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team genzyme is at it again,
running to raise awareness
for rare diseases.
"In the United States a disease is considered rare
if it affects less than 200,000 Americans.
According to the National Institutes of Health
there are over 7,000 rare diseases affecting more than 30 million Americans."
this year
11 Boston Marathon runners from Genzyme,
a corporation dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases,
have teamed up with NORD to make a difference.
phil maderia
is running for me.
you cannot imagine how this honor lifts me
above the enormity of my life experience.
my internal map of the world is fiercely optimistic,
compassionate, empathetic.
i move through my days looking, listening,
striving to make a difference.
even with this strength of intention there are days
that i fail miserably in
navigating my own illness.
loss of physical capabilities has a way of
creating profound isolation.
for an athlete, who has taken his body
to marathon heights,
to take me along..
is to offer a vantage point that
might as well come with wings.
once upon a time..
walking, hiking, swimming, ...
even dancing unabashed across some
sultry tables in my life was a certain obtainable
those days are long ago memories.
last year
phil and i spoke after he completed the
2010 boston marathon.
his intense excitement, as he took me moment by moment
into his excellent world of impossibly perfect cells
fortified me in a way i cannot even put into words.
he connected me to something so bold, powerful,
so teaming with accomplishment. after all,
he is running for our lives!
you can support team genzyme
in their run for rare diseases
by visiting
I am sending you a big hug and lots of love.
Posted by: E | February 03, 2011 at 06:02 AM
This is wonderful, heart-touching news....how can we support him? and you my Love?
Posted by: deb taylor | February 03, 2011 at 07:22 AM
I am going to dedicate all of my steps today to you and to Phil. It won't help a damn thing but I'm going to do it anyway.
You are such a beautiful woman.
Posted by: Ms. Moon | February 03, 2011 at 07:50 AM
My heart has wings from hearing this wonderful news: his willingness to run for you.
Posted by: Meri @ Meri's Musings and Playing Along | February 03, 2011 at 07:52 AM
teaming up to spread the joy and love - what could be better...
Joyous love to you today, Wonderful Rebecca!
Posted by: Kim Mailhot | February 03, 2011 at 09:12 AM
beautiful Rebecca xo
he is holding you in his heart as he runs.. things like this bring peace to our world xo
Posted by: Miss Robyn | February 03, 2011 at 01:12 PM
how wonderful to know that Phil is carrying you in his heart as he runs. what an incredible team they are, with you at the helm...
there is so much HOPE for all the suffering as these huge hearts and minds merge.
x..x
Posted by: Stephanie | February 03, 2011 at 01:48 PM
okay, that is so amazing.
And I'd never heard of this organization?, I wonder if there is a Canadian branch.
Tomorrow when I do my mini mini very mini marathon, I will think of you . And it will feel like dancing.
Posted by: deb @ talk at the table | February 03, 2011 at 03:55 PM
I'm dancing as I type this, for YOU and me!!! I have to lose weight to beat anymore cancer in my body soOOOOOo some of my body has to vanish!! Yayyyyyy! Philip!! Thinking of YOU dear sweet woman!is a JOY!!!
Posted by: Cinda Rae Oliverio | February 03, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Oh Rebecca
Love,healing light and prayers to your amazing heart with an abundance of JOY.
((xx))
Posted by: gemma | February 03, 2011 at 05:16 PM
I am so very happy to hear this Rebecca. Healing and Love to you.
xoxox,
Noelle
Posted by: noelle | February 03, 2011 at 08:03 PM
I love how you wrote about this -- what a beautiful person you are -- to inspire such beauty, too.
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 03, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Amazing.
Well, I sure as heck hope that somebody was running for Myasthenia Gravis, even though there are only 4 per 100.000 of us, as it is a bleeding nuisance to live with.
Wouldn't you give anything to be running yourself for a cause like this? I can never totally suppress envy when these awareness efforts are cropping up. I know, getting bitter doesn't do much good, but they don't ever raise awareness doing something vile, like scrubbing floors or cleaning streets, do they?
Posted by: joco | February 04, 2011 at 04:54 AM
This is a lovely post. Thanks.
All the best, Boonie
Posted by: Boonie | February 04, 2011 at 06:03 AM
It's Friday morning, Rebecca, and I'm missing you and your Haiku My Heart link. I trust all is well with you. Take care, dear heart, take care.
Posted by: Magical Mystical Teacher | February 04, 2011 at 06:07 AM
Hi Rebecca,
Echoing Magical Mystical Teacher's post that I am missing your Haiku My Heart link. Though I could not link to you, I did a haiku post today. You have started a wonderful Friday tradition for my haiku heart! Again, I hope that all is well.
Peace,
Marilyn
Posted by: Marilyn | February 04, 2011 at 06:36 AM
Prayers hugs and love sent to you and to the runners, and all that suffer, for the health and happiness of the people.
Mitakwe Oyasin
Peace.
Posted by: spadoman | February 04, 2011 at 06:46 AM
Ah, two worlds,
Real and in thoughts
Happiness in both is a bliss.. God bless..
Happiness in giving.. in receiving and therefore giving again... what a cycle.. smooth and comfortable.. Joy Ride.. What else can I say.. continue to have your Joy Rides..
Posted by: Ramesh Sood | February 04, 2011 at 07:10 AM
Oh, what a wonderful man - and company. May God bless him and his colleagues with joy in the running, and success in research! And may your suffering be eased. May you be blessed with all you need, PLUS JOY, every moment.
Posted by: Karen Gerstenberger | February 04, 2011 at 11:56 AM
you know i feel the same...
Posted by: Leslie | February 05, 2011 at 09:28 AM
Oh wow. WOW. I just looked up the website and found the link where readers (me included!) can donate $ for Phil's run...
http://www.rarediseases.org/helping/boston-marathon
YAY PHIL!!!
Posted by: susanna | February 05, 2011 at 06:02 PM
What a wonderful post Rebecca. The Boston Marathon is 10 weeks away. I will run hundreds of miles leading up to that day and you will be with me for every one of them. I am truly blessed to have such an wonderful partner in this journey.
Posted by: Phil | February 08, 2011 at 01:52 PM