Path4Teens Boston 2012
In less than two weeks I toe the line with some 45,000
men and women from across this amazing planet of ours. What line you ask? The
starting line for the running of the 116th Boston Marathon, the
oldest marathon in North America. We start in Hopkinton and wind our way through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and into Boston. We will soar up and over "heart-brake hill" for 26.2 miles and some 2 million people from
all points on the map will be cheering us on as Bostonians celebrate Patriots day and the long tradition of the running of the marathon.
There are two ways to get in this race: Qualify and/or run for a charity. This year I am doing the latter. Path4Teens is an amazing organization whose purpose is lead young adults into the transformational process of discovering their individual mission and vision for their life journey. Changing the planet is as simple as changing one person at a time. Some teens do not have a sense of their purpose. The POWER of living one's life for a PURPOSE that is bigger than they are is indeed a foundation for change. We do not have to look very far to see our teens today are being bombarded by negative influences at an alarming rate. Path4Teens is an interactive training process designed to outfit our young people with a positive and practical foundation for developing a set of life skills that promote health and productive decision-making. Path4Teens is an initiation process of sorts. First the teens identify current and past negative influences. They identify the core values that drive their behavior and are given the opportunity to create a new path, a new vision. Guided by this new mission, teens identify and apply their gifts and talents and list some concrete action steps and a support system that will keep them moving in a positive direction toward their goals/vision.
I need your support. I need to raise $700. Giving is simple: Path4Teens and Boston Police Runner\'s Club are non-profit organizations (501 (c) 3 #75-3240064) you can claim dollar for dollar as a donation on your 2012 tax return. In addition to covering my $300 entry into the race, travel expenses of nearly $2000, I will be donating personally and professionally. We are asking everyone to consider sponsoring a portion of the marathon. I have split the race into 26.2 (start and finish equal 28) sections and each section is $25.00 (You are NOT limited to $25!) I am confident WE can do this. YOU helped me raise over $5000 for the New York marathon and we built a well for fresh water in Africa.
Thanks in advance.
Mark Schwietz
