Tai Temple

Hello friends, colleagues and Ashland Community!

As a working mom of two boys I realize time and resources are precious, so THANK YOU for taking the time to read this!

When I started running 2 years ago, I chose a lofty goal: I would train to run the Boston Marathon. I was motivated by wanting to teach my two boys about resilience and optimism in the face of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing. After training for an entire year, I managed to complete the race - without checking into the medical tent!! Honestly, what I love about the Boston Marathon is how it unites people in celebrating every single participant, no matter where they are from or how fast (or slow in my case) they are going. This enthusiastic, crazy jubilation reaffirms that people will support complete strangers if they believe that the challenge is worth it.

This year I am dedicating my efforts to my friend, Shannon Aaronson, who was 47 when she died of glioblastoma this January. She was an Emergency Medicine Doctor who spent much of her time working with residents, she was also a mother of two young kids and she was a support to me when life got hard. Shannon knew the value of perseverance and pushing yourself to your limits, even when the finish line seemed impossible to reach. My goal is to run fast enough to be able to enter as a Boston Qualifier for next year. As I put in the training miles now I have Shannon in my mind. She knew there is strength and power in knowing you are doing the work, no matter what the outcome. I hope to do Shannon proud.

I will be running for my town of Ashland, the second town on the route. The funds I raise will be directed to community projects that help people at the grass roots level. A few examples: helping to cover the cost of afterschool sports for kids whose parents may have to choose between putting food on the table and giving their kids a chance to learn about teamwork/healthy activities; The Ashland Food Pantry; exercise programs for seniors: the summer reading program at the library; the STEM lab at the high school; Ashland Fire Department's Camp Bailout, which promotes leadership skills to teenage girls and helps them learn what it takes to become a firefighter.

My goal is to raise at least $3000 which will be given to these local organizations. I want to make a real impact for the town I call home. Those that know me well know I have little patience for waiting for problems to fix themselves. Please help me raise money that will immediately be used by people directly addressing unmet needs in their community. Thank you for your encouragement and your support!

-Tai