Run Boy Run

I have always loved running. Yes, running. As a child I ran everywhere. During high school, I ran on the cross-country team. I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 18 because who needs a car when you have legs to walk/run. Then life got busy and I stopped running for almost 20 years.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and having open-heart surgery to remove it, I decided it was time to start running again. Not just run, but start training for a marathon. So, five months after surgery and being declared cancer free I started running. My first time running in almost 20 years, I ran 2 miles. It felt great to be running again. Why did I ever stop? That was the first of many runs. I completed my first marathon a little over a year after having open heart surgery. For the next 5.5 years, I would run many more miles and marathons. During that time I would be diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s. Running with Parkinson’s is not the easiest thing. But God allowed me to keep running through all the health challenges. God even allowed me to run over a 1,000 miles in 2008. So many beautiful moments and memories from my running days. My running days ended in 2009, after my health took a turn for the worse. I miss running, but I am so happy I have all the memories.

Today God has me running a new race. I am helping in the fight against human trafficking. I have become a missionary at doctors appointments and hospital stays. God has allowed me to share my story in person and on social media. Now God is allowing to share my story in a book. Hopefully the book will be out by the end of this year or the beginning of 2019. My prayer is that my life and book will encourage others. If anyone is interested in financially helping my wife and I complete our dream of publishing a book, you can go to our GoFundMe page at The Blessed Overcomers. I am blessed my wonderful wife is sharing her part of this crazy/beautiful journey in the book. We cannot wait for everyone to read our story. ~OC