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Gift
of Life, Inc.
NOTES
FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Thursday,
September 27th
We
have now traveled 850 miles. Our journey thus far has brought us to
new faces and new places. Today is our first step back onto familiar
territory. A crowd of well-wishers, Rotarians, medical professionals
and media greeted us at the front steps Milton Hershey Medical
Center. The PA State Police led Chad, Jim and I with colors flying. A
mounted honor guard was staged at the entrance to salute the run, its
runners and its purpose.
Dr.
Meyers and Dr. Cyran both spoke on behalf of the hospital’s
program for the children that suffer from congenital heart defects.
They applauded the efforts and the support of the Rotary and the
program received a donation from their local Rotarians.
 
Chad
was welcomed with cheers. Jim’s sense of humor warmed people.
We delivered the message, telling our story. We have told the story
of the three Palestinian children that we operated on last February
at Long Island Jewish Hospital and their host Leslie Gross. What has
most impact is the story of these three families calling Leslie after
the attack on the World Trade Center to ask if she was all right, in
contrast to the pictures we all saw on television of Palestinian
people cheering the carnage that took place in New York. Those three
families were not in the streets cheering but were calling their
friend. Had we done our job better, it could have been 10 families or
100 or maybe even 1000 families calling with concern rather than
cheering the carnage, leaving the madmen out on the streets by
themselves. Our care and love for our fellow man is the foundation
for lasting peace. It corrects the misinformation that is used by
these madmen for their destructive purposes.
The
hospitality that we have received here in Hershey was incredible. We
took a tour of the hospital and met many of the patients there,
mostly the children. We gave them some of our “Running
Bears” as special gifts to help heal their souls. There was a
party going on where “Elvis” sang a medley of his songs.
Chad grabbed one of the nurses who was dressed in 50’s Bobby
socks garb and cut a mean Lindy. For moments their ills were
forgotten and joy returned to those who are fighting disease.
 
By
the time we finished our splinter leg and the tour of the hospital,
the main part of the run had blistered its way through another 50
miles setting a new record, finishing the 50 miles in 5 hours and 45
minutes. Jess, our statistician has kept records of the times each
day. They are averaging under 7:30 for each mile they run. Their part
of the run is over 400 miles and to keep that pace day after day is a
marvel. They talk of next year and having contests at schools and
doing something across country.
Another
good day for the children we serve, consolidating and building a
base of support that will help them well into the future. For those
of you who are back in New York, know that the spirit of love and
kindness that was started in our District so many years ago is
growing and thriving.
God
Bless America!
Robbie
Donno
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CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN(Continued):
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