this should count in some small way( haha) may I add how organized this was Myleta would have been so proud!! We sang with the Americans then our small group held hands and sang OH Canada, I just new this was going to be an amazing day.
You passed people and paced with them talked with total strangers it was amazing (sorry but I might be using this word alot).
There was music and lots of water and powerade along the way not to mention the tylenol biofreeze and vaseline we were able to take some pictures along the way because I wanted you to be able to see the MAGIC of the day !
The real magic was when you know what I am going to say.... was the sight of Myleta arnie Bonnie and Jerry, I wanted to bust my heart was racing tears were pouring I am sure the people around thought I was losing it, but I couldn't hold it in I had no idea if they were ever going to find us in this sea of people. Well what a boost we were given by these sweet and wonderful people, not knowing if we would ever see them again that day we were surprised yet once again by this crew when they ment up with us again no words can tell you how we felt Kris was right when she said we have the most wonderful people for friends( I remember Bonnie yelling out you look good, I am thinking bless you for that tall tale)
I must let you know about the sweeps they were very nice people but I really didn't like their job. They kept us posted as to how we were doing with our times and gave us alot of encouragement. There were times we were 6 minutes ahead of pace and there were alot of wohoo's at that time then we got a 30 second pace at mile 19 well it hit us like a ton of bricks and zapped everything we had I thought all we had worked so hard for was almost out of sight,I was really starting to get tired at this point and poor Kris was really having a hard time her hands were swelling and I thought what have I done could this have caused a flare up? I told her to get her hands over her head to get the swelling down she couldn't walk like this because she felt she was wasting time,it didn't matter to me her health was more important but now things had changed she goes Mum you and Dad have done so much for me I don't want to let you down( like that could ever happen) I had to go ahead of her and it almost broke my heart, our trainer got me to a safe pace and then went back to help her and I say he did an awesome job.Terry came up with me and that was what I needed we had trained this together and he said we are going to finish it together.He keep Kris in his vision so that made me so happy( at this point I was very tired and didn't dare turn around incase I fell) then we lost her I thought she had been swept again more tears , you can't walk at this pace and cry at the same time I thought I was going to die.
I kicked it into high gear and gave it all I had Terry quite surprised asked where did this come from??? I said I have too many people that I am not going to let down and we have to cross the finish line, I felt so good I was not tired just down right excited WE DID IT we crossed we made it Then we could hear our names being called , never in a million years did I think that Myleta Arnie Bonnie and Jerry would find the finish line what was I thinking it was Myleta dah!!!!!
Terry turns and said I am going to get Kris in my heart knowing how tired she was I didn't think he would find her , then Myleta yells to me there is Krissie You have no idea the pride I felt to see my little one cross this line she didn't do it for her she did it for us, Love has so much power!
If I should never walk another mile I will never forget this day I thought about all of our events laughs tears and the strength that I got from each and everyone of you I remembered smiles and hugs and as you know I had lots of time out there to reflect! I have put alot in this post but there is so much more.... Thnks to you all for being with us on this most wonderful event in our lives .
Would we do this again? In a heart beat!!!! and would do anything I could to help you experience this wonderful feeling.
I would like to finish up by saying that our JIM team raised over $80,000.00 , my friends I thank you so much for being part of that. You all ROCK!
With love and so much thanks
Holly Terry & Kristen Hearn
xoxoxoxo