CSP gives back

Run. Walk. Hope.

Lace up your running shoes, Smarty Charlotte, and join thousands for the 17th Annual Hopebuilders 5K Run/Walk presented by Babson Capital. The premier family fundraising event benefiting Levine Children’s Hospital, Hopebuilders welcomes people of all ages and skill levels – many of whom are walking in honor/memory of special children in their lives. All proceeds from the event benefit the areas of greatest need at Levine Children’s Hospital.

This family-friendly event is hosting a new Stroller Roller this year. The Stroller Roller is the first 5K in Charlotte specifically designed for strollers, baby joggers, and even little red wagons. Children riding in strollers receive complimentary registration, so they do not need to be registered. Family and friends who would like to run/walk alongside you should also sign up for the Stroller Roller (even if they are not pushing a stroller).

For the past three nights, I have been obsessed with Nat Geo TV’s 9/11 series, Voices from the Air & Zero Hour. I have watched these documentaries in their entirety, even staying up one night until 1:30am, not the best lullaby before bed, that’s for sure. I also recently read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and the ending just brought me to my knees. I cried for 2 hours straight, it was absolutely devastating.

This reminds me of when I was little and my parents always reminisced where they were when Kennedy was shot and how that shook our country to its core. For our generation, this is our 9/11. Do you remember where you were? I can tell you exactly where I was. It was 9:00 am and I was nursing my newborn baby who is now 11 years old. I religiously watched the Today Show and saw Matt Lauer and Katie Couric scrambling to figure out what was going on. At first, they thought it was a private aircraft that hit the first tower. I thought to myself – that seems a bit large for a small aircraft. And I can remember it like it was just yesterday when I saw the second jet liner hit the other tower. At that very moment, I knew the world that I was bringing up my newborn baby was forever changed.

Did you know that September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month? My guess is you probably do thanks to local Cookies for kids’ Cancer HERO, Smarty Mom Amy Christenbury. Amy has been championing local fundraising efforts to cure kids’ cancers, all in honor of her ‘lil Smarty Warrior, Grier (www.caringbridge.org/visit/grierchristenbury), who is in the fight of his life with Stage IV neuroblastoma. Grier was diagnosed on March 27, 2007. Since that day, Amy has not stopped rallying every single person and business in this town to help in her fight.

September 1st kicks off the 3rd Annual “30 Days for a Cure” and just look at these local AND national brands getting behind this amazing woman. We couldn’t be more proud of Amy and her family! Seriously, this Smarty Mama needs to run for president – she can move mountains!