Why Me and Sherry’s House Marathon All Star Team - Destinations Bermuda and Newport, Rhode Island
Make every step of your next marathon or half marathon count. You’ll be proud to say you ran to make a difference in the lives of children who are battling cancer by supporting the programs of the Why Me and Sherry’s House organization. Here is your ticket to the running adventure of a lifetime in two fantastic locations.

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By Noreen Cohen
Posted Monday, 1 September, 2008

This is the ultimate win-win proposition! You are already a runner; now be a hero.
Your participation in these marathon events along with your fundraising efforts will benefit the Why Me & Sherry’s House program. Since 1985 the Why Me organization has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for all families struggling to overcome childhood cancer. What better inspiration could there be to keep you on course to meet your marathon goals! The satisfaction, thrill and joy of completing a marathon, half marathon, or marathon relay will be multiplied with the knowledge that you are running for a great cause.

With the Sherry’s House All-Star Team everyone is a winner. Here is how it works: The Why Me and Sherry’s House organization will provide race entry fees, accommodations, airfare and more. In exchange for this opportunity, you will agree to fundraise for Why Me and Sherry’s House in the agreed upon amount, and as a result you will receive a running adventure and the joy of helping children and their families struggling to overcome cancer. The All-Star Teams have raised more than $500,000 to build and support Sherry’s House and to provide family programs and services!

The Bermuda International Marathon January 16-19, 2009
Plan the perfect getaway weekend to Bermuda. You can choose to run the marathon, half marathon or 10K race and fitness walk. Or enter the second annual Bermuda Triangle Challenge which requires running 3 races in 3 days. This great escape is a welcome break for warm weather training away from the ice and snow of the northeast winter. Join a long and distinguished list of those running for this cause in Bermuda since 1999. Soak in the island charm of this unique former British Colony during the Martin Luther King holiday weekend and enjoy temperatures in the 60’s and low 70’s. Imagine that!

How about this unbelievable deal for the Bermuda Marathon? Choose from a number of events including running or walking the full or half marathon or 10K. Or participate in the Bermuda Triangle (3 events for the price of one--Invitation Mile on Friday, 10K on Saturday, and marathon or half marathon on Sunday).

Raise $2,750 for any of the Bermuda events and you will receive roundtrip transportation from Boston to the island, accommodations at the lovely Fairmont Hamilton Princess, race entry fee, singlet, and T-shirt, information and training manual, full breakfast each day, plus pre-marathon pasta dinner and post marathon celebration. Wow!

There is also a Bermuda participant incentive: refer a friend as a participant and receive $250 towards your fundraising goal! Refer two friends and receive $500 towards your fundraising goal! What could be easier?

The Breakers Marathon and Relay, Newport October 17-19, 2008
Capture the spirit of New England running this fall. This well organized event is suitable to all ability levels. The course begins at Newport’s waterfront and offers picturesque views which the “Ocean State” is known for. The course runs through some very scenic locations including historic Thames Street in downtown Newport, around Fort Adams State Park, past Hammersmith Farms and Newport Country Club, around breathtaking Brenton Point and Ocean Drive, past the Bellevue Mansions and more. The rolling course is USATF-certified and, as such, is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Raise $1,500 to participate in the Breakers Marathon. You will receive accommodations at the Sea View Inn, continental breakfast each day, race entry fees, medals for all finishers and a pre-marathon pasta dinner and post marathon celebration. What a fabulous time you will have, running, meeting new friends and enjoying the views.

You can also participate as a team in a 2 to 5 person relay—make it a really rewarding outing with friends and family. Fundraising is easy and actually a terrific reward in itself:

2 participants $850 each
3 participants $700 each
4 participants $550 each
5 participants $500 each

Yes, Fundraising Is Easy For the All-Star Team
This is one team that everyone can join! Simply meet your fundraising goal to qualify. And it really is easy with the support of the Why Me organization; they have proven year after year that anyone can do it. Get your family, friends and co-workers involved in this worthwhile program to help kids with cancer; they will want to support your effort and gladly support this very worthwhile cause. Come on, you can do it! Even if you have never done anything like this before, now is exactly the right time to be a star and join the team! You were going to run a fall or winter marathon anyway, and there is no greater incentive, no greater reward for your effort.

To find out more about how you can join the All-Star Teams and get rolling on your program contact Paula Mondino at (508) 757-7734 or e-mail pmondino@whyme.org for additional information.

About Why Me and Sherry’s House
Why Me and Sherry’s House is a Worcester, Massachusetts based, non-profit organization with no national affiliations. All funds are used locally. No funding comes from medical partners. The We Me and Sherry’s House facilities are located at 1152 Pleasant Street, Worcester Massachusetts, 01602. Their phone number is (508) 757-7734.

The Why Me concept was created by 13-year-old Sherry Shepherd during her four-year struggle with cancer. Sherry found many wonderful ways to lift the spirits of her fellow cancer patients. She became an inspiration to all who knew her, especially other children with cancer.

In the last months of her life, Sherry was determined to do something that would have lasting value in helping children with cancer. With the help of her dad, she founded the non-profit organization Why Me. Today the Why Me organization is still managed by families who have had a child with cancer and wish to help other families who now face the same challenge. This deeply felt personal perspective serves as a guiding light in delivering services that are compassionate and life-affirming. In addition, all support and services are offered to the whole family completely free of charge, throughout the treatment process and beyond.

The program’s mission is to alleviate the isolation, stress and loneliness a child and her family faces as they cope with cancer. Why Me staff and volunteers are available when and where they are needed each day: At home, in the hospital, pediatric cancer center, and at Sherry’s House. The program is tailored to fit the social, emotional, and logistical needs of each child and each family. While children are in active treatment, they provide families with a child-friendly home away from home at Sherry’s House.

The warmth of Sherry’s house stands in sharp contrast to the isolation of an impersonal hotel room during the many weeks and months of treatment. The lively atmosphere gives children a place to be kids instead of patients. Sherry’s House includes many great spaces for kids and their families including eight bedrooms, several living spaces, children’s library, family kitchen, children’s playroom gazebo, Jason’s Healing Garden,
playground and more.

This Mission is Not Impossible
The Why Me Sherry’s House organization has served over 465 families. In the past three years, 37 newly diagnosed children have sought the assistance of Why Me. Because Why Me and Sherry’s House exist, no child or family in need will have to face childhood cancer alone. For more information on their programs and services, please visit their website www.whyme.org.

The Why Me organization defines their success through elimination of all suffering and isolation caused by childhood cancer, and the return of a natural, childlike nature for kids and a sense of harmony for families. Make that a part of your marathon success story for a truly memorable adventure of a lifetime. You will have the time of your life and give a child the chance to do the same. You can do it!

Not only will you gain entry into great races along with accommodations and more, you will experience the fun, camaraderie and joy of being on a team with a vital mission. Pick up your pace to make a difference in the life of one special child and her or his family. Give a sick child the chance to be a kid again. Let’s run!

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