Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon

next Monday 4/16/2012

 

 

 

 

For the last 5 years, my friend, Melanie Horris, has run the Boston Marathon in honor of her patient partner, Lexie Williams. Each year Melanie has said (after the race) "This is the last one!"

 

And, yes she has already said that this year. (I'm thinking she may really mean it this year)

It is a grueling 26+ miles over hills and dales. Just the training would be more than I could take!

 

However, she has raised a lot of money each year from her donors in support of both Melanie, Lexie and the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute. Her goal this year is $10,000)

 

 

 

 

 

In 2007, Melanie approached me with the idea of making a meaningful bracelet to help raise money for her Boston Marathon run and the Dana Farber. We put our heads together and involved Lexie too.

 

Our first piece was Lexie's bracelet. It is made with five different colors of Swarovski Pearls and Bali Silver spacers. It is 7 ½ inches long and has a lobster claw clasp and a 2 inch extender for easy fit. The meaning of the colors in Lexie's Bracelet were chosen by Lexie.  (Click on the link above to see more)

 

 

 

The success of the first Lexie Bracelet and its extended pieces (earrings, necklace etc) was wonderful. We raised over $4,000 for cancer research.

 

 

Each year, together, we have designed a piece of jewelry in Lexie's honor. A portion of the proceeds has gone to the Dana-Farber. This year's piece is Wings of Hope.

 

 

 

The white Swarovski Pearls used, have the same meaning of HOPE as in the original bracelet.

 

The pendant is strung on an 18 inch silver plate Snake chain. (It is also available on a 20 inch chain)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only does she run but she sells the jewelry too. Keeps me busy!

 

This year we accidentally found another piece to add. The Hancock Husky. You've seen the Glass Dome Pendants? Well, this is a blue paw print representing the Hancock Huskies. (The school where Melanie teaches) The kids at the Hancock school love them and with their purchases, they are, also, supporting the Dana Farber and Melanie's run.

 

I love it when a (non) plan comes together!

 

 

 

 

(The Glass Dome pendants are ready for any fundraiser events you may need or know about. Many designs can be made)

 

 

Her bib number for this year's race is 21385. If you would like to follow her progress year, you can go to her page where you can read about her reasons for running.

 

 

All of the pieces in the Lexie Line of jewelry can be purchased by contacting me, Melanie or on the Ring by Ring Designs website.

 

We all appreciate your past support!

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

Running the Boston Marathon

I'm again quoting Alice Williams' Caring Bridge journal. Mostly because it is the only place I have been able to get - what happened? I could see on line that Melanie had a fantastic run but it didn't say if Lexie Williams was able to finish the last mile with her, as planned. Well, she did! Here is the account from www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams.

“Toughness is in the soul and the spirit, not the muscles. " -Alex Karras

"And Run the last 1.2 miles she Did !!!! -In Ten minutes, as that was her runner's pace, and we didn't want to slow Melanie down in her last mile of glory with the crowd screaming, so Lexie dug deep, ran fast all the way, looked a bit peaked, and promptly Barfed into a vent !!!! Now that's true grit !!!! She recovered quickly and we walked back to the Copley with Melanie for the post race greeting area-

"Amazingly, she had a crowd of supporters from our school who cheered for her along the way, and later came back to the post race area to congratulate her and Melanie on their accomplishments !!!! We are So incredibly proud of both of them- Lexie for stepping up and running fast, and Melanie for posting a Great race time- 4 hours 33 minutes !!!!

"While we waited for Melanie to run the first 25 miles, we had the pleasure of sitting roadside with Hailey and her mother Lisa to cheer for the runners as they passed by, and got to greet and hug several other Jimmy Fund families at Mile 25 !!! We also were joined by Kristen, the Kristen of Team Lexie and Kristen, as she had the day off and took the T over to hang out with us for a few hours !!!! We have certainly had our share of glorious moments with great friends this past few days !!!!

"It has been a pretty special start to this vacation week, and now we are taking a breath, and Lexie will attend her swim team's swim camp for the next three days until we shove off for Phila. and the Atlantic Ten championship weekend !!! Emily has a couple dance events this week, and she will reunite with her Tufts Sisters next Saturday, on the way home from a dance competition !!!

"We are feeling very grateful for so many things this week, and the first one is having a week of vacation !!!!

PEACE, MY DEAR FRIENDS !!!!"

Hopefully I'll have some new pictures to post soon.

In the mean time. Congratulations, Melanie and Lexie on a great run for Cancer Research!

B

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Remember "Y2K"? Ten years ago we were (well, some were) wondering if the computers would fail. Lots of things have happened since then. In the world and personally.

I was recovering from the year 1999 with treatments for Breast Cancer. And, Thank God, I'm still here, just 10 years older and retired. I've started a jewelry business that, though slowly, is growing. In the year 2008, our Lexie jewelry was able to donate close to $4,000 to the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute.

Many, many thanks to those who purchased jewelry and to those who helped spread the word. Lexie is now ten years old and doing well, at last report. She still has hopes and prays that her fellow brain tumor friends will continue to improve. She has lost several friends recently and it seems to be getting harder for her to cope.

Lexie's Mom has a great journal on her Caring Bridge site and she has recently has some great reflective posts about what they have learned from the little kids who have not survived. Check it out at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lexiewilliams.

I plan to be adding more sophisticated things both to my web site and blog as well as to my jewelry designs. January always brings the desire to learn a new techinque. Last year it was Kumihimo. This year, I have some ideas but nothing definite yet. Keep tuned.

Any how, what are some of your 2009 goals? I'd like to hear about them and thanks for reading my blog in 2008.

B

Melanie on NESN and first Pitch

I received an email from my friend, Melanie, today. She is very excited. WEEI and NESN are having a telethon to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund is a charity based in Boston, Massachusetts, that supports cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Founded in 1948 to raise funds for patient care and the fight against children’s cancer, the Jimmy Fund now supports the search for new cancer treatments and cures for both adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Between its founding and 2006, the Jimmy Fund has raised more than $500 million.

You may remember, Melanie ran the Boston Marathon in April for her patient partner, Lexie. Lexie (and Melanie) inspired my line of Lexie's jewelry that I've be talking about so much lately.

Anyhow, the telethon is in its second day today. Her message was: Watch for me today, 4:30, NESN. Also on the mound!!!!! Hannah and Zach will be with me to throw out the "first pitch".
Watch out Paplebon,
Melanie

Hannah and Zach are her two kids. So, if you read this in time, watch (on the Boston station NESN) I'll let you know what happened if you can't see it. Just being on the field at Fenway would be so exciting. Wonder who the "catcher" will be?

B