The Ending of the #SharingStreak

The #sharingstreak was so much fun wasn't it? Over $690 was raised in 10 days! Incredible! Families lives will be changed forever! I am so blown away by the generosity and by the stories that were shared here.

Also--
it was incredible the amount of stories that came out in the news and on my Facebook feed during those ten days of incredible heartache, loss and joy through cancer, sickness, research and triumphs. My heart has been so tender to the ups and downs of others through this process. Wanting to hear and see what others are going through tends to make you more attentive! WHO KNEW?!

With that, on my anniversary...my sweet husband was chopping up some firewood in our front yard and ended up accidentally putting an axe (actually a mawl) into the top of his foot. We threw our kids at our neighbors, called a friend (Thanks AMY NOLL!) to come and grab them whenever she could and we went Urgent Care. Matt sliced through a part of a tendon and needed 12 stitches but it could have been soooo much worse (like losing a toe so much worse). We were thankful!

But his mobility was drastically reduced.  He was limited to the couch for a few days and he was in a pretty good amount of pain.

I realized that I am not the most patient caregiver in the world. I tried.
I really did.

Because I really wanted to be nice, thoughtful, caring, giving, LOVING.
But I got over it.

Quick.
And I like help. I like not doing life on my own. And I like my husband doing the things that I hate doing.

And when he wasn't doing them, I got grumpy. And not so servant-like. And I was sorta annoyed that he put the axe in his foot. I was blaming him. FOR AN ACCIDENT! In case you are wondering, I am an awesome wife. Everyone should want to be married to me.

UGHHHHHH.

The reality of what it takes to go through life with a terminal illness hit me like a ton of bricks and I saw what a brat I was. So I tried again. And I failed again. I asked for forgiveness. And I tried again.

Then it hit me, this is really why people need a vacation from THEIR PROBLEMS (like Bob says in What About Bob). Because caregiving (even with Jesus by your side) is hard dang work.

Now Matt is up and about and totally fine and we are back to normal. It has taken all of 11 days out of our lives. That is nothing! I have a hard time imagining 9 months, 16 months, 3 years. The rest of your days together.

And I am so glad to get to run to give this time to these families. Thank you to all of my supporters who have donated and those of you who have read. I am nearly 1/2 way to my goal. Feel free to donate and help me get there! I won't make you share!

Click here to donate! 

Day 10: #SharingStreak Trey Sloan and National Running Day!

Matt's cousin and John Mark's brother Trey Sloan made a donation to keep the streak alive yesterday but he wanted to keep the sharing to a minimum so to honor his wishes, I wanted to encourage all of you to go out and move your bodies for those you love today!

Stay healthy. Make good choices today. Fighting cancer and terminal illness first starts at home!

And to give you a good visual reminder of one of the reasons I am so excited to run the Marine Corps Marathon on October 25th, here is a video about the marathon:



Marine Corps Marathon "The People's Marathon" from PCI on Vimeo.

I am ALMOST 1/2 way to my fundraising goal. I have only $60 to go to reach $750. Will you donate and join in the #sharingstreak?

Click here to donate. 

Day 9: #Sharingstreak John Mark and Karin Sloan

John Mark and his wife Karin on Halloween this past year. Their children were the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Very Beautiful Butterfly and they were the fruit the children had eaten through. I love creative costumes!

John Mark is my husband Matt's cousin and he and his wife have been long-time supporters of my running with Inheritance of Hope. They are doctors at Boston Medical Center and they sent a message to me through Facebook sharing their support for Inheritance of Hope and why John Mark is a specialist in Oncology.  

"Hi Leslie-

In college I would go to church each week and try to figure out which direction my life should take.  Every week, different members of the congregation would request prayers for their friends and relatives with cancer.   One day,  it occurred to me that God was using this to  literally tell me what to do with my life.     My work as an oncologist at a hospital that serves predominantly poor and vulnerable patients is the result of that calling.    My wife Karin works at the same hospital.   Cancer patients who are parents of young children have problems the rest of the world can’t even bear to imagine.    You are running for a good cause."

--John Mark Sloan

I'm so grateful for this message! It was such an encouragement to me in the middle of this running streak and attempt to raise money for families with terminal illness. 

We are once again at the end of the #sharingstreak! I'm always excited to see who will answer the call and decide to jump in to have their story known and shared. 

Will it be you? Click here to make a donation! 

Day 5: #SharingStreak Amy Berry

Amy Berry's Grandfather Fred Cushing Jr. and her girls the last time they saw him alive. 

Amy Berry is a dear friend who works with me here in Asheville on the Young Life staff. We run hard in life together in Asheville since we have kids that are similar ages and we love to laugh at exactly the same things.

Amy's husband Phil is the director of Camp Ridgecrest for Boys where Asher has spent two weeks of the summer for the last three years AND HE LOVES IT LIKE WHOA. 

We love the Berry's and are so grateful for their friendship.

Late last year, Amy's grandfather and the patriarch of her family passed away and it affected her deeply. She is honoring him with a donation to Inheritance of Hope and with today's post. 

Who- My grandpa- Fred Cushing, Jr.

Why- He died in November at the age of 96 and was just an incredible man- great father, grandfather, great-grandfather, business man, World War 2 veteran, loving husband and super sharp to the end.  He was a lover of learning and reading and the outdoors.

Where I find peace through trying times- Jesus and my family have helped me through my hardest times; 

How- knowing that my Hope is in Jesus and his death on the Cross and life with me now

Quote- my favorite right now: “We spend most of our lives trying to make things happen for ourselves and for the people we love. But life is not reduced to what you give or know or achieve. Nor is it reduced to your mistakes, your failures, or your sin. Life isn’t even defined by whom you love. Rather, it is defined by the God who loves you. In other words, you are not the central character—not even of your own life’s story. This is not meant to demean you; it is meant to set you free.”  From Sacred Thirst by M. Craig Barnes

And this from the Bible- Job 26:14And these are but the outer fringe of his works;

how faint the whisper we hear of him!

Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Pump up song- phew....that's hard.  Really any Whitney Houston song like "One Moment in Time" or Mumford & Sons "Roll Away Your Stone" or "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy (that's pretty varied I'd say)

*I love that those are her pump up songs. That sounds just like me! 

This is the final donation so far! I am running every day and I would love to run and pray for you and your family. I would love to post and share tomorrow about someone in your life! MAKE A DONATION TODAY! 

Click here to make a donation to Inheritance of Hope and join in the #SharingStreak!

If you are wondering what Inheritance of Hope is all about and what kind of impact it is making: Here is a blog post from a family that JUST came back from a retreat. Inheritance of Hope is all about leaving a legacy and changing lives. Creating hope and hope for the future. It is REAL! 

Day 4: #Sharingstreak Diane Hidey

(R) Diane (L) sister Janice

Diane Hidey was my mentor throughout college. In my junior and senior year, we would meet for breakfast weekly and read books together and talk about my life and how it was maybe falling apart and what direction it should take instead.

Diane has been SO GOOD to me over the years. In fact, 14 years ago--Diane was a bridesmaid in my wedding-even though she would have much rather read Scripture or something. She is just one of those people who puts on a dress and walks down the aisle of life with you just to let you know she stands by your side.

This is what she is doing with her sister Janice. Janice has stage 4 breast cancer. She is a teacher and an incredible woman of God who has influenced countless people for Christ. She is fighting for her life and she is loved deeply by Diane and her family.

Person you want to honor:  Janice Hidey

Why are you honoring her? She's the best sister, she's the primary care giver for my Mom and she's battling Stage 4 Breast cancer

Who has helped you the most to find strength through trying times? My strength first comes from God. He shelters me and hems me in behind and in front. So I turn to the Bible for words of comfort and my friends for a shoulder to cry on. I've also found that In hard times it helps to get the focus off of me and go do something that helps others. Volunteer, give your life away to others and the burdens we have get shared with many. 

Favorite quote: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

--Jim Elliott

What is your pump up song? Born in the USA--Bruce Springsteen

Thanks Diane! 

I have only one more donor to go in the sharing streak right now!

I am looking for more. Do you have a story to tell? 
Click here to donate and I will be in touch to share your story! Keep the #sharingstreak alive!  

Day 2: #Sharing Streak Cal Rains

(L) Me and Caroline Rains at Saranac Lake in 2010 and (R) todays run

Todays donor, Cal Rains wasn't able to get his questions back to me in time for today's post but his daughter is one of my favorite all-time Young Life friends so I can share that I am so grateful for them and their support of me running for Inheritance of Hope and Young Life. 

Caroline was in a car accident in high school during a rain storm and her car ended up in a fence on the side of the road. The fence posts went through her windshield and cut her very badly. She persevered and she is beautiful inside and out! 

I was so privileged to walk through life with her during high school and I get to see her around town now as young adult and she is so much fun. Her brother Cole ran cross country in high school and at Clemson and I get to see him now as a student at UNCA. This family means the world to me and I am so grateful to them for their support! 

I only have two more donors left in the tank right now! I need more to keep going! Want to join in? Donate today! 

Leslie Sloan's Inheritance of Hope Page

Day 1: #SharingStreak Ri Lamb

(top L)Me wearing my fathers 1982 Marine Corps Marathon shirt, (top R) my father in a foxhole in Korea, (bottom L) my parents looking super dapper at a formal military gathering, (bottom R) my Father's Change of Command Ceremony when he was the Commander of the 25th Transportation Corps in Seoul, South Korea. PRETTY AWESOME HUH?

Person you want to honor:

My husband Don. Served in the Army for 36 years. We have lived in twenty-something places together in his military career. 

Why are you honoring them? 

He is my hero. I can always trust him. He has given his life for our country and I can't imagine life without him. He is always encouraging me. He is so faithful and trusting. 

Who has helped you the most to find strength through trying times? 

Besides my husband--My children, my mother, my grandmother. And Jesus. 

How?

Having a strong faith...whenever we moved--having a strong faith gave me the ability to see how somethings would never change no matter where we were. Being an Episcopal, I knew that my parents were saying the same prayers and reading the same Scriptures I was even if I was half-way across the world. 

When my sister-in-law died, it gave me great comfort to go to a church in California and to know the service to find the same prayers and Scriptures that we have at home. It was peaceful at a time of grief. 

Favorite quote:

"Love one another as I have loved you"

Something you want others to know/be inspired by/find hope in today:

I love your running! I am inspired by the way you have run for charity. Particularly for Inheritance of Hope. By how persistently you train. How you have encouraged your children and friends. It's infectious. 

Here's a fun quote "When you find yourself spending more time worrying about your body odor than you spend on God's call for your life, then it is time to reexamine your priorities." --Bishop Scott Benhase 

What is your pump up song? 

Sweet Caroline and Forever in Blue Jeans--Neil Diamond

Want to join in the Sharing Streak? 

Leslie Sloan Inheritance of Hope Page