I was working on a series for our blog today when something much more pressing came up – a visit from Blain Davis to our office. I had heard about Blain through Linda’s mother, Dorothy, last year. She showed me a picture of three young men, arms draped around each other’s shoulders and wide grins on their faces. In the background was the desert. “See that man in the center?” said Dorothy. “He just finished a race across the desert to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis – I think it’s called an ultra marathon.”
At the time I was training for my first marathon. I can’t even imagine the time and mental will power it takes to train for an ultra marathon – never mind actually doing it where the heat is unbearable during the day and cold at night. But Blain’s motivation for this 250km run was more than just to say he did it – the cause is close to his heart as his son, Jack, was diagnosed with the disease.
Cystic Fibrosis is fatal, affecting the lungs and digestive system. Coping with the disease takes a lot of energy and effort – much like an ultra marathon, including daily physical therapy and up to 40 pills a day. But just meeting Blain and looking at the video of his son, Jack and wife, Kristen, you know that they have very strong spirits and look at life in an incredibly positive way. It made me realize how sometimes we get so caught up in personal irritants and discomforts that we don’t take the time to be thankful for the good that comes our way. This family has taken the positive approach to life instead of complaining about traffic jams and computer glitches at work.
This year Blain is doing it again with Carson Lueck (Jack’s Uncle). It’s their hope that the money they raise can make a difference in funding the research needed to help Jack and others. On June 14th, 2009, they will be braving the Gobi Desert to do battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
You can support this cause either individually or as a group by going to www.gobi4cf.com and make a pledge to back Blain and Carson on this great cause.
Stay positive, stay healthy, be thankful. And all the best to you, Blain and Carson. Godspeed!