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Gift
of Life, Inc.
NOTES
FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
Day 16,
September
26,
2001
We
started our day being hosted by the Chambersburg Rotary for
breakfast at the Rhonda Brake Shriner’s Women’s Center. It
is a center that promotes women’s health through prevention and
certainly our running team is consistent with their wellness message.
Chad, Jim and I once again deliver the message of the Gift of Life.
David
Pankiew of the Rotary and Carol Ann Baran of the Women’s Center
took good care of our runners in providing a “runners”
breakfast, although they did provide donuts for the more decadent
members of the team. However, they provided much more. There were two
members of the local press and a TV Station that spent a considerable
amount of time with us. They are looking to put something in their
newscasts that are uplifting, that remind their readers and viewers
to reach back to those spiritual things that has been so much a part
of our lives. It touches the goodness in people to continue to
respond with compassion and resolve. They provided us with a good
forum for that message and cared for us before we continued our journey.
The
mountains have given way to rolling hills and farmlands. The
mountains provided dramatic beauty, (except when you are trying to
run them). The beauty of the farmland is more tranquil and settling.
We ran through the battlefields of Gettysburg, a reminder of another
time in our history that our people struggled to survive.
Everyday
there is a new segment leader. Today, Joe Cristaldi is presented the
award for organizing the run for the day. Joe is a big guy but is a
very gentle man. Like many of his fellow officers, he has developed a
love for working for the Gift of Life. He is a good cook and we look
forward to him cooking us some chicken chili and some home made apple
pie. Knowing that we are only two days from the end of their part of
the journey, the PA police are already talking about next year’s run.
Every
place we go on the run, its message on behalf of needy children is
leaving its footprint on the hearts of all we touch. Life is often
not about how much or how many, but how you touch the spirit. The
spirit is good.
We
have completed 800 miles. We look forward to Hershey Children’s
Hospital tomorrow. We are 200 miles from home.
God
Bless America!
Robbie
Donno
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CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN(Continued):
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