Run for: Violent Crime Victim Services
Donation protected
Details of the run:
When: Starts March 5, 8pm PST.
What: Run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.
Cost: $0
All money will go straight to VCVS to help other families as they go through hardship. More info found here http://www.vcvs.org/
Follow my Instagram for post and updates of the run: @npatricelli26
I am doing this run for Violent Crime Victim Services, an organization that has helped my family in our darkest moments. In these dark moments, VCVS helps families go through the grieving process and legal process to try and find justice. VCVS operates on the generosity of donations and I am hoping to raise at minimum a few hundred dollars to help keep them operating. Below is what I have discovered through my grieving process.
Through writing my story and sharing my pains, I’ve come to realize I am not alone nor will I ever be.
16 years ago my brother Tino was taken away from my family and was murdered outside of a bar for spilling a drink. 16 years ago people told my family time heals all wounds. For 16 years my family has had an empty chair at our Sunday dinners, an open spot for Christmas brunch, and empty place at all our nephews and nieces birthdays. One thing my family has learned is time doesn’t heal all wounds, you just learn to coexist with this wound. I always think about the “what if Tino was here” and it bothers me I’ll never know the answer. That’s why I cherish the memories I do have of my brother and I’ll hold on to them forever.
When this happened I was only nine years old and I don’t think I was really able to understand what and how this was going to affect my life. I just tried to be there for my Dad, Mom, Brothers, Sisters and cousins at the time. After that I lived a lot of my childhood in constant fear of everything. After a couple of years of knowing the person responsible was in prison let me push those emotions away. Then 13 years went by and when the man responsible had a release date set because of “good behavior”, all the emotions and sadness caught up and hit me like a brick wall. I was on my way to class when I found out and I turned right back around and went home for the day. It took me back to be the 9 year old in the court room terrified of the man across the room and of everything again. I had no idea what to do and didn’t think after all those years I can still feel pain that hard again. For the next couple months at least once or twice a week I’d be right back in that situation. I didn’t know where to turn. The only thing that helped was talking to the important people around me. It took me awhile to do this because I didn’t want to seem like a burden to those people. I realized shortly after that I wasn’t a burden and the people I chose to talk to actually cared and helped me along the way in every way possible. I had memories that I’d talk about that would make me laugh, and make me cry. I was finally talking about it in a healthy way & it wasn’t something I brushed off. I still miss Tino every day and some days are harder than others. Time may not heal all wounds but that’s ok we just learn to live and remember our loved one the way they should.
When I see a friend or family member going through a loss my heart aches for the pain I know they're going to endure. I always try to reach out and be honest with them to let them know its going to be hard but there are better days. the void is never filled and the feelings are still there. On the hard days is when the memories come back and fill my mind. During this run I know will be physically hard but knowing what I've been through mentally I know I can push through. So wish me luck hopefully I can raise some money for a cause I know will continue to help my family and others.
When: Starts March 5, 8pm PST.
What: Run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.
Cost: $0
All money will go straight to VCVS to help other families as they go through hardship. More info found here http://www.vcvs.org/
Follow my Instagram for post and updates of the run: @npatricelli26
I am doing this run for Violent Crime Victim Services, an organization that has helped my family in our darkest moments. In these dark moments, VCVS helps families go through the grieving process and legal process to try and find justice. VCVS operates on the generosity of donations and I am hoping to raise at minimum a few hundred dollars to help keep them operating. Below is what I have discovered through my grieving process.
Through writing my story and sharing my pains, I’ve come to realize I am not alone nor will I ever be.
16 years ago my brother Tino was taken away from my family and was murdered outside of a bar for spilling a drink. 16 years ago people told my family time heals all wounds. For 16 years my family has had an empty chair at our Sunday dinners, an open spot for Christmas brunch, and empty place at all our nephews and nieces birthdays. One thing my family has learned is time doesn’t heal all wounds, you just learn to coexist with this wound. I always think about the “what if Tino was here” and it bothers me I’ll never know the answer. That’s why I cherish the memories I do have of my brother and I’ll hold on to them forever.
When this happened I was only nine years old and I don’t think I was really able to understand what and how this was going to affect my life. I just tried to be there for my Dad, Mom, Brothers, Sisters and cousins at the time. After that I lived a lot of my childhood in constant fear of everything. After a couple of years of knowing the person responsible was in prison let me push those emotions away. Then 13 years went by and when the man responsible had a release date set because of “good behavior”, all the emotions and sadness caught up and hit me like a brick wall. I was on my way to class when I found out and I turned right back around and went home for the day. It took me back to be the 9 year old in the court room terrified of the man across the room and of everything again. I had no idea what to do and didn’t think after all those years I can still feel pain that hard again. For the next couple months at least once or twice a week I’d be right back in that situation. I didn’t know where to turn. The only thing that helped was talking to the important people around me. It took me awhile to do this because I didn’t want to seem like a burden to those people. I realized shortly after that I wasn’t a burden and the people I chose to talk to actually cared and helped me along the way in every way possible. I had memories that I’d talk about that would make me laugh, and make me cry. I was finally talking about it in a healthy way & it wasn’t something I brushed off. I still miss Tino every day and some days are harder than others. Time may not heal all wounds but that’s ok we just learn to live and remember our loved one the way they should.
When I see a friend or family member going through a loss my heart aches for the pain I know they're going to endure. I always try to reach out and be honest with them to let them know its going to be hard but there are better days. the void is never filled and the feelings are still there. On the hard days is when the memories come back and fill my mind. During this run I know will be physically hard but knowing what I've been through mentally I know I can push through. So wish me luck hopefully I can raise some money for a cause I know will continue to help my family and others.
Organizer
Nick Patricelli
Organizer
Kent, WA