Boston 4 Colleen

I am running my 2nd Boston Marathon on April 16, 2018. I want to dedicate that race to my aunt Colleen Flaws, who passed away on Feb. 13 after a three year battle with breast cancer. Throughout her disease, just as throughout her life, and especially prevalent in her last few weeks, Colleen displayed her signature strength, grit, determination, love, and courage. Her ability to show such grace and peace under such intense adversity will continue to inspire all those who knew her for the rest of our lives. 

For me personally, Colleen was not only my aunt, she was truly my second mom. From the time I was three months old until I was into my early teens, Colleen was my daycare provider. In this role, she helped me grow up into the person I am today because each week from Monday - Friday, she helped raise me. Her three boys - Justin, Jordan, and Josh - also happen to be the best friends of my three brothers and I. As a result, not only was Colleen the person who took care of me during the week, but she loved me and my brothers like an extension of her three sons, and she treated us with all the compassion and care that she always provided them. Even after I grew up and out of the daycare, it was the positive memories of the warm and loving environment that Colleen always provided that made her house the "hang-out" on Friday and Saturday nights after high school sporting events, dances, and concerts or as a gathering place for Iowa Hawkeye football games not just for us Flaws boys, but for our friends as well.

Colleen lived her life to make other peoples' lives better and happier. From her occupation as a daycare provider to how she supported her family in their endeavors to the way she treated strangers when meeting them for the first time, Colleen touched many, many lives in extremely positive ways.

Although I am still heartbroken by the loss of Colleen, I find every day that I am deeply inspired by how she lived her life. Running has always been a very personal thing for me, something that I do to keep my mind and body healthy, something that you could say I do for myself. However, I want to use my upcoming race at the Boston Marathon to run for something bigger - as a way to honor Colleen and all the goodness she brought into the world. So, I am dedicating my effort at the Boston Marathon to her and to my uncle Jay by starting a fundraiser I call "Boston 4 Colleen." I picked that because not only is it my own personal mission to honor my aunt, but I hope to raise at least $4000 for her husband, my uncle Jay.  Although that is my target, it'd be great to just crush that goal and overwhelm Jay and his family with our support. Whatever amount is raised by this fundraiser, I will donate entirely to Jay to help him with any bills or expenses he has right now. I know that he has all the love and support of my amazing and tight-knit family, but I still want to find another way to help.

Thank you for your donation! I love you all!