This year is my big 50th birthday! I've long had my eye on running a marathon, and this year I've decided to go for my first one - the Honolulu Marathon on Dec 13th. This will be a trip back to Hawaii where my family goes back several generations. My mom Harleen grew up in the islands before moving to California for university and to start a career. She was an amazing mom, strong partner to my dad John, leader in her social work profession dedicated to helping young adults to get their life back on track, and generally a warm and conscientious woman with deep friendships. Many of my best traits can be traced back to her guiding hand in my childhood. And any of my questionable traits - that's all me!
When she was just 43 years old, with me and my brother Philip still in grade school, my mom lost her battle with breast cancer. We'd grown up going to Hawaii every year to spend Christmas with family including my grandma Lizzie, Uncle Elliott, Auntie Mireille and cousin Sasha - a tradition that continued well into adulthood. In fact, it was my Uncle Elliott running the Honolulu Marathon that first introduced me to the marathon as a 'thing'.
And so this year, its a trip back to the family home, a first marathon, and a chance to remember the woman that brought me into this world on the day of my birth - what a way to celebrate a birthday!
If you are interested in making a tribute to my mom, motivating my marathon run, recognizing the way in which breast cancer may have touched the life of someone you care about, or simply want to make a birthday gift donation, I hope you'll consider making a contribution on this fundraising page. Thank you!
Best wishes,
Andrew
