The Buddy Walk and 5K Buddy Race were an awesome success. We got up early on Saturday morning and drove down from Park City in time for the 8:30 a.m. 5K start time. Coleson and the rest of us have been excited for this event for weeks, and there were no significant problems getting up at the early hour. Despite strong predictions of rain, we and Leona (our chapter’s president) had been “ordering” sunshine, and abundant sunshine is exactly what we received. It was perfect running conditions. Let me give a little more background to the whole 5K experience. I personally have been training hard and steady for at least the 2 or 3 days prior to the actual race, so obviously I was in peak condition to excel (I did actually run twice the week of race and that helped marginally). My training regimen consisted of eliminating all desserts from my meals, or at least half of the dessert from half of my meals, or just eating a whole dessert like I normally do (a flexible regimen is usually the best regimen). Additionally, I only had two filet mignons during the week, one on Wednesday and one 12 “ouncer” the night before (a big chunk of meat, a ceasar salad with real anchovies, and a lava chocolate cake are excellent items to eat within 12 hours of race start time). Summer joined me in my regimen for the night before meal, and likewise downed a 12 “ouncer” (give it up for Summer, that is an incredible accomplishment that makes me one very proud husband). Race time came and we were pleasantly surprised to see so many of our friends and family there, and participating. This is the first time we have included a 5K in the Buddy Walk, and Team Ammon easily had the most overall participants in the 5K event. In fact, after the whole event was over and I was at Leona’s house counting the funds raised with Leona she indicated that we had the most overall team participants. There were 43 total people that showed up for team Ammon for either the Buddy Walk or 5K Buddy Race or both, and 38 were registered participants.
The race is about to begin and Summer, Coleson, Ammon, and I are surrounded by our coworkers, family, and friends. For weeks I had been predicting the great “Cheney meltdown” that would occur at about mile 2.5, and to be able to witness this meltdown was the only motivation some of my friends needed to attend the race. Right before the race was to start I realized that my Ipod battery was dead and I would be unable to listen to my essential Rocky songs (this obviously was a key factor in my overall performance, notwithstanding my other extensive preparations). The race began and we were off. Now all joking aside, here’s my humble opinion of my incredible wife, and I know each of you can picture this because this is just the type of person that she is. Summer runs the entire race without stopping once while pushing in front of her a bike trailer with our two wonderful boys in it (and the diaper bag, water bottles, etc). Imagine running a 5K with a respectable time while pushing a 60 pound weight in front of you the whole time. It’s inspiring to see, and she does it at the 5k Buddy Race, the Syracuse 5K, and the Race for the Cure, so that Coleson and Ammon don’t have to sit on the sidelines and be observers, but are able to feel the excitement of the race and be participants. The sad part on my side is that Summer is truly pushing this trailer all alone the whole race, because my expert training regimen barely allows me to run the whole race without stopping (I’m feeling very motivated at the moment). Coleson’s responsibilities during the race are to yell encouragement to his Dad and to primarily take care of his brother. The entire race Coleson has him arm around Ammon, to ensure his little brother’s head is properly held up and that he remains in a comfortable position. Because of this attentive care Ammon is usually as content as can be, and has sometimes fallen asleep to the motion of the bike trailer. The results of the race were awesome. Our friend, Jeff Goddard, won the entire race by a 30 second margin of victory. Jeff’s sister came in second overall for the women participants. My brother, Kevin, came in second for his age category (he indicated before the race that we have to put in a good showing for Ammon, and Team Ammon did not disappoint). Our family came in at just over 30 minutes, with Coleson running the last 200 yards himself, and all of us being cheered across the finish line. Our family’s goal for the race was to simply participate and support Ammon and his friends, while people like Jeff and Kevin added the necessary respect to a first time 5K event like this. We already have even bigger dreams for next year.
The Buddy Walk started about an hour after the race was completed, and again this portion of the event did not disappoint. There were hundreds in attendance, with many of them directly in support of Ammon. Coleson and his cousins walked away with handfuls of carnival prizes, face paintings, and hotdogs for lunch. A local group of children with Down syndrome performed several dance routines after the one-mile walk was completed. Jessie and Loraine came to the event with their three children, Suzanne, Matt, and Ali (each one has Down syndrome and Loraine is primarily confined to a wheel chair due to brain cancer). This is an awesome family and we feel so lucky to have them as friends.
We’ve always said from the beginning that it was not the donations that mattered most, but that people just come and experience the magic of this event. But let me share just one bit about the financial side of this event. After the Walk was over (and the BYU game of course), Leona and I were sitting at her kitchen table counting the donations and preparing the bank deposit. Leona insisted that I run the 10-key machine, and soon we were through the cash, checks, and change. Brace yourselves: this one event raised over $7,000 to support individuals with Down syndrome (last year we barely cleared $4,000, primarily due to the rain). There are so many awesome things that this money goes to support, including research, public awareness, and community activities. But while we were counting the donations, Leona and I discussed one particular family that will be greatly benefited by the activities these donations help to fund. During the Buddy Walk Summer met a young married couple that lives about five minutes from our house and about three months ago had a beautiful little girl with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk was the first “Down syndrome event” they had attended, and it was exactly what they needed. The good mother was still taking the reality of having a child with Down syndrome very hard, and she was grateful to meet other parents that live near her. When Leona had visited them soon after they had their baby the mother was very emotional and distressed during that meeting as well. What some of these donations allow our UDSF chapter to do is prepare newborn packets that are personally delivered by parents with a Down syndrome child (Summer and I are preparing to be part of this process, especially in regards to the new fathers). As we deliver these packets we have the unique opportunity of sharing with them about our experience with Ammon (and our extended family’s experiences). From the start we were all able to see the miracles surrounding Ammon, and because we saw those miracles we never really felt any discouragement about Ammon having Down syndrome (Down syndrome in itself was another type of blessing in our eyes). As these new parents start looking for the miracles occurring in their new little baby’s life, we can only hope that any feelings of disappointment are quickly replaced by hope and joy. And as these new parents start attending the Halloween carnival, the Christmas breakfast, the Spring party, and numerous other activities not only will their children feel accepted and loved, but the parents will form common friendships and be able to go out in the community with a feeling of support and acceptance.
I could go on and on about the Buddy Walk. I just can’t stop feeling so grateful for so many good people and for Ammon. Thanks again to all of you for loving and supporting Ammon, he couldn’t have been born into a better family. (As more pictures come in we'll be sure to post them up).
The race is about to begin and Summer, Coleson, Ammon, and I are surrounded by our coworkers, family, and friends. For weeks I had been predicting the great “Cheney meltdown” that would occur at about mile 2.5, and to be able to witness this meltdown was the only motivation some of my friends needed to attend the race. Right before the race was to start I realized that my Ipod battery was dead and I would be unable to listen to my essential Rocky songs (this obviously was a key factor in my overall performance, notwithstanding my other extensive preparations). The race began and we were off. Now all joking aside, here’s my humble opinion of my incredible wife, and I know each of you can picture this because this is just the type of person that she is. Summer runs the entire race without stopping once while pushing in front of her a bike trailer with our two wonderful boys in it (and the diaper bag, water bottles, etc). Imagine running a 5K with a respectable time while pushing a 60 pound weight in front of you the whole time. It’s inspiring to see, and she does it at the 5k Buddy Race, the Syracuse 5K, and the Race for the Cure, so that Coleson and Ammon don’t have to sit on the sidelines and be observers, but are able to feel the excitement of the race and be participants. The sad part on my side is that Summer is truly pushing this trailer all alone the whole race, because my expert training regimen barely allows me to run the whole race without stopping (I’m feeling very motivated at the moment). Coleson’s responsibilities during the race are to yell encouragement to his Dad and to primarily take care of his brother. The entire race Coleson has him arm around Ammon, to ensure his little brother’s head is properly held up and that he remains in a comfortable position. Because of this attentive care Ammon is usually as content as can be, and has sometimes fallen asleep to the motion of the bike trailer. The results of the race were awesome. Our friend, Jeff Goddard, won the entire race by a 30 second margin of victory. Jeff’s sister came in second overall for the women participants. My brother, Kevin, came in second for his age category (he indicated before the race that we have to put in a good showing for Ammon, and Team Ammon did not disappoint). Our family came in at just over 30 minutes, with Coleson running the last 200 yards himself, and all of us being cheered across the finish line. Our family’s goal for the race was to simply participate and support Ammon and his friends, while people like Jeff and Kevin added the necessary respect to a first time 5K event like this. We already have even bigger dreams for next year.
The Buddy Walk started about an hour after the race was completed, and again this portion of the event did not disappoint. There were hundreds in attendance, with many of them directly in support of Ammon. Coleson and his cousins walked away with handfuls of carnival prizes, face paintings, and hotdogs for lunch. A local group of children with Down syndrome performed several dance routines after the one-mile walk was completed. Jessie and Loraine came to the event with their three children, Suzanne, Matt, and Ali (each one has Down syndrome and Loraine is primarily confined to a wheel chair due to brain cancer). This is an awesome family and we feel so lucky to have them as friends.
We’ve always said from the beginning that it was not the donations that mattered most, but that people just come and experience the magic of this event. But let me share just one bit about the financial side of this event. After the Walk was over (and the BYU game of course), Leona and I were sitting at her kitchen table counting the donations and preparing the bank deposit. Leona insisted that I run the 10-key machine, and soon we were through the cash, checks, and change. Brace yourselves: this one event raised over $7,000 to support individuals with Down syndrome (last year we barely cleared $4,000, primarily due to the rain). There are so many awesome things that this money goes to support, including research, public awareness, and community activities. But while we were counting the donations, Leona and I discussed one particular family that will be greatly benefited by the activities these donations help to fund. During the Buddy Walk Summer met a young married couple that lives about five minutes from our house and about three months ago had a beautiful little girl with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk was the first “Down syndrome event” they had attended, and it was exactly what they needed. The good mother was still taking the reality of having a child with Down syndrome very hard, and she was grateful to meet other parents that live near her. When Leona had visited them soon after they had their baby the mother was very emotional and distressed during that meeting as well. What some of these donations allow our UDSF chapter to do is prepare newborn packets that are personally delivered by parents with a Down syndrome child (Summer and I are preparing to be part of this process, especially in regards to the new fathers). As we deliver these packets we have the unique opportunity of sharing with them about our experience with Ammon (and our extended family’s experiences). From the start we were all able to see the miracles surrounding Ammon, and because we saw those miracles we never really felt any discouragement about Ammon having Down syndrome (Down syndrome in itself was another type of blessing in our eyes). As these new parents start looking for the miracles occurring in their new little baby’s life, we can only hope that any feelings of disappointment are quickly replaced by hope and joy. And as these new parents start attending the Halloween carnival, the Christmas breakfast, the Spring party, and numerous other activities not only will their children feel accepted and loved, but the parents will form common friendships and be able to go out in the community with a feeling of support and acceptance.
I could go on and on about the Buddy Walk. I just can’t stop feeling so grateful for so many good people and for Ammon. Thanks again to all of you for loving and supporting Ammon, he couldn’t have been born into a better family. (As more pictures come in we'll be sure to post them up).
