Two weeks before the annual Leavitt Wingding or family reunion, we received news that seven family members weren’t going to make it to the reunion in Durango, CO. We were shocked to hear that Stephanie’s cancer had reoccurred and that it was critical that she go into treatment immediately. We thought that after being breast cancer free for 4 years that Stephanie was in the clear from this horrible disease. We all went to the reunion and made the best of it. We sent a family reunion video with best wishes and I miss you messages to the Stephanie and the family.

Feeling that prayers and good wishes was all that I could offer, I felt helpless. Stephanie was healthy and happy at last year’s reunion and now her cancer had spread to her bones and brain. It was difficult to believe that this was happening to her again and so quickly. What disturbed me even more was that Stephanie and I are the same age. As I was planning my future, she is fighting for her life. It didn’t seem fair to me and made me feel awful. I asked myself, “What could I do to help this situation? What am I able to do?” Well, I was healthy and fit so I could run!

On August 16, 2011, a week after the reunion, I signed up to run the Women’s Running Magazine Women’s Half Marathon Scottsdale-Tempe. I hadn’t run in over 3 years and I had 80 days to train. I started fundraising for Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure and started training immediately. I soon discovered that running is really hard. The first couple of weeks of training, I thought to myself ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ I often thought of Stephanie to get me through those runs. The running got easier and I started to feel good about running 13.1 miles.

As my training runs became longer and I became more conditioned to running, I decided that I wanted to take Stephanie with me on my 13.1 mile journey. I searched the web for a customized race bib on which I could put her photo. I discovered HonorBib when I received an email from Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure. I made the perfect HonorBib and the perfect picture of Stephanie with the message, “Stephanie, I am running and fighting with you all the way!” I was ready for the race.

I am proud to say that I completed the Women’s Half Marathon on November 6, 2011! I finished the race in 2:21:37 and raised $1765.00 for Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure. My commitment and endurance paid off, and it was a wonderful feeling crossing the finish line.

This race was extremely motivating for me. What a great way to raise funds to END breast cancer FOREVER! The course was very tough but, with the waves of people cheering me on and running with Stephanie on my Honor Bib made it a lot easier. I will continue running and strive to complete this race in less than two hours next year. I am happy to say Stephanie is still fighting hard and the entire Leavitt family will be going to northern California to spend Thanksgiving with her and the family.

About
Commemorate your endurance event. Recycle your race number bibs. Endurance event tile magnets and coasters. http://www.etsy.com/shop/26MileStones

Company Overview
Endurance athlete and milestone commemorator celebrating your accomplishments!

General Information
twitter: @Mile_Stones

blog: http://26milestones.blogspot.com/

facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mile-Stones/138961582805898

Mission
To commemorate and inspire.

Products
We create custom tile coaster sets from your race bibs and motivational magnets and ornaments.

Visit the Etsy store or contact me directly to place an order. 26milestones@optonline.net

Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/26MileStones

Show the world why you run. It’s more than just fitness. It’s about honoring the ones who inspire you. It’s about going farther. Reaching just a little bit further. That’s the spirit of HonorBib™. Help raise funds for fighting breast cancer by wearing a Women’s Half Marathon/Susan G. Komen for the Cure® customized photo back bib during the race. Show the world who inspires you to the finish!

Women’s Half Marathon/Susan G. Komen for the Cure® HonorBibs are $10 each and $2.50 is donated to Komen to help fight breast cancer.

Shipping Details
HonorBibs are processed once a week on Fridays and shipped on Wednesdays. There is a 3 day processing time for every order. This processing time can not be shortened.

Shipping Options to receive an HonorBib prior to the Women’s Half Marathon on Nov. 6th:
· Fedex 2-day = 2 day guaranteed (with tracking number) = $24

· Fedex overnight = overnight guaranteed (with tracking number) = $37

Timing Examples

Orders placed between Friday, Oct. 21st and Thursday, Oct. 27th will be processed on Friday, Oct. 28th and shipped on Wed, Nov. 2nd (expedited shipping options of ONLY 2-day and overnight – not USPS ground or 5-day – will allow for the HonorBibs to arrive prior to the Nov. 6th race)

Orders placed Friday, Oct. 28th and after will not arrive prior to the race, no matter what shipping option is chosen.

All Women’s Half Marathon finishers will receive a one-of-a-kind medal with removable center charm. Add the center charm to any necklace or bracelet as a constant reminder of your achievement!

HonorBib recently worked with Deutsch LA to create a customized HonorBib for their client, Volkswagen. Good luck to Team VW in the Chicago Marathon this weekend!

Daniel Malinski is an HonorBib customer and he wore his HonorBib during the 2010 Chicago Marathon. I asked Daniel, “Did your HonorBib inspire you on race day?” And he replied, “It did! My mentor, Dave, who ran with me…kept pulling it off and showing me. When I struggled he either showed me, or patted me on the back where I was wearing it!”

This is Daniel’s amazing and inspiring story…thank you, Daniel, for sharing….

Over the last year and a half, I’ve undergone some major changes. On October 14, 2009 I decided I wanted to run the Chicago Marathon. I sent an email that day that changed my life. By the end of the day I had a coach (Jen Harrison), mentor (Dave Wallach), a sponsor and a charity picked out. I had to sell my wife on the idea of running. Pam was in her second year of pursuing her Doctorate of Pharmacy. You can imagine how well the conversation went. In time she came around, and as of today, combined, we’ve lost a total of 187lbs! The big catch…I weighed in at about 330lbs and couldn’t run more than 5 minutes at a time.

Yeah, that’s me in August 2009 at the Viamedia Chicago golf outing…

I was determined to make a change and I did.

By race day, I had lost 110lbs! I was a new person. I ran for the American Heart Association, in honor of my daughter, K and my dad. My daughter was born with a heart defect, and had heart surgery when she was 2 days old. My dad had a heart attack 11 years ago and triple bypass surgery…since then he’s worked hard to live a healthy life. I raised over $6,000 with the help of some very generous people. I finished the marathon in 6:11:04…it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and at the same time, in some ways, the most memorable.

Me and my mentor, Dave right after finishing the Chicago Marathon!

Along the way I heard from friends, family, coworkers…even complete strangers who were inspired by my story and decided to get healthy or to take up running. My favorite post marathon moment was running a 5K with my wife, her first, back in November.

This year I was asked to be the chairman of the running team for the AHA. I was honored and accepted the challenge. We have set some lofty goals…to raise over $200,000 and have 150 runners. Both doable, but they’ll take some work. I love running for this team. We run with heart for many reasons, but we run together. My goals this year… To lose 40 lbs more To lose 6 more inches from my waist line And to run the Chicago Marathon again in under 5 hours I’m excited about this year and looking forward to the challenge!

Are you inspired to run the 2011 Chicago Marathon and would like to join Daniel and run with the American Heart Association Chicago Running Team?

Entry for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon has now closed! American Heart Association has a limited number of post-close spots available, with a $1500 fundraising minimum commitment. Please contact Jayme Pierson at jayme.pierson@heart.org for mor information.

Do you have a photo from San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll? Email me at agarrett@honorbib.com. I would love to hear the story of who inspires you to the finish.

~ Alexandre

Here is Robin’s story about being inspired by Mary and the passion she has for finding a cure for breast cancer.

“I ran my first half-marathon in March 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah. My second run was Saturday, May 7, 2011–a 5K run for the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure®. I was very excited to raise money for such a GREAT cause and get some exercise and continue my running efforts at the same time. I have a friend in Arkansas (Mary LaCaze) who has been a dear friend to my family for many years. She was diagnosed a few years ago with breast cancer and she elected for a double mastectomy. Since her diagnosis and treatment, she has done really well, but the road to her recovery was difficult, long and emotional as it is for most cancer survivors. I am very proud to be associated with such a determined woman and I ran this race in her honor.”

Robin’s thoughts about HonorBib LLC (Thanks for your support, Robin!)

“I recently come across a WONDERFUL place to REALLY honor my friend and will be wearing an HonorBib in my upcoming race–it will give a special meaning and purpose to who I am running for. I stumbled across this website during my registration for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City May 7, 2011; 5 K. I cannot express how easy it was to develop this HonorBib for my friend and will be proudly display it on my back and carry her across the finish line with me! It took me less than 5 minutes to develop this bib on the website, as it is a very user-friendly site with templates to choose from and it looks fabulous!

I plan to send this HonorBib to my friend, Mary, after the race, along with the T-shirt I have received from the Susan Komen Foundation. I know my friend will be very thankful and touched by this gift. Also, I would like to say that the many dedicated employees at HonorBib are AMAZING! As I mentioned, I discovered this connection at the time of my resgistering for the race and was worried that the HonorBib may not make it to me prior to my race, as I had less than a week to get it made and delivered to me.

I have electronically met Alexandre who was so very kind and gracious. This special person worked very hard and went the extra mile for me in getting my HonorBib made, ordered, shipped, and delivered to me in time–even followed up with the Fed Ex shipment to make sure the HonorBib would be to me prior to my race! That meant the world to me and I appreciate this extraordinary service very much. I am proud to share this experience and I certainly encourage anyone and everyone to design an HonorBib for someone they love.

CHERISH the time with those you love, as cancer is non-selective. You may have them here one day and not the next. Tell them every day that you LOVE them. ENJOY every minute you can share with them. An HonorBib is just one of those “little” extra things you can do to show and express your love and thoughtfulness. I will definitely be ordering additional HonorBibs for more of my family and friends in the future and know that I will get the same exceptional service service for each and every order I make. It also means alot to me that a percentage of the proceeds are donated to a cause that we fight for every day! Make the World a better place- Let’s FIND A CURE!

Robin Anderson  – Layton, Utah

A couple of weeks ago, on January 29th, Dana ran a trail half marathon wearing an HonorBib with a photo of her best friend, Michelle. I asked Dana if I could share her story in order to inspire others. What inspired me about her is that the last two years have been very challenging, and through it all she continues to pull through with strength and a positive attitude. And the love she has for her BFF, Michelle, reminded me of just how important it is to tell our friends every day just how much we love them, and to capture the time we have together.  

“Michelle was definitely a very special lady,” said Dana. “One of the kindest I’ve ever met.  She passed at just 41 yrs old.  I, too, have lost others. I lost both of my parents to lung cancer a few years ago, then my dog, and then my friend.  It’s been a tough few years, to say the least! 

The race went amazingly well!  It was my first time doing a trail run.  I was half expecting to be really slow due to rolling hills and bits of steep grades, but I only missed a PR by 8 seconds!   When arriving at the race, I looked around to see if anyone else was wearing an Honor Bib.  I was excited to be the only one!  I wore it with pride.  I lost my best friend to an aggressive form of breast cancer almost a year ago. I was with her from diagnosis until the end. 

She had always wanted to come to see me race, but was always too ill.  Now she can!  I ran proudly, knowing everyone could see than I was honoring her. I even had a few women tap me on the shoulder and say, with thumbs up, “GOOD JOB!”, “Keep running for your friend!” It was heartwarming I have to say, and I got a little choked up.  I was with her until the end, and now she’s with me at the finish line!”

Thank you for sharing your story, Dana! Good luck in your next eight races throughout the year. Know that Michelle is with you every step of the way and I hope when you are running you experience joy and many wonderful memories.

~ Alexandre

Farris writes, “As I began to wonder around the [Women's Half Marathon] expo my mood quickly changed. There were hundreds of women around me. Moms, daughters, best friends, etc… Everyone was so excited and ready to race! Many woman had their HonorBibs on their backs to acknowledge the person or memory of the person they were running in honor of.

I, too, purchased an HonorBib.When I got home, I was really excited for the race. To make the day even more special, Jeff had decided to run in his mom’s place. Even though the race was intended for women, men could run as long as they were supporting another runner or running in honor of someone.

To read the entire post, go to http://operationironcouple.blogspot.com/2010/12/womens-half-marathon.html