PKD Foundation

I know you're busy and likely face multiple fundraising opportunities every day. Know that I wouldn't be asking you if I didn't believe this to be an endeavor worthy of your time and money. I have been blessed with friends who share their passion with me and together we try to fan the flame of compassion and giving back. One such friend is Ken McLaughlin, COO of PKD Foundation.

PKD Foundation is the only organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and to improve the lives of those it affects. 

To raise awareness of the work of the PKD Foundation and to raise funds for their work, I am participating in the 2018 Chicago Marathon Sunday, October 7. 

My goal? To cross the finish line before they close the course. 

My goal? To raise $1400.00 for PKD Foundation.

Running the Chicago Marathon is my modest effort to support a worthy cause that impacts family, friends and neighbors.  

As you know, I receive no funds for this effort, only sore muscles. I have no sponsors. I will pay my own way to the event. Lynn and I will contribute to the PKD Foundation ourselves. 

While living in Seoul, on one bright cold Saturday I decided to see how long it would take me to get downtown by way of Yongsan and Seoul Station. This route allowed me to trudge my way up towards Gyeongbokgung Palace, saluting Admiral Lee Sun Sin as I went by.

As I rounded the corner, I smacked into 12 buses of military police falling into formation on the sidewalk. No where to run. No place to hide. I decided to barge ahead, sidestepping the body shields, helmets, batons, etc. lying in the path as equipment being unloaded was transferred to the waiting lines of way too young boys ready for Saturday afternoon embassy duty. 

Three buses into the morass, they became aware of a foreign presence. Six buses down, they started to part the way for me. By the time I passed the tenth bus, the kids--soldiers- were giving me the high five. Finally reaching bus 12, I tried to hit the intersection before the light turned. No luck. I stopped. Catching my breath, I turned around to find twelve busloads of young men all looking my way. 

Awkward moment… I grinned and gave them the thumbs up. The kid in front of me saluted. They all started laughing and clapping and going back to whatever they were doing.  An officer at the end of this line asked me why I was running. I told him I was training for a marathon in which I was raising funds for an international organization working to eliminate extreme poverty. We talked for maybe half an hour (he was improving his English, I was working on my Korean!) Just before I ran off, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a handful of bills (10,000 won. There were four of them. About $40 USD) and handed them to me. 

It has been great fun get the reactions of friends who can’t stop laughing at the idea of me waddling across the finish line, athletes who understand the sacrifice one must make to train for a marathon, and children who giggle (or soldiers who laugh) when the funny looking foreigner comes trudging around the corner. When asked, I always have time to interrupt that so important “training run” to share that I am training to a race in which I hope to raise funds for my chosen cause (or the race “cause”). 

I have often been humbled by strangers on the street in far away places who have given me money—cash—right there on the spot, because they wanted to support causes (eliminating poverty, stopping human trafficking, disaster relief, medical research—to name a few.) My sacrifice for such causes is minimal. 

The PKD Foundation promotes research, education, advocacy, support and awareness on a national level, along with direct services to local communities across the country. The stories of persons served by PKD Foundation often express the sacrifice that is made be loved ones to ensure a life worth living. Their sacrifice is real. Significant. 

Please support my efforts to raise money for this great cause by donating to my Fundraiser at https://pkdfoundation.salsalabs.org/2018bankofamericachicagomarathon/p/garylogansfundraisingpage.

Thanks.

What's your favorite charity?

Stockholm is a city I have always wanted to get lost in. Now I have my chance. I am participating in the Stockholm marathon in May. And, you know me, if I am going to sacrifice my body to the Greek and Nordic gods, I want to raise awareness of issues around poverty and raise funds—that is, get you (and all your friends, co-workers, family) to give money to a worthy organization addressing the root causes of poverty in a positive way.

The horrendous tragedy this last weekend in Nepal will guide my funding efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with friends and family as they struggle to survive and work to see that others live. I will be supporting Heart to Heart International and Charity: Water. 

Huff and Puff

Running… ok, ok, barely walking, up that last hill before completing my nine mile long run outing had me huffing and puffing like the crazy wolf in the children’s story. Yes. I have lost weight. Yes. I am getting my running legs back. Yes. I even work out at the gym (well, when it rains…sometimes) But do you think my time improves (meaning speed). Nope. What the heck is it with getting older and slowing down? Just because 40 is behind me, (ok 50) (…alright, 60) doesn’t mean the body has to go slower, does it? At my present pace the street sweepers will cross the finish line before I do.

I know. Patience. Perseverance. Discipline. And race day (June 2) will see me fly! In some ways, that has been the experience this last year of Ken Brookens as he has explored and explained and engaged a wide variety of sources in Thailand to serve at-risk and orphaned children in a responsible and sustainable way.

Students from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Exploring the opportunities (of lack of) for education for youth in Thailand can be quite discouraging. For thousands of at-risk children in rural areas, the opportunity for an education beyond eighth grade is minimal and the opportunity to pursue higher education is practically non-existent. More likely their future is one of human slavery, prostitution, unskilled hard labor, early teen pregnancy, subsistence living, and an early death. The cycle of poverty goes on and on and on… Encouraging youth to learn; providing an incentive to stay in school; offering a scholarship for higher education; all break the cycle of poverty, changes the life of a child forever, ultimately changes the living conditions of the family, and lastly, gives back to the community a leader who influences the whole village for good. Ken has seen this miracle at work in the lives of youth in Thailand and is committed to making it a reality for more.

Explaining his passion and mission to school principals, government officials, community leaders, and business professionals has taken Ken into Ministry offices in Bangkok, welfare schools in Chiang Mai, legal offices and cafes and hotels and stores everywhere in between. All that explaining has made Sustainable Hope International a government recognized NGO in Thailand. All that explaining has generated excitement, commitment, anticipation, and opportunity in Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao, and Khon Kaen. All that explaining has opened doors in Independence and Jackson County.

Sustainable Hope International has engaged the services of professionals and volunteers in churches, service organizations, community groups, and educational circles. Most importantly, Sustainable Hope has engaged the imaginations of children—hundreds of children--and encouraged them to dream and reach and excel.

My early morning running team in Chiang Mai.
It was already 100 degrees and I was the only one in shorts!

And to do all of that, there has been a lot of huffing and puffing. Not to blow houses down, but to build
up hopes and dreams in a sustainable way in the hearts of at-risk children and in the minds of those who work with orphaned children.

I will run the Hospital Hill Half Marathon, huffing and puffing up all seven hills, to raise funds for Sustainable Hope International. Join me. Partner with me by giving to the cause—the power—the miracle  of education in breaking the cycle of poverty in Thailand. Join me in supporting Sustainable Hope International.

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE—Get Involved!

We all run for different reasons. The obvious and perhaps the most common reasons have to do with staying fit and creating a healthy balance in life.

Numerous non-profit organizations have developed training and fundraising programs around running events from the 5K to the marathon. Go to any major marathon and you'll see hundreds of runners along the course, supporting their favorite cause. All of these runners, and those associated with other programs or their own personal causes, have spent hours training and fundraising. Why do they do it?

Struggling through a training run or a race is nothing when compared to the challenges faced by those fighting illness, disease, or other hardships. Running for a cause can help put things in perspective.

The rewards for those who run for a cause are priceless: new friendships, a feeling of tremendous accomplishment in helping others, the thrill of crossing the finish line, and the new attitude about running (and life).

If you are interested in running for a cause, there are programs many different programs from which to choose. Some options are listed below. Each program is different, but the rewards of running for a cause are undoubtedly the same. Specific Causes:

AIDS / HIV - List of AIDS Walks (Various lengths)
Alzheimer's - Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk
Arthritis - Arthritis Foundation (5K and Marathon)
Asthma - American Lung Association Asthma Walk
Birth Defects - March of Dimes Walk America
Cancer - American Cancer Society (Relay for Life) The Cancer Council Australia (Relay for Life) Canadian Cancer Society (Relay for Life)
Diabetes - American Diabetes Association (5K)

Canadian Diabetes Association (Marathon)
Disabilities - Easter Seals Walk with Me
Down Syndrome - National Down Syndrome Society's Buddy Walk (1 mile)
Drunk Driving - MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) (5K Walk)
Heart Health - American Heart Association Heart Walk (5K)
Hospice - The National Hospice Foundation (Marathon or Half Marathon)
Hunger Relief - Cropwalk (Various lengths)
Kidney Disease - National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk
Liver Disease - American Liver Foundation (Boston Marathon)
Lupus - Alliance for Lupus Research (Walk-a-thon)
Multiple Sclerosis - MS Society (5K and 3 Day)