Elise Faust. Dinner and Silent Auction for @INGNYCMarathon @sloan_kettering on Monday, 9/19.
I’ve run marathons.
But I’ve only run them for my own pleasure.
There’s a special woman in Madison who is running her first marathon, the NYC Marathon on November 6, with the goal of raising $5,000 for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Research Center. Elise Faust. (She is half-way to her goal.)
She’s been featured on this blog before because she’s so darn inspirational (and has awesome pair of red cowboy boots that I haven’t figured out how to get in my possession).
So I had to let you know about her latest adventure.
Elise with her neice after running the NYC Half Marathon this spring. Her neice is running the full with her on November 6.
This cause is very important to Elise.
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s charity, Fred’s Team was created in honor of Fred Lebow, the long time president of the New York Road Runners who died of brain cancer in 1994 at age 62.
Under Fred’s leadership, the race course was re-routed to run through all five boroughs. This includes a trot through Queens, where Elise grew up.
Her sister-in-law with whom she was very close, died of ovarian cancer at age 30. Her grandfather and uncle died of prostrate cancer. And her mother had pre-cancer scares as well.
“Cancer research is very important to me,” said Elise.
* * *
How to help.
* Buy a ticket to the fund-raising dinner next Monday night, September 19 at Perk Avenue, 6:30 to 9:30. The tickets are $25 a piece — half going to the charity. This gets you a choice of Chicken Florentine or Beef Bourgonione, green beans, mashed potatoes, dessert and tea. Yum.
It’s important to reserve your spot so Jolene will know how much to prepare.
Cash bar. (beer and wine)
There will be a silent auction. I think you can talk during these things… you just have to act real cool about what you want till a stealth move at the last minute. Or bid away with reckless abandon, because the money couldn’t be going to a better cause.
Elise said she would be happy to deliver tickets anywhere or come by her office — to purchase them.
* * *
Here’s Elise with her sister Rochelle, who was cheering her on for the Half this spring.
* * *
On Training.
“Training is going pretty well,” She laughs, “It’s certainly an interesting journey for this 46-year-old body.”
She’s done 16 miles twice and is waiting for that first cool Saturday morning.
Woo. Let me tell you, Elise. That will feel awesome.
“The hardest part has been the best part. Learning I can push myself in doing what I never imagined I could do.”
She is quick to remind everyone that this is taxductable…
I look forward to watching her progress. The marathon and its training breaks down all kinds of physical and mental barriers.
But one thing is for sure, mind and body aside…Elise’s heart has always been in the right place.
GO TEAM FAUST!
Have you ever raced for a charity before? How did that add to your experience?
