Because We Can

Remember that letter to the newspaper (link takes you to my original posting about the letter I wrote) I wrote back in late April? Well, what came of that letter became much larger and much more touching than I could have ever imagined. A huge thank you to Vicki Cronis-Nohe for your amazing photography and videography skills. Another huge thank you to Hattie Brown Garrow for putting a friendship into words that I couldn't even begin to describe.

Below you will find the video interview that was done with Marc and Ashton, it's currently up on YouTube and I believe is also viewable through the Virginian-Pilot's "Evening Pilot" app, available only on iPad. On August 23rd, the story about Marc and Ashton was the highlight cover story for the app and it was so cool to get an early read of the story. Made for an amazing birthday surprise since it was available 2 days early! You will also find the links below for the actual story on the Virginian-Pilot's online website, and a link to the photo gallery.



An Unexpected Friendship
The link above will take you directly to the article which will give you access to the video and the photo gallery :)

With all of that being viewed and said.....

Don't believe that you can change someone's life?

You may never know that you, yourself, are missing from someone's life, or that you're missing someone from your own life until you take a chance with a new experience. Sometimes stepping out of the box of everyday comfort can be difficult, but what happens when you do so, may change your life forever. You may change someone else's life forever. You may be the one person who can unlock the windows and break down the walls of someone's tough facade.  Marc did just that, 14months ago. I think I can speak for him and say that what happened in the months since then, was not something he had expected. Nor was it something that we, as Ashton's family, expected. But we are forever grateful and blessed to have been open to change, open to meeting new people and experiencing new things. For without the amazing experiences these two incredible young men have gone through over that time, we would have never realized so much was going on in Ashton's heart that he couldn't tell us.

As I said in my letter to the newspaper four months ago "Thank you to Marc. You've given us our son back. You've opened the doors and windows to his soul and we're finally learning things about Ashton that before we never knew about. You've made me a true believer in the youth of today. With so many horror stories about children with Autism being bullied, it's a true breath of fresh air to see the polar opposite in the loving friendship you and Ashton share. You two make an incredible team and we couldn't be more happy and blessed to know you and your incredible family. Thank you for being exactly the friend Ashton needed at the moment we least expected it . We'll never be able to forget it."

This is all been a blessing; an amazing, beautiful and wonderful experience for all involved, both families and all the friends and extended families of those of us immediately involved. Thank you for letting us share their story with you.

Much love and gratitude,
The McCormick & Leber families

Team Hoyt VB fundraiser!!!!

So - anyone that has been reading my blog since at least March of 2012, knows that Ashton has become a Team Hoyt VB rider athlete. What this means is that in a distance race, he gets to ride in a super cool jogging stroller (made for adults) and gets to feel the wind in his face while he's getting pushed! He has totally loved the experience thus far, and has become attached to a couple of his pushers (Marc Leber and his mom, Andrea). They've now pushed Ashton in 3 races (of the 5 he's done thus far) and will be pushing him in a couple of weeks at the Surfers Healing 5K here in VA Beach. 

Anyways.... to get to the point.... the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in VA Beach is coming up on September 2, 2012. As the largest fundraiser for Team Hoyt VB/Guardian Angels Fund, they encourage each rider team to raise a minimum of $250 per team member. Ashton's team includes him, and two wonderful ladies (Louise Battaglia and Kim Thumel) who will be pushing him along the 13.1 mile Oceanfront course. That means his team needs to raise a minimum of $750. 

Holden has also kind of become an honorary Team Hoyt runner/pusher, and will be helping push Ashton in the Surfers Healing 5K (Holden's first official race "pushing") on August 18, 2012. Holden thought it would be very cool to see if he could help out a great group by raising money. He knows how much his brother enjoys surfing with Surfers Healing and he understands Ashton's excitement during the races and wants to ensure these great organizations continue on to do great things. So we set up a fundraising page. We got an idea put in our head by a little birdie, that Holden's fundraising goal should be $818. Why such an oddball number? Why, he wants to raise $818 by 8/18 of course!!

So - $818 + $750 = $1,568! 

CAN THEY DO IT?!?! YES THEY CAN!!!! 

We would be extremely honored and humbled with any donation you may consider giving this wonderful group and organization. No donation is too small, In fact, passing this blog post along to your friends and family is a great way to show your support, if you can't financially. Please help us reach our goal! THANK YOU!!!!

Team Ashton - SHVB5K & RnR 1/2 Marathon

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/mccboys2/shvb5k2012

A 501c3 non-profit, Guardian Angels Fund / Team Hoyt VB, strives to include the disabled into everyday able bodied activities, more specifically, the thrill of competitive sports. In addition, we support programs that provide these services like Equikids Therapeutic Riding Program. Your donation will help maintain our fleet of 60 racing chairs, trailer, inflatable boats the swim portions of races, website and taxes. Also, Team Hoyt VB will be sponsoring a summer camp in 2013 for 16 special needs children to attend Equikids. This program was cancelled this year due to lack of funding, and we are bringing it back. 

Other programs we have supported have been St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, Pembrook Elementary Special Needs Playground, Surfers Healing VB, Allen Stone Memorial Races, Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters, Young Life Capernaum, RWTTC, Stronger Together, and countless other groups.

Shamrock Race weekend 2012!

THANKS to our friend Shelley for making this posters for the boys!!!

Hello everybody! Today was an absolutely FANTASTIC day! Beautiful, warm temps and a WONDERFUL day for some runnin'! Holden ran in his first 'solo' longer (meaning, nobody was running with him) race (the TowneBank 8K) as well as his second Operation Smile Final Mile! Ashton was pushed in his first race, also the TowneBank 8K by, Julia Dwyer, runner for Team Hoyt VB! 

It was very cool to watch the race progress and see people we knew running (we saw some wrestling teammates and families, saw some kids Holden has wrestled before) and of course, the teachers from Western Branch schools as well as the parents of some of Holden's classmates.

Anyways, on to the results...... :)

Ashton and his runner, Julia, came in with a time of 47:37 for the 8K! He LOVED it!!!!

Holden came in with a time of 52:16 for the 8K and 8:48 for the Final mile! He had a faster time than some of his former preschool teachers for the 8K (Sorry Ms Cerza and Ms Starkey!). He also ran faster than some of his friends from his school for the Final Mile! 

Holden had also raised money for Operation Smile as many of you may know. He ended up raising a grand total of $785.00! WTG Little man!

VERY proud of BOTH boys! For Holden for doing such an awesome job in both races and for Ashton, he was very well behaved on the course and his runner said he was wonderful! I saw him a couple of times on the course and he looked as calm and as happy as can be! We did realize a couple of things - we need to give Holden a very specific spot to meet us after he runs..... he ended up crying because he couldn't find us (he had moved from where I told him to stand), but was found without too much of a hitch. I had forgotten to get Ashton's runner's cellphone number so it was a bit tricky trying to locate her. I did finally find her on my way back to the equipment trailer for Team Hoyt. But now we've learned and we know for next time! :)

So, here are some pictures...... unfortunately, none of EITHER of them running/riding. I got a couple of Ashton and all were blurry and got none of Holden :( Booo! :( But here's the few that I got :)

wait?! You mean I have to run that WHOLE marked path?! ;)

Ashton and Holden before the race

Ashton in his stroller and Holden

Ashton and his runner, Julia 

Team Hoyt of Virginia Beach runners and riders - this is Ashton's FIRST race with them!

Holden, at Corral 6 (where he started)

Holden, with his WBI classmates who all did a fantastic job in the Operation Smile Final Mile!

WBI Shamrock Final Milers!

Julia Dwyer (runner from Team Hoyt VB) & Ashton with their medals!

Holden with his Final Mile medal

Holden with his 8K Finishers Medal!

Holden's finishers bib that I received in email this morning.
I took a screenshot of it! Pretty impressive if you ask me!