Week 2 of 16

Last week's long run found me outside of the Bronx and in rural Maryland. I did six miles "around the block" of my old neighbor Larry as Ines biked alongside for support. It was a beautiful area to run, despite the hills, the mossies (as my Australian friends say), and the 95 degree humid heat. The jump (read: fall) into his pool, however, felt like a dream come true.

Fundraising is a tougher prospect than I had anticipated. Although i am very excited to support Paul Newman's wonderful camp for terminally-ill children, every hundred dollars is another struggle. I appreciate the support I have received from all of you reading this and please please please, if you know someone who might be interested in helping me out, contact me at: rdavid79@gmail.com

At the Hole in the Wall, 2001: a chance to touch our slithery, scaly friends

Week 1 of 16

Running in 102 degree heat means drinking a ton of fluids throughout the day. I'm starting off with light 3 mile runs and my big run this week will be only 6 miles because I'm trying to improve my mile time.

During my last Marathon I ran an 8 1/2 minute mile. Currently I am running an 8 minute mile but I would like to bring this down to 7 1/2.

Please click the Donate Now button and make a tax deductible contribution to help me reach my goal of $2,500. I really need your support! and I thank you in advance for helping make a difference in their lives.

On your Marks!

Hello folks! And thank you for checking out my blog. Each year thousands of precocious children with debilitating illnesses have the opportunity to take a one week vacation to a place where dreams really do come true. Paul Newman created the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in 1988 to give children whose lives revolve around hospital admissions, blood tests, often terrible medicines, and sometimes too little hope the opportunity to make crafts, go fishing, act, rock climb, swim, and so much more. Having worked as a volunteer at the Camp for two sessions, I appreciated what a magical place it is. Although swimming may not seem like much to you or me, to children with Sickle Cell Disease for example, your neighborhood pool would bring about a terribly painful crisis. At the Camp, they raised the temperature of the water to 90 degrees so the kids can swim for the first time in their lives. These children are the stars of the camp and it is only through the good spirit of people like yourselves that keep them shining summer after summer.

Although I do not have the time to volunteer at the camp as a fourth year medical student, I have found another way to support these terrific kids. I am training to run in the New York City marathon this 5 November as a member of the Hole In the Wall's Team Go-The-Distance. My personal goal is to raise $2500 dollars the cost of sending one child to camp. Please help me reach this goal by clicking on the link on the right and making a tax-deductable donation. You can give anonymously, give under your name, or on behalf of someone you know, but most importantly, give today. Help me send another terminally ill child to a place where dreams come true. Thank you!

In the meantime, I will keep this page as a diary of my training process.