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Gift
of Life, Inc.
NOTES
FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Robert
P. Donno on the Road
Saturday,
September 29th
We
no longer have the luxury of 15 runners that the PA State Police
gave us. New Jersey was kind enough to give us much-needed escorts.
Many of their ranks are involved with helping those who were victims
of the attack on New York. We are grateful for all their efforts and
there will be another time for a run. For now, there are more
pressing matters for them to take care of. We will do with what we have.
Tomorrow’s
events will be somewhat altered because of that as well but the core
group of runners keep going, trying to bring a semblance of sanity to
a city and country gripped with sorrow. However large or small our
impact is, we feel the spirit is brightened through our efforts.
Elie
Ezra of District 7510 and Mike Beyers of District 7500 hosted a nice
breakfast for us at Lorenzo’s Restaurant in Trenton, New Jersey.
We listened to them talk of their Gift of Life Programs and the
children that they have helped. Chad made a presentation on our
behalf and Gertrude Bonatti-Zotta, Chairman of Deborah Hospital,
talked about the many children that have received a Gift of Life at
their facility. Armand, the owner of Lorenzo’s makes a $1,000
donation to the Gift of Life. Goodness fills the room.
When
one listens to these people, as we have all across the country, the
conclusion that America is the richest country in the world is quite
evident. While the news focuses on those who do harm and cause
destruction, the base of America is people like these who put forth
great efforts on behalf of those in need. We were inspired to hear
each encourage more effort on behalf of these children. We were
encouraged that they want to bring in more people into helping. We
were encouraged by the acknowledgement that the fundamentals of
providing care to others is the only basis by which there can ever be
lasting peace. Woven into each word is the backdrop of the
catastrophe that occurred 19 days ago when we took our first steps of
a 1,000-mile run for the children.
The
Most Difficult Mile...
Captain
Braddock, Joe Christaldi of the PA Police the “Walking Man”
Rich Fenster had done 17 miles of today’s route yesterday,
knowing that we would not have a full contingent to run today. The
three continued the run while Chad, Frank Macchio and I met with the
Rotarians at Lorenzo’s. By the time Chad and I caught up with
them, they were three miles from the Goethals Bridge, having made
much better time than expected. They were ahead of all the Rotarians
who came out to greet them and we are disappointed that we missed the
opportunity to share the spirit of the run with them.
Chad,
Jim, Joe and I ran the Goethals Bridge. It was the most difficult
mile. There are no pictures of us to show. Two of us had American
flags pinned to our backs, one carried the baton with America’s
colors attached, one carried an American flag in his hands. We all
wore NYPD hats that Rich had brought with him. One quarter a mile up
the bridge, we could see the skyline of New York to our left. It was
the first glimpse we had since we left New York prior to the attack.
Even having seen the events on television could not have prepared us
for this. Where there were once two majestic towers reaching up
toward the heavens, symbolic of what man can achieve, there is now
just a hole. It became difficult to breath as our tears of grief were
allowed to come out. Like the towers, our friends and neighbors that
worked there are missing. People we played golf with, went to soccer
games with and saw on school nights are gone, leaving another gaping
hole. All along the way, we carried them in our hearts and prayed
with each step for them and their families:
Donnie Robson, Jeff
Levine,
Paul Casio, Joe
Dickie, Robbie
Eton; over
forty families in all from Manhasset, where the Gift of Life was
started, have been taken from us. And Tony
Zino, one who was there at the beginning of the Gift of Life, passed
away today. Crossing the bridge carrying our friends and neighbors in
our hearts was difficult.
As
we ran, it was as if everyone on the bridge knew that we were
running for the children and for our friends. Horns beeped, people
stopped to yell encouragement from their cars, truckers had their
horns blowing, their were applauds and cheers. Running through our
grief we waved acknowledging their support. All those people who
waved and cheered helped us through this most difficult mile.
The
mending process has begun. Events like this that nourish our souls.
Once again, we are closing the holes in the heart of those around us
so and our own, so we can be well and rebuild our way of life.
We
have finished 950 miles.
God
Bless America!
Robbie
Donno
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CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN(Continued):
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