Für meinen Bruder, Anila, Sara und Debora,

Für meine Eltern,

For Jan and Bob,

And for Tracey, the most amazing woman I've ever met,

I am going to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon on October 20, 2013 in San Francisco.

Having almost lost a brother, not to cancer but a car accident, I want to make sure that no other child has to ever know how it feels like to see its brother or sister sick, suffering, or die.

No child should have to see its parents like that. In pain, blaming themselves for not being able to end the suffering. Not being able to save their child from dying. Seeing their child die before they do.

No child should have to see its sibling like that. Wanting to be in his or her place to just to make its pain go away. Having a constant bad conscience because it is the "Healthy One".

A child shouldn't have to suffer like that. Never. It should play, run, laugh, enjoy the best part of its life. It should not feel responsible to support its parents through this tough time. Or feel helpless, incapable of making the pain go away. And, worst of all, so scared of loosing its brother or sister. Its other half. The one person that is closer to him than anyone else.

I run. I will suffer. It's just a small contribution. But preventing even one child from what I went through will make it worth the pain.

I want every one of these children to be able to see their nephews and nieces, like I was able to.

Eine, etwas längere, Version in Deutsch findet Ihr hier.