McEnerneys for the Miracle League

Christie McEnerney Stocking organise cette cagnotte au profit de l'association The Miracle League of Joliet.

Déductible des impôts

On October 13, I will be running the Chicago Marathon for the 4th time. My run is dedicated to my brother, Matt and my dad, Bill. In addition to running for them, I'm making a donation to the Miracle League of Joliet in their honor and in honor of my family's love of baseball. The Miracle League, https://www.miracleleague.com/, is an amazing organization that provides opportunities for kids with disabilities to play baseball and enjoy the game in the way any of us would. They have leagues and teams across the country and are supported by many MLB teams and players.

Growing up in my family, baseball wasn't just a game - it was part of our lives, in our blood. My dad grew up playing baseball as a kid and in high school, and later played on a successful men's softball team which he help "found." However, he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, polydermatomyositis, in his early 20s and it began to limit how much and how well he could play. As a dad he did, however, spend hours and hours of time throwing batting practice to the 3 of us. He spent countless hours catching for me as he supported my aspiration to be a college level pitcher. He took us to hitting lessons, pitching lessons, and was at all of our games. He instilled in us his die-hard love for the Chicago White Sox and helped make baseball such a big part of our lives.

My brother, sister, and I played baseball and softball through high school and it became a legendary laugh in our family that we were likely the only family in Hersey High School history who had all of their children on the "wall of fame" for the same sport, wearing the same number. With every ounce of support from my amazing mom as well, my parents went on to raise 3 college athletes - a baseball player, softball player, and a volleyball player. My sister continues to play volleyball in an adult league, my brother coached and played a few years in an adult league, and I coach my daughter's softball team and play on a co-ed softball team.

On July 4th, 2019 our family lost a huge link in our chain when my brother Matt was killed in a car accident at the age of 35. Matt was the most charismatic guy you could meet. Full of life, smart, funny, determined, kind, and enthusiastic, he always made people feel comfortable and valued.

Our hearts were broken, but fate was not quite done with us. My dad Bill joined my brother in Heaven on August 20, 2019 after a 40+ year battle with his disease. He was the strongest, bravest, and most determined man I know. I'm so grateful to be my father's daughter.

Throughout all of this, my mom has been a true inspiration to me as well. The amount of loss she has experienced is tremendous, and somehow she is still able to support my sister and me and find motivation to take a step forward each day even though her heart is beyond broken. I know it's far from easy for her, but she has always been there for each of us and the quiet believer in our family as a whole. My mom is also the one who introduced me to running in 6th grade; she drove me to all those early morning practices, rode her bike at night next to me as ran extra miles, was there when my tears came after good and bad races, and she believed in me when I found it hard to believe in myself. It's now my turn to be there for her and believe in our now family of 3, and I always keep the inspiration of my mom with me.

Last year, my siblings and I all ran the Chicago Marathon in honor of my dad, raising money for organizations that support research for the multitude of physical implications that my dad's disease carries. It was easily one of the most memorable and heartwarming days of my life - our whole family and many friends cheering the 3 of us on as we ran for our Papa. I had decided to run the marathon again this year as a vendetta for my finish time last year. I am trying so hard to come to terms with the fact that 2 of my cheerleaders won't be there physically, when just last year we were altogether. On October 13 as I'm running the Chicago Marathon, I will keep my heart open to feel their presence and know they will be there with me in spirit.

While I will be running in dedication to my dad and brother no matter what, I wanted to give others the chance to honor them and felt the Miracle League was a great fit. In addition to the baseball connection, I work as a school-based occupational therapist. Everyday I work with kids with disabilities and aim to provide them and their families with opportunities and skills that other children have. As my dad's disease progressed, he too began to have difficulties being a part of the game and experienced disability; his disease confined him to watching his grandkids' games from the car because the walk to the field was too far, he was not able to play catch because of the contractures in his hands and weakness in his muscles, and attending a White Sox game was too taxing on his mental and physical strength. The idea of providing the opportunity for kids with special needs to experience the joy of the game of baseball as I did is an inspiration. The Miracle League has many, many chapters and leagues across the US, so the funds raised here will go to the most local league - Miracle League of Joliet, http://miracleleagueofjoliet.com/.

My mom's, sister's, and my hearts are broken and our family will never be the same. Honoring my dad and brother through my run and baseball is a small part of what I can do to recognize their impacts on my life. Thank you for your consideration in donating to the Miracle League of Joliet in honor of Matt & Bill McEnerney - may their spirits live on through all whose lives they touched.