Sanchez & Douds - 5k to Marathon
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James Sanchez and Erik Douds, from Maplewood & South Orange, NJ, respectively, are looking to run the Copenhagen Marathon on May 22nd, 2016 to raise awareness for two causes that are close to their hearts: childhood obesity and childhood diabetes. Why are these causes so important to us? Find out more and hear our stories below.
Erik Douds:
Imagine you had to take a shot every time you ate. We all hate shots. At the age of 16, my life changed with the diagnosis, "You have type 1 diabetes."
The adjustment is difficult. A diabetic pump, a device that looks like a pager, has replaced all the shots. But the management is not automatic. I mentally calculate the ratio of insulin to carbohydrates with every bite I take. Put simply, constant reliance on insulin means diabetics are often warned not to participate in sports. This marathon is to let newly diagnosed children know we have no limits.
James Sanchez:
I've spent the majority of my life overweight. From roughly 13-21 I was obese, ultimately balooning to over 250 pounds in 2014. However, eventually I challenged myself to change my lifestyle. I started 2014 at 250 pounds, but I ended the year at 180. Now, with Erik's help, I am continuing to challenge myself by running the 2016 Copenhagen Marathon.
What does 26.2 mean to you, Jamo?
To me, it means success; though not in any athletic sense.
It means I have successfully changed my life. Not altered, adjusted or modified my life, but fully and completed changed it. I am a different person than I was two years ago.
I went from being unable to run for more than a few minutes, to finishing a 5k, to running everyday, to running a half marathon and finally to run a full marathon. And frankly, no one is more surprised about this fact than me.
Two years ago I had a distant, seeming infeasible goal:finishing 26.2 miles means I have achieved it.
-James
What does 26.2 mean to you, Erik?
"There is a young boy with his mom and they just found out that he is a diabetic. Would you want to meet them?" asked the diabetes doctor I grew to know personally since diagnosis.
"What do you want me to say?"
The boy was only in for a routine school physical. His family's life would forever be changed from this moment on.
The boy sat there sobbing. His mother looked over her shoulder and asked, "So when will he be cured?"
"This is his new life from here on out. But do not worry, we can do anything."
Now, I run to keep to my word.
-Erik
What we are raising money for...
Realizing some families are unable to afford insulin pumps and diabetes supplies, Erik is determined to lend a hand and make a world of difference. As a student at Seton Hall Prep, Erik raised an astounding $5,000 to establish the Douds Pediatric Diabetes Fund at Saint Barnabas.
Since the Fund's inception, support has gone to provide scholarships for children to attend diabetes summer camp, supply books and other educational materials to newly diagnosed children, and provide insulin pump supplies for medically underserved children.
Funds raised by corporate sponsorships will be used as unrestricted funds to promote awareness for juvenile diabetes and childhood obesity. The flight and lodging are already provided. Specifically, we aim to create a presentation and short film to be shared with school children. How the money is used will be shared in the updates. Any excess funds will be donated directly to the St. Barnabas program for diabetic children.
What's your 'marathon'?
We are running for the people that faced a problem. Realized they had a choice. Imagined an unobtainable goal. And repeatedly said, "Yes I can."
We are running for the people that chose to change their lives for the better.
What do you want to change? Help us share our story and make our unimaginable dream a reality.
Erik Douds:Imagine you had to take a shot every time you ate. We all hate shots. At the age of 16, my life changed with the diagnosis, "You have type 1 diabetes."
The adjustment is difficult. A diabetic pump, a device that looks like a pager, has replaced all the shots. But the management is not automatic. I mentally calculate the ratio of insulin to carbohydrates with every bite I take. Put simply, constant reliance on insulin means diabetics are often warned not to participate in sports. This marathon is to let newly diagnosed children know we have no limits.
James Sanchez:
I've spent the majority of my life overweight. From roughly 13-21 I was obese, ultimately balooning to over 250 pounds in 2014. However, eventually I challenged myself to change my lifestyle. I started 2014 at 250 pounds, but I ended the year at 180. Now, with Erik's help, I am continuing to challenge myself by running the 2016 Copenhagen Marathon.
What does 26.2 mean to you, Jamo?To me, it means success; though not in any athletic sense.
It means I have successfully changed my life. Not altered, adjusted or modified my life, but fully and completed changed it. I am a different person than I was two years ago.
I went from being unable to run for more than a few minutes, to finishing a 5k, to running everyday, to running a half marathon and finally to run a full marathon. And frankly, no one is more surprised about this fact than me.
Two years ago I had a distant, seeming infeasible goal:finishing 26.2 miles means I have achieved it.
-James
What does 26.2 mean to you, Erik?
"There is a young boy with his mom and they just found out that he is a diabetic. Would you want to meet them?" asked the diabetes doctor I grew to know personally since diagnosis.
"What do you want me to say?"
The boy was only in for a routine school physical. His family's life would forever be changed from this moment on.
The boy sat there sobbing. His mother looked over her shoulder and asked, "So when will he be cured?"
"This is his new life from here on out. But do not worry, we can do anything."
Now, I run to keep to my word.
-Erik
What we are raising money for...
Realizing some families are unable to afford insulin pumps and diabetes supplies, Erik is determined to lend a hand and make a world of difference. As a student at Seton Hall Prep, Erik raised an astounding $5,000 to establish the Douds Pediatric Diabetes Fund at Saint Barnabas.
Since the Fund's inception, support has gone to provide scholarships for children to attend diabetes summer camp, supply books and other educational materials to newly diagnosed children, and provide insulin pump supplies for medically underserved children.
Funds raised by corporate sponsorships will be used as unrestricted funds to promote awareness for juvenile diabetes and childhood obesity. The flight and lodging are already provided. Specifically, we aim to create a presentation and short film to be shared with school children. How the money is used will be shared in the updates. Any excess funds will be donated directly to the St. Barnabas program for diabetic children.
What's your 'marathon'?
We are running for the people that faced a problem. Realized they had a choice. Imagined an unobtainable goal. And repeatedly said, "Yes I can."
We are running for the people that chose to change their lives for the better.
What do you want to change? Help us share our story and make our unimaginable dream a reality.
Organizer
Erik Douds
Organizer