Inaugural Joshua Kurby Charge for CHARGE 5K

(3 different slide shows at bottom of this post!)

I can't say thank you enough to everyone who came out to run, walk, volunteer, cheer, or do anything to be a part of the Inaugural Joshua Kurby Charge for CHARGE 5K. I smiled and shook my head the other day as I placed a bib number, gold medal, and finisher's ribbon for the race on Joshua's grave. He did it again...it never ceases to amaze me how much love, energy, devotion, and happiness Josh can pull out of everyone. Several times during the planning stages I would talk to Joshua and ask for his help. As the gun went off on race morning I looked up to Josh and asked him to please not pull any fast ones on us, and please help me bike faster than the lead runner so I'm not totally embarrassed!

The day was perfect. We had over 140 registered participants, very fast runners, mixed with families strolling their children. I was worried about the weather being too hot when I first started planning things in late March, but it was a nice cool morning, and the rain held off. After the awards and raffle I thanked everyone for coming and it wasn't until then that it started to drizzle. It only lasted a few moments so clean up went quick as well. We were able to raise close to $5,000 for the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. All the money raised for the event will be going directly to the Foundation in memory of Joshua.

It was wonderful to see so many people there to run, walk, raise awareness about CHARGE, and honor Joshua's memory. We had many NICU nurses present, as well as Carl- Josh's first and best buddy, other CHARGE families that traveled as far as an hour to get there, many friends, neighbors, family, and some people I have never met. A great time was had by all. (Phil even won 3rd in his age group! Go Daddy!)

If you are looking for race results they are posted on CARAruns.org look under race results, mychicagoathlete.com under race results, or racetime.info under results.

I will let these people speak for themselves. I don't know most of them, so I find these to be a very high compliments to everyone:

-I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the Charge 5K event. I enjoyed the course immensely, rarely do you have an opportunity to run a path that doesn’t end up as an out and back or a twice-around. I didn’t become bored or impatient and was able to relax into a great run. The bagels were a nice touch. Please tell Panera thank you from me. I appreciate that they would support their community in such a generous fashion. The bagels were the wonderful. I have always been a Panera patron and now I like them even better.
Kind regards,
-- Rebecca


--Sandy,
Just wanted to take a moment and Thank You for the wonderful event you hosted this weekend. My girlfriend and I were in town on business and chose your event because we liked the cause and the location. You and your volunteers did a great job with sponsorship, registration, course layout, timing, and all the small things that make for a pleasant event. Most important, your group created a welcome atmosphere with lots a friendly, smiling faces eager to help in any way they could. Congratulations on a successful inaugural event. Hope you were able to further the CHARGE cause and thanks for educating us and letting us help support this worthy endeavor. I hope you will sustain it for years to come. And, I hope I will be able to attend again.
Thanks Again, and well done.
Rob

P.S. As a result of their sponsorship of your event Panera Bread has gained a fan as well as a customer. I will make it a point to stop at one of their shops whenever I can.


--Hi Christy,
I had a great time. I would have liked to have stayed and talked more, but I had to get my son to Taekwondo lessons. I am glad the rain held off for most of the event to make it easier on everyone. I hope your sister felt it was a success. I certainly did. I hope she is able to have it again next year.

Since I am not very familiar with CHARGE, I don’t know the details of how it affects kids and families, but given the mortality rate associated with it, I am surprised it hasn’t received more media attention. Hopefully, with awareness events like this, it will get more attention, funding, and research.

Please let your family know it was a great inaugural race.

Ryan


-Thanks, Sandy,
It was a nice race and I’ll be looking forward to doing it again next year.
Rock (a gentleman that placed in the race)