Team Marine Parents at Marine Corps Marathon and 10K
Click here for a slideshow of photos.

A grand total of $8,807 was raised for Marine Parents outreach programs by twenty one enthusiastic Team Marine Parents participants from several different states across the nation. The furthest distance traveled by participants was from Seattle Washington - about as far away from Washington D.C. as you can get!

The event kicked off with a tour of the White House the day before the race. It was an amazing walk through beautifully decorated rooms where history has been made and our leaders have stood. Later in the day the athletes finally had a chance to meet one another at our Team Marine Parents reception.

The participants also witnessed an extraordinarily special reunion between three-time Purple Heart Marine, Cpl. John McClellan, a gravely ill Marine, LCpl. Josef Lopez, and the combat medics who treated them while in Balad Hospital. Both Marines were sponsored by MarineParents.com and participated in the marathon with Team Marine Parents. Simply by being there, they provided motivation to our runners by overcoming their situations and participating in The People’s Marathon!

Both the marathon and 10K teams met before dawn to travel together to their respective start lines. It was an all around amazing day and each participant had a shiny medal hanging around their neck. The participants worked very hard not only to reach their athletic goals, but also their fundraising goals. We are able to better support our Marines and their families because they cared enough to participate - we are so proud of our team!

Here are some comments from the participants:

• My Marine was supposed to be coming home from Iraq in time to join me at the Marathon, he said he couldn’t make it, but he surprised me at the finish line!
• The get together on Saturday night was special, but the highlight of my weekend was after the race, I asked Lisa to be my wife and she said yes!
• The thing that stands out the most for me was meeting all the parents of Marines. I immediately felt a bond with each other and it was wonderful to talk about my son and have parents going through some of the same feelings as me understand.
• This was the first marathon that I didn't want to end! I felt myself choking up the last 10K....
• By mile 18 it was apparent that I was going to beat the bridge and actually be able to finish... I started to CRY! Then I hit the National Mall and was running with a smile on my face and a happy runner’s heart! The crowd was WILD and motivating!
• It was great to get together with Team Marine Parents, witness an emotional reunion of our Marines with the combat medics who treated them, and participate in the most exciting marathon I have ever experienced! Counting down to Marine Corps Marathon 2010 (October 31st)!

Please consider joining us for a 2010 event. Starting in December 2009, we will begin updating our 2010 race schedule. If there is a local event you would like to participate in, please let us know and we will add it to the schedule.

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