Fundraising Friday: Jess Lanzoni and Back on My Feet Boston

Jess Lanzoni at the Tufts 10K with the ladies from Back on My Feet Boston:

"Homelessness can happen to anybody," Jess Lanzoni shared with me when asked about her upcoming marathons in Berlin and Chicago to raise money for Back on My Feet Boston. (BoMF)

Operating in 11 major cities coast-to-coast, Back on My Feet uses running and community to motivate and support individuals every step of the way from homelessness to independence. Our success is measured not only by the health impact of miles run, but also by how many individuals obtain education, employment and housing.

Back on My Feet recruits members (individuals experiencing homelessness) at homeless and residential facilities around the country and begins with a commitment to run three days a week in the early morning. After 30 days in the program, members with 90% attendance earn the opportunity to move into the second phase of the program called Next Steps, which provides educational support, job training programs, employment partnership referrals and housing resources. Almost 80% of individuals who start the program move into Next Steps.

Three years ago, one of Jess's friends invited her to volunteer and run with the ladies at Rosie's Place. While Jess thought she was going to volunteer and give back, she said that she receives way more than she ever gives by running with these inspiring women. "They will be in my life forever," she says from deep in her heart.

Jess already ran the Boston Marathon in 2015 through pelting rain and driving winds to raise money for Back on My Feet.

She is a woman dedicating her life to social justice and philanthropy. In addition to running with the ladies each week, she is on the Young Professionals Advisory Board to explore program improvement, and creative and effective ways to fund raise.

I asked Jess why two back to back marathons? "I've done back to back marathons before. I'm already trained so it's not a big deal and I am so passionate about supporting Back on My Feet."

And when the miles get tough? Jess thinks of the women she runs with and all they have had to overcome on their journeys. "I'll think about the ladies and their stories and know I can always run a little farther."

Let's help Jess exceed her fund raising goal. Please donate to her Back on My Feet Fundraising Page.

Safe travels Jess! Run strong, happy, healthy and with ease!

Pay It Forward Friday: Margo Feeney Running the Chi-Town Marathon Like a Fox for Parkinson's Disease

"When you get a diagnosis, take it day by day ... don't play to the end result." ~Michael J. Fox

I was blessed to meet Margo Feeney when she ran the 2014 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital as part of their Race for Rehab Team. She and her sister Julie whom we affectionately call the Fabulous Feeney Sisters were having a fundraiser at Doyle's that I somehow knew we just had to attend to support their run. I'm so glad we did.

Margo is filled with love, light, joy and a smile and Spirit that lights up the world. Her heart is filled with gratitude and she is so excited to be able to run the 2015 Chicago Marathon in honor of her dad, the pop star diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease four years ago.

From her fundraising page:



This year I decided to support parkinson's disease research and dedicate my run in the Chicago marathon to my father, my popstar, and the Michael j. Fox foundation. My father was diagnosed with the disease more than four years ago. Since then he has joined support groups, has multiple therapy sessions a week, and is doing everything he can to stay active, vocal, and aware. My family is one of the lucky ones because he is still mobile, alert, and still lives to sing and dance. I have seen first hand how fast the disease can progress. Please help me support research to stop a disease that is affecting so many by donating to the Fox foundation and my run. I didn't think I would run 26.2 again but couldn't turn down a chance to fundraise for a great cause so close to home and challenge myself again. THIS ONE'S FOR YOU POPSTAR!

Five million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease — a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder. In the United States, 60,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year alone. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. But through your support of Team Fox, you can help change this.

About Team Fox

Team Fox is The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s (MJFF) grassroots community fundraising program. Its members include thousands of people worldwide who generate funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease research. All funds raised through Team Fox go directly to MJFF to advance its mission to accelerate the delivery of life-changing treatments, and ultimately a cure, to people with Parkinson’s disease.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is honored by your support. Since 2001, the Foundation has maintained an uncompromising pace — strategically targeting our resources to achieve maximum impact on patients’ lives, funding work on over 100 therapeutic targets to the tune of more than $450 million to date. MJFF also understands that patients are the key to a cure and is actively engaged with the PD community. To help connect patients and their loved ones with the clinical trials that urgently need their participation, the Foundation created a Web tool, Fox Trial Finder (www.foxtrialfinder.org). Whether you have PD or not, you can play a critical role in moving research forward — create your profile now!

Your timing to step up for Team Fox couldn’t be better. Be a part of the answer and help us speed a cure for Parkinson's today!

Margo also has a very special offer for you. She has 2 three day general admission tickets to the Boston Calling Music Festival happening 5/22 through 5/24 that will go to the highest bidder. The face value is $350. Bidding starts at $250 with all proceeds going to Team Fox. You can contact Margo via phone at 617.645.9665 to place your bid!

So donate to Margo's 26.2 miles through Chicago and give her a jingle to bid on those tickets for the Boston Calling Music Festival. Let's help her pay it forward to Team Fox!

Be blessed! Journey well! To all good things...

My latest book, "Journey Well" is now available on Amazon along with all of my inspirational books. 50% of book proceeds are donated to the Massachusetts Resiliency Center, a safe, welcoming space for survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing to heal and stay in touch with one another; a virtual hub for a widely dispersed community whose lives have been impacted by the tragic events of April 15th and the events that followed.

When terror struck the world's oldest and most beloved marathon on April 15, 2013, it was a defining moment in Mary McManus’ life and the lives of all those in Boston and around the world. It was her wake up call to return to the sport and community that have been medicine and a lifeline for her throughout her marathon of healing the late effects of paralytic polio and experiencing 9 years of domestic violence as a child and adolescent. Mary captures the essence of Boston Strong through her experience of the 2014 Boston Marathon and as she profiles the people who are Boston Stronger. Through her blog posts, poems and journal entries woven together with excerpts from her memoir, “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility,” you will experience, through one woman’s journey of transformation and healing, that no matter what happens to us, we can all learn to journey well.

Countdown to Tufts - The Icing on the Cake

My friend Reno Stirrat posted this quote on Facebook yesterday.



It's hard to believe that Monday will be my 6th race in four months. I used to shy away from races but hey somebody has to fill out the back of the pack; otherwise there can't be a front of the pack. While I run for health and running is my medicine, there is nothing that feeds my soul more than when I find the courage to start a race and the exhilaration of crossing a finish line. This will be my 3rd Tufts and my first 10K race in 3 years. I'm racing against myself seeing if I can best my time from 3 years ago of 1:36:09.



The sweetness isn't just when I toe the line at a starting line or cross a finish line. I love being a spectator in person or in cyberspace, or a volunteer at races. This weekend is filled with excitement. Ironman Kona begins on Saturday. Friend and Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillvray is taking it on at 60 years old to raise money for the Martin Richard Foundation.



One of my friends is chasing after the unicorn by going for a BQ at Chicago; many of my friends are running the Chicago Marathon. What an honor to have hosted an L Street Running Club water stop during Fall marathon training. My husband is going for a PR at the BAA Half on Sunday as he completes the third leg of his second BAA Distance Medley.



Next weekend several of my friends are going for BQ's at Baystate. We pack up for a long weekend after that to enjoy the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend. Tom is running the Half. It will be a great gathering of friends and our running family in beautiful Falmouth.

Then it's time for the NYC Marathon. There's sure to be a thrilling race when Meb toes the starting line! I remember watching him breaking the tape in 2009 as we watched the live stream on line. I have many friends running NYC this year who have compelling and inspirational stories.

Grab a plate and join the party. Share in a slice of life and relish the sweet taste of freedom that comes with being a runner and being a part of a race. On Monday, I am going to savor the icing on the cake.




The first 7 years of my healing odyssey are chronicled in Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility available on Amazon. I donate 50% of royalty payments to The One Fund Boston to help survivors and their families who were affected by the tragic events of 4/15/13.



I'm working on my 2nd book, "Journey Well," due out later this year: