Levine Cardiac Kids - CHD Awareness Week

Levine Cardiac Kids, a group supporting children with Congenital Heart Defects and their families got together on Valentine's Day, 2/14/09, to celebrate Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at Build a Bear in Northlake Mall, Charlotte, NC. The children would make a wish and kiss the heart that was inserted prior to the bear being placed into the stuffing machine. Shown in the photo: Jacob, a 16 year old CHD patient, Lisa McKenzie, Steering Committee Chair of LCK, Ford, 1 year CHD child, Sarah and Adrienne Mauntel, Fundraising Chair of LCK. Since October 2007, I have been a Steering Committee Chair of the Awareness Committee for LCK. Being a part of this support group has exposed me to various CHD conditions. I admire the support and strength of the children and their families. Hopefully my story will give them hope of living a positive and active lifestyle. As a child, I was not exposed to other children with heart conditions and did not publically talk about my heart condition until I was 40 years old. The support group gives the children a bond and an opportunity to compare scares. For more information: http://www.levinecardiackids.com/

Run to Rich Mountain in Blowing Rock, NC

On Saturday, February 7th, 2009 Aprille, Ashley and I road tripped to Blowing Rock, NC for a run from Bass Lake to Rich Mountain at Moses Cone Park with our friend Ed and some of his Boone trail running buddies. We think they are really Dennis’s friends, but we’ll amuse Ed by letting him claim them as his friends too. After mornings in Charlotte in the teens this week, we welcome the beautiful 41degree starting temperature with approx. 60 degrees when we finished.
This was a great training run for Ed, Dennis and Ashley who are running the Mt. Mitchell 40 miler on February 28th. The same date Aprille is running the two day Gasperilla challenge of a 15k, 5k and ½ marathon held in Tampa FL. Others were training for Black Mountain marathon and the Myrtle Beach ½ marathon. I enjoyed the training day with good conversation and beautiful scenery.
Despite Ed cutting his hand, which we are not sure how this happened, and he lost Ashley on the trail, hazards were minimal. Thanks for Belinda running with her camera and sharing her photos.