Blogger Spotlight: The Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation

Losing a child is the greatest loss a parent can ever endure. It's something you never get over yet a loss that can be transformed allowing Love to prevail. Joseph Scott Middlemiss would have turned 11 years old on 5/31. Shortly after he grew his angel wings on 9/23/13, Scott and Kate Middlemiss decided to create the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation. The link will take you to Joey's story on their website.

During my meditation on June 20th, I was moved to write a poem to honor how Scott and Kate have transformed their grief into love:
To Kate and Scott on the 5th Anniversary of the Joseph Middlemisss Big Heart Foundation’s Celebrity Scoop Fest
In a world that often seems cruel and unfair you make sure that kindness lights the way
as we gather together to celebrate on this glorious summer’s day.
The 5th Annual Celebrity Scoop Fest brings a big hearted community together full of hope
out of heartbreak once unbearable grieving the Foundation blossomed a new way to cope.
Love heals all and all you need is love as Beatles music will fill the air
celebrity scoopers dishing ice cream, hamburgers hot dogs for all to share.
One little boy born 11 years ago now an angel a spirit so bright
inspires us all to make each day our best, peace and compassion always in sight.
Kindness awards and scholarships as Joey’s legacy you keep alive
he was such an incredible role model to be like him we should all work to strive.
The ripples of kindness and big hearted acts make this world a better place
thank you for having the courage to transform loss into wonder and grace.
Wishing you all of God’s blessings may your mission continue to prosper and grow
as Joseph Scott Middlemiss’ loving kindness in this world continues to flow.

They have created two community events to celebrate Joseph and to keep the legacy of who he was alive. Tom and I were blessed to attend the 5th Annual Celebrity Scoopfest. As Kate explained, they like to think of the Scoop Fest as a way to celebrate Joey's birthday. It's a time to bring together community, families, great food, fun and ice cream! It's also the time when The Foundation gives back with Kindness Awards and Scholarships:





When Tom and I arrived at the venue just shortly after the start time of 4pm, the party was in full swing. A Beatles tribute band was playing, celebrities were scooping ice cream, the smell of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs filled the air. Families and friends were gathered underneath a tent to savor fellowship and food.

My eyes went to the Dream Big table hosted by authors and my good friends Nancy Feehrer and Dave McGillivray:


After getting our food, we sat down and chatted with Team Big Heart member Amanda Muldoon. We 'met' her during her fund raising campaign for the 2018 Boston Marathon. We talked about Kate and Scott and the Foundation and what remarkable work they do. Team Big Heart running the Boston Maraathon raised over $100,000. Here are photos of Amanda's children and their cousins enjoying Scoop Fest:


We introduced ourselves to Michael Burns who will be running the Falmouth Road Race for Team Big Heart:


and had a meet up with Team Big Heart Boston 2018 member Jennifer Sprague and her adorable son Robbie:



Ellie Blumberg will be making her Bat Mitzvah this year. As part of her mitzvah project, she decided to make cookies and donate all of the proceeds to the Foundation. Tom and I bought a package of the cookies. When we met Robbie he was at first very shy so Tom gave him our pack of cookies which quickly made him feel very happy. She was the recipient of a Kindness Award:


Such a special evening meeting people in real life who we met through Facebook through Joseph.

We had our ice cream served up by Chris Lambert of Boston Channel 10 News who said it was his privilege to be a part of this event every year:


He incorporated the event into his Wednesday evening weather forecast!

We could all feel how Joseph blessed us with wonderful weather.

I reconnected with Andrea Walsh, board member, running on Team Big Heart for Falmouth who I met during the Boston Marathon Expo at the Dream Big booth. I am in awe of how quickly everyone becomes friends through Joseph.

Lyndie Shaw Board Director whose father owns Shaw Farm talked with us about what an honor and a privilege it is to be able to host the Scoop Fest each year.

After the Awards Ceremony, a local youth dance troupe took center stage wearing costumes that said no bullying zone on them. You can briefly see their performance in this video and feel the love pulsating through everyone who attended the event:



As we were leaving the event at 6:30 there were more waves of people stopping by to feel the Love and honor Joseph's memory.

The 2nd community annual event for the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation happens around the time Joseph grew his wings. The 5th Annual Middlemiss Big Heart 5K is happening on September 22nd. Dress in your favorite Superhero outfit and run, walk or roll the course. Follow this link to register. Team McManus is registered and I'm so excited for another event where you know that all you need is love to get through the miles on the road and in life!



From my heart to yours,
To your health and wellness,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):


Coming soon *** The Adventures of Runnergirl1953 ****

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Running with Big Hearts

As Tom and I stood at the starting line of the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon we couldn't help but notice the two runners standing next to us wearing Team Big Heart shirts.


I knew about the Middlemiss family through Dave McGillivray but it wasn't until we met Linda and Brad Gilbreth in Bermuda that Tom and I became a part of their mission and circle of love and kindness. Tom offered to take their photo at the starting line of the Half Marathon which for them was the culmination of 3 days of running the Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge. Tom also snapped a photo of them with Town Crier, Ed Christopher:


I often say that friendships forged through running are the most precious as we are drawn together by a sport that values kindness, caring for each other and using running to support great causes.

Fast forward to Team Big Heart and the Boston Marathon. Tom and I supported runners with donations and sharing the All You Need Is Love Mission. We were blessed to meet several members of the Team at the Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc. at the Expo.

"I was immediately moved by Scott Middlemiss and his Foundation when they had the launch of Dream Big at my restaurant, Tresca," Ray Bourque said during the post-race program.

When Tom and I saw that the inaugural Bourque Family Foundation 7.7K was going to support the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation, we knew we needed to be a part of the day. Even though I could have walked the 5K, Tom and I decided that it would be best for me to volunteer and he would run the 7.7K. For those of you wondering why 7.7K - it's because 77 was Ray Bourque's number as a Hall of Famer hockey player. I was stationed at Bib Pick Up where I was able to meet and greet runners many of whom were my friends through the decade since I began my career as a runner.

We were blessed to have a Bermudaful reunion with the Gilbreths:


Laurie Miamis and Jennifer Sprague were two of the runners who we met at the Expo:


Jennifer lives with MS yet her Spirit and joy for life are infectious:


While we were waiting for the runners to come into the finish line, Nancy Feehrer stopped by to say hello. She wrote the manuscript for Dream Big

The Middlemiss Foundation has partnered with Dave and Nancy to distribute copies of Dream Big to children. Nancy told me that she is receiving messages from across the country with accolades and purchases of the book. I celebrated in the joy of the success of Dream Big and commented on the recent distribution of 1000 books to children in Massachusetts on Joseph Middlemiss' birthday thanks to the Middlemiss Foundation. I was deeply moved when Nancy told me that she saw a light in me from the moment we met at the book launch and is in awe of my journey. She is reading my book, "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance." We hugged as she went off to graduation parties for her twins.

After the race I let Ray Bourque know that Tom and I returned to Tresca after the Dream Big book launch. We told him what a wonderful dinner we experienced and look forward to going back again. He noticed my Team Big Heart shirt and said, "Be sure to stick around for the presentations. "They are going to be getting something."

Scott, Kate, Grace and Jack waited on the side of the stage. Jack is a reminder to us all that miracles happen and reminds us of the power of Love and Prayer. Fifteen weeks ago he underwent a heart transplant.

After Ray said a few words about the Middlemiss Family, before his presentation, Kate presented him with a certificate for a Buddy Bench or Kindness Library at the school of his choice. Ray was visibly moved by this gesture of kindness and love. I was moved to tears as Ray tenderly held Jack and then spoke about the power of family, love and kindness. He also said that his Foundation is looking for organizations to support that align with the mission of the Bourque Family Foundation.

Ray went on to present to the Middlemiss Family a check for $12,500! (Photos from Jennifer Sprague)

Kate and Jack's presentation to Ray:


Scott says a few words while Ray holds Jack:


Ray and Scott shaking hands:



Presentation of the check with members of the Bourque Family Foundation:


Additional photos from Kate:


The funds will be going toward the mission of the Foundation:

To expand "The Joseph Middlemiss All You Need is Love Mission," fostering the spread and documentation of Random Acts of Kindness on local, national and international fronts.


To educate children on the power of kindness by supporting the efforts of schools (creating and leading motivational assemblies, providing books and related resources, buddy benches and kindness libraries), and empowering students through scholarships for music and martial arts.


To contribute to research for and spread awareness of childhood heart conditions while providing financial, social and emotional assistance to families impacted by these (pizza parties, brunches and patient and parent care bags on the 8th floor at Boston Children's Hospital).

The sport of running has brought me healing from the effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma, redemption, has helped me transform from seeing myself as physically limited and disabled to a woman of strength and endurance, health, wellness and many many joyful miles on the road. The greatest gift that running has given me is the friendships forged especially with an amazing circle of people who run with big hearts.


From my heart to yours,
To your health and wellness!
Mary


Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


And my latest and greatest book - Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):