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Running With Claire at the Baltimore Running Festival!!

I just love this photo!  Rocky and Claire, Daddy-Daughter, running her first 5K. She was in first grade and so proud! All smiles with her blond ponytail bouncing all the way to the finish line!

Long after she was forced to give up lacrosse and field hockey due to the intensity of her melanoma treatments, Claire continued to run. Be it on her school’s cross country team or as part of her determination to stay fit while fighting the “beast” – she would lace up her shoes, grab her head phones and head out the door, running to clear her mind and fill her heart. It was a bond she shared with her dad.

Rocky spent many years as a marathon runner – competing in the Baltimore Marathon numerous times as well as the Marine Corps Marathon. Claire was still in her stroller as Hillary and I pushed her along the running route to cheer him on! Although Rocky now cycles – case in point, his 630 mile Riding With Claire journey in 2015 – he was always hopeful that running was something he and Claire could do together in the years to come. Now they are, but it’s not quite as he imagined.

The Claire Marie Foundation is an official charity of the Baltimore Running Fest; one of the premiere running events on the East Coast! We are over the moon at the thought of incorporating Claire’s love of fitness with our campaign to raise awareness, clarity and hope in fighting adolescent and young adult melanoma. Rocky’s got his Relay Team set! 

Why don’t you join us! It’s October 21, 2017! Pick a race; 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Team Relay or even the Kid’s Run! We pay your registration fee and you help us raise funds to fight melanoma in young people. It’s that simple!

Just email us at runwithclaire@clairemariefoundation.org and we’ll get you signed right up! All you need to do is lace up your running shoes, get your friends to support your efforts, and have a blast while running to support our cause!!

To participate, each runner must raise the following minimum amount by October 5th, 2017.

Kids Fun Run: $100.00
5k – $250.00
Half Marathon – $350.00
Marathon – $500.00
Relay Team – $250.00 per runner / or $1,000.00 per team (heads-up: this event fills quickly!)

Are you inspired to raise more than the minimum dollars? Yes please! We’d love it! After all event expenses are covered, 100% of additional funds will support our mission to raise awareness, clarity, and hope in the fight against adolescent melanoma.

Each participant will receive a Claire Marie Foundation Team shirt, entry into a pre-event Team pasta dinner, and a chance at the following prizes:

• For the top Individual fundraiser (5k, Half Marathon or Full Marathon) – $1,000 travel voucher on Southwest Airlines.

• For the top Relay Team Fundraiser – $2,000 travel voucher on Southwest Airlines.

How amazing is that? Running to save young lives on a fabulous fall day! A terrific way to #LiveLifeLikeClaire!