I grew up in a family where laughter was the backbone of our spirit. I was well aware of Gilda Radner from Saturday Night Live, particularly through my Mom who would do an impression of Roseanne Roseannadanna!
I was 19 years old when my mother passed away of a brain tumor. Her incredible sense of humor (and cursing) has continued to stay with me. It took me some time to process the loss but in 2011, I finally found a way to celebrate her life. I saw a posting in my neighborhood on a well-known building with a red door, publicizing openings available on Gilda’s marathon team. They were looking for runners to help fundraise while getting a guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon! I could not think of a better way to cherish my mom’s spirit.
Not only did I discover fundraising for Red Door Community rewarding but found an amazing community of people. The marathon led me to the Associate Board where I was able to collaborate with peers who shared similar journeys and enable me to find a family of friends.
I ran for Red Door Community again in 2015 as a tribute to my father who had recently passed away. In 2011, he appeared in 3 boroughs to cheer me on. He was so impressed and supportive of the work Red Door Community is doing that I knew he would be thrilled. It was only fair I run all 5 boroughs for him.
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- Kristin McCann – 2011 & 2015 Gilda’s Club NYC Marathon Team
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