Local runner inducted into Blogger's Hall of Fame

 
 Photo by Charles Lewis/Buffalo News

Julia Burke of Buffalo is the latest inductee to the Blogger's Hall of Fame. Burke, who was supposed to run in the cancelled New York City Marathon, encouraged others to run with her on Sunday in Delaware Park. All donations going to the victims of the storm...

Some 144 people joined Burke at various times during her approximately 4-1/2-hour run. Most did a few laps, but six ran the entire marathon distance with Burke. Five of those six, like Burke, had planned to race in the New York City marathon today prior to it being cancelled as New York City continues dealing with the effects of last week’s storm.

I like it when someone does something different. She put herself out there, which is often a tough thing to do.  The easy thing would have been to sit on the couch and watch the Bills game. On second thought, those who did that yesterday probably suffered more than anyone affected by Frankenstorm Sandy.
Runner moves NYC marathon to Buffalo*

South Buffalo man running for a cause

 

Whenever you hear a story about a South Buffalo guy running, it's usually from the cops. But this next cat deserves an instant spot in the Blogger's Hall of Fame. Marty Gregoire, of South Buffalo, is a runner with Cerebral Palsy, whose been raising money through local 5K races to help other people with the condition. From Gene Warner's Buffalo News column...

Last October, Marty Gregoire of South Buffalo ran a local 5K road race for a 5-year-old girl from Ireland named Casey Fitzgerald. He put a photo of her on his running bib, and he collected pledges, eventually raising about 400 euros that helped pay for the young girl’s surgical procedure.

The youngest of 16 children from West Seneca, Gregoire is helping people all over the world with CP regain their mobility...

Last October, the answer was Casey Fitzgerald, whose only dream has been to dance and walk independently.

“What’s more innocent than a kid who wants to dance?” Gregoire asked. “Kids with CP or any other form of disability, they have big dreams, high hopes, big expectations, just like everyone else. They want to get on a school bus with their friends, walk across a campus or, to fast-forward, get down the aisle on their wedding day.”

The man has found a great cause and is profoundly impacting the lives of others. To read the full article, please check out...
S. Buffalo man with CP dedicated to running for those who can’t - The Buffalo News

What about Bob?

Bob, the cook is a hero. He saved a disabled man's life, over the man's mothers' objections. So much for maternal instincts. Way to go, Bob. You just made the Blogger's Hall of Fame...


A customer who was at the restaurant, sent us actual footage of the incident. I may have to send it to Amherst police as evidence. Watch below how Bob saves the man's life. (1:26) "I just never gave up hope"...


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Terry Fox: Canadian icon

The story the other day about the high school football player dying of cancer reminded me of how sometimes sport becomes much bigger than winning or losing. It made me think about an old post we did over a year ago on the unforgettable one legged, Canadian runner Terry Fox. I'll never forget his Marathon of Hope and how it brought his whole country together in 1980-81.

For those of you who don't remember, Fox ran almost 3,400 miles across Canada, at a time when prosthetic legs were not designed for running, before the cancer spread to his lungs and he was forced to stop. My favorite part of the story was how the story itself unfolded. For the first 2,000 miles, Fox was virtually unknown, save for a few minor sponsors and his friends and family. There was no internet or social media back then. Cable television was in it's infancy. Then, a Toronto promoter had Fox show up at an Argonauts CFL game and do a ceremonial kickoff. The inspired crowd went into a frenzy. From that point on, he became a Canadian icon. People turned to the news every night to see where he was on his journey.

Fox had to abandon his run in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The cancer had spread into his lungs. He had run a total distance equivalent to Miami to Seattle. At that point, he had raised about $2 million dollars. An impromptu telethon was scheduled by a Canadian TV station, where they raised an additional $10 million dollars. It was actually more like a living wake. TV icon Lee Majors came on the show and, in a brilliant quote, called Fox "The real six million dollar man." I believe there was a poll of Canadians naming Fox the most important athlete of the 20th century over such names as Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, and Steve Nash. That's the true greatness of sport. You have by all accounts, a marginal amateur athlete lose his leg and decide he's going to give the world something to remember him by when he's gone. ESPN did a terrific 8 minute piece on the Terry Fox story 25 years later. If you have a couple minutes, I recommend you check it out here...

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Savannah Wells

Congratulations to former South Buffalo soccer player Savannah Wells. The Lorraine Academy student and Girl Scout recently collected over 300 coats to distribute throughout the community. She had been known for being very shy, but the coat drive seemed to get her going, and then some. From today's Buffalo News...

Savannah got up in front of that faculty meeting, asking for support. She wrote and distributed a letter asking teachers and fellow students to donate jackets for Harvest House. She got on the morning announcements, appealing for help. She met with business owners along Abbott Road, asking if she could post her neon-yellow fliers to help spread the word.

"She has come out of her comfort zone and become more outspoken," said Tracy Dake, a former teacher of Savannah's who is friends with the girl's mother.

The first load they delivered was gone in 24 hours.

I've known teacher Tracy Dake for several years. She teaches Wells and is also friends with many of the families of other students. The article mentions how Savannah sometimes spends her lunch period with Tracy, assisting younger students in need of extra help. Tracy is a coach for our indoor soccer leagues and she single-handily sees to it that half the school registers their kids for the program. The students love Tracy's enthusiasm and she has been a terrific coach for us. It is no surprise to me that her enthusiasm has spread to one of her students. Congratulations to Savannah on her great act of kindness. You and Ms. Dake are official members of the Blogger's Hall of Fame.

Scout's drive provides coats for 300 neighbors - City & Region - The Buffalo News

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South Buffalo Athletic Club Looking For Members

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The South Buffalo Athletic Club was founded in 1993. It is a great organization that promotes fitness but not in an overbearing way. Many of the club's activities are social and community orientated. For example, every year they participate in the Bflo News kids day by helping to sell newspapers. You will see the club's name at the Tifft St. exit on Route 5 as they clean up that part of the highway each year. They are looking for more members to keep this great tradition going. Current members of the club include my good friends Barb and Barry Fitzgerald and Marty Farrell. Here is a link for the club. If you like to walk, run fast, run slow, or (like me) simply like to run your mouth, please consider joining the SBAC.
http://southbuffaloac.com/


When the running club was brought to my attention, for some reason it made me think about Terry Fox. Those of you old enough will remember he was the 21 year old cancer survivor with one leg who attempted to run across Canada in an effort to raise money for cancer research in 1980.

I like his story because of the way it started off small and took on a life of it's own. Fox began what would later be called the Marathon of Hope in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 with very little fanfare. There was no Internet back then. He ran all the way with only a few close friends monitoring his progress. At some point, he was allowed to do a ceremonial kickoff at a CFL football game. At that game, the crowd went crazy and his run became an international story. He ran 3,339 miles through Newfoundland, Novia Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario. After 143 days, On September 1, 1980, Fox was forced to end his run in Thunder Bay, Ontario at a hastily called, emotional news conference. His cancer had returned and had spread throughout his body. At a telethon in his honor eight days later, TV actor Lee Majors called Fox "the real Six Million Dollar Man". I thought that was a great line and a great tribute. I remember there was some poll of Canadian citizens that ranked Fox as the most important Canadian athlete of all time over Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Steve Nash. Not bad company for an "amateur" athlete.

He was ahead of his time because in 1980 it was unheard of for disabled people to even think about running. Prosthetic legs were not designed for walking very far, much less running. It was such a strange sight to see on the news each night as the crowds grew larger and larger. When Fox couldn't go on, it almost seemed to fire people up even more. Everyone wanted to become involved as a tribute to his efforts. Fox died on June 28, 1981 at the age of 22. I came across this clip regarding his Marathon of Hope and thought it was interesting.