MADE Stronger – This week’s theme – Join the Superhero Fun Run!

The MADE Stronger Health & Wellness Challenge ending event – the MADE Stronger Festival and Superhero Fun Run will take place on Sunday, April 6th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Surf Club.   This ending event is a celebration of the MADE Stronger Challenge and I encourage all of you reading this blog to come join the celebration.

There will be music, food, and tables for business sponsors and for face painting, etc., along with a 1.2 mile Superhero Fun Run (or walk) that begins at 11:00.  Fun Run participants and attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero.  Batman will make an appearance and pose for pictures with his fans and the School of Rock will provide the live music.  To register please go to the Made Stronger website http://www.madestronger.org/ .

My last blog’s theme was to celebrate.  When I wrote the blog, I knew that I would be celebrating my daughter’s 12th birthday.  Melissa had family dinner on her birthday that my husband and son made together (a delicious Steak Diane with cous cous and broccoli).  Then we had a wonderful lazer tag party on Saturday. 

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I would celebrate the lives of two people who passed away last week, Tony Ridarelli and Esther Armstrong.  I knew Tony through church and Knights of Columbus.  Both he and my husband were 4th Degree Knights and were on the honor guard.  It was my husband’s privilege to stand honor at the wake and the funeral.  It was my honor to learn more about a man that loved and supported his family, church, country and community. No matter what the task, Tony was there to help.

Esther was the mother of a close friend.  I had only met her a couple of times, but through the stories that were told over the weekend, I came to know her as a proud mother, grandmother, a skilled knitter and great pie maker! 

Although the two funerals were very different, both were solemn yet celebrated the lives of the people that passed.  The families and communities that they left behind were better because of them and will remember and continue their legacies.

Since this is my last blog for the MADE Stronger Challenge, I will issue one last challenge.  Take the lessons that you learned from the Health and Wellness Challenge and carry them forward in your lives.  Try to eat better each day - but if falter, get back to the healthy.  Exercise a little more each day - if you stumble, get up and try again.  Take time to reflect – stop and smell the flowers (they should be coming out now that Spring is finally here!!).  Volunteer for something that you love – it will be good for your soul and our community.  Be mindful of your legacy – true riches come not in the amount of money and stuff that you accumulate but in the number people that you touch. And last but not least – take the time to Celebrate Life! 

Just think by celebrating life and joining us for the Superhero Fun Run and Festival you and your family could be MADE Stronger!