Cash, Sweat & Tears Award Honorees
2013 Winner: Julie Weiss
Julie Weiss was devastated by the loss of her father in 2010 to pancreatic cancer. Determined to honor her father and combat the disease that took his life, she set herself an audacious goal: Run 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise money and awareness for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.Starting with the Rome Marathon in 2012, Julie traveled the United States and Canada running a marathon every weekend. Between 26.2 mile efforts, she solicited donations and generated publicity for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – all while holding a full time job. In addition to memorializing her beloved father, Julie used each marathon to honor people afflicted with pancreatic cancer. To date, her fundraising exceeds $143,000.
Jenny Isaacson, vice president of community engagement for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, nominated Julie for the Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. “Julie is truly an inspiration to all those involved in the fight against pancreatic cancer,” she wrote. “Her dedication and passion in honor of her father and all those touched by this devastating disease is remarkable.”
Learn more about Julie’s amazing journey by visiting her blog www.marathongoddess.com
To see more about Julie's achievement, watch this video from the Cash, Sweat & Tears Award dinner.
2013 Honor Roll
Outstanding volunteers were nominated for the 2013 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. Their dedication and achievements made selecting a winner very challenging. We recognize all of the nominees by listing them in our 2013 Honor Roll:
| «Jay Scott» | «Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation» |
| «Matt Hardt» | «American Heart Association» |
| «Stephen Lindbeck» | «American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific» |
| «Ken Froese» | «CES Canada» |
| «Dr. Bryon Solberg» | «Challenged Athletes Foundation» |
| «Rebecca Harris» | «Covenant House» |
| «Drew Edwards» | «CureSearch for Children's Cancer's Ultimate Hike» |
| «Amy Moss» | «Event 360, on behalf of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day events » |
| «Dylan Bouterse» | «Event 360, on behalf of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day events» |
| «Sandra Chiesa» | « Event 360, on behalf of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day events» |
| «Kathy Giller» | «Event 360» |
| « Denise Navarro» | «Exchange Club» |
| «Steve Berube» | «JDRF New England Chapter» |
| «Jill Miller » | «Living Beyond Breast Cancer» |
| «Eric Gelber » | « Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation» |
| «Augie Nieto» | « Muscular Dystrophy Association - Augie's Quest» |
| «Leah Wilson» | « National MS Society» |
| «Steven Radoslovich» | « National MS Society, NYC - Southern NY Chapter» |
| «Drew Swiss» | « NYRR Team for Kids» |
| «Marilyn Seifert» | « Parkinson Alberta Society» |
| «Matt Hardt» | « Payton Communications, on behalf of the American Heart Association's Heart Walk» |
| «Steve Donboch» | « PKD Foundation, Run for PKD» |
| «Cindy Leder» | «Princess Margaret Cancer Centre» |
| «Teddy Greene» | «TEAM TO END AIDS/AIDS Foundation of Chicago» |
| «Russell K. Miller» | «Turnkey Promotions, on behalf of the Polar Plunge» |
| «Amanda Thompson Jordan» | «Uniting Against Lung Cancer» |
| «Suzanne Osborn» | «Young Survival Coalition» |
2012 Winner: Sam Fox
From August 25 to October 25, 2011, Sam Fox stretched his physical and mental endurance to the max by running and hiking 2,400 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Coast Trail in honor of his mother Lucy, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000.
In the process, Sam raised over $170,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research through his Run While You Can foundation. Along the way, Sam, a Yale University graduate, built an online community of passionate supporters and was the subject of a documentary film.
As Miranda Lanzillotti of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research put it in her nomination submission, "Sam is an inspiration and unique individual who put his mind and body forward for the social good to make a difference."
You can learn more about Sam's achievements including a video that ran on the NBC Nightly News by visiting www.runwhileyoucan.org
2012 Honor Roll
Outstanding volunteers were nominated for the 2012 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. Their dedication and achievements made selecting a winner very challenging. We recognize all of the nominees by listing them in our 2012 Honor Roll:
| «Lance Safford » | «AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run » |
| «Ed Schober» | «American Cancer Society» |
| «Jamie Baker» | «American Diabetes Association» |
| «Mari Ruddy» | «American Diabetes Association» |
| «Rebecca Babb» | «Autism Speaks» |
| «Thomas B. Coles, M.D.» | «Brain & Behavior Research Foundation» |
| «Dan Green» | «CASANA» |
| «Kelli Sargent» | «Cedars-Sinai Medical Center» |
| «Angela Lombardo» | «Children's Hospital Boston» |
| «William Ward & Family » | «Children's Hospital Boston» |
| «Tom Campbell» | «Children's Hospital Boston» |
| «Barbie Carillo» | «City of Hope» |
| «Kurt Ward» | «East Atlanta Kids Club» |
| «Darren Fortney» | «Gilda's Club Madison» |
| «Brian MacCallum » | «JDRF» |
| «Mary Brown » | «JDRF» |
| «Andrew Thieman» | «LIVESTRONG» |
| «Wendy Keem» | «National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter» |
| «Raymond Burke» | «OP3, Inc. on behalf of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention» |
| «Daniel Padilla» | «Organization for Autism Research» |
| «Jake Marcus» | «Team Challenge/Crohn's & Colitis Foundation» |
| «Matt Wilbur» | «The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research» |
| «Michael Kelly» | «The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research» |
| «Warren Hoselton» | «The TREE Fund» |
2011 Winner: John Killian
Just a few years ago, John Killian knew virtually nothing about Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Then his infant son Sam was diagnosed with the disease and John becamse one of the most active members of the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, an organization of which he is now chairman of the board.
Especially dear to John has been Run For Our Sons, PPMD's endurance fundraising program. John was not an avid runner when Sam was diagnosed, but upon learning about Run For Our Sons, he immediately began to train and has participated in dozens of marathons to raise funds.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars later, John is the greatest single fundraiser in the Run For Our Sons program. And now the rest of his family is participating too. His two older kids are finally old enough to participate in the half marathons at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, where they have been watching from the sidelines for years.
On Father’s Day of 2010, John was critically injured in a fatal car crash on his way to train for the ING New York City marathon – his personal favorite of all the marathons. He continues to heal from this horrific accident that crushed most of the bones in one of his legs. Just weeks after the accident though, John flew to California to cheer on PPMD's Disney Marathon team. He later flew to NYC to cheer on the Run For Our Sons team there. He is determined to get back in his running shoes to support PPMD.
2011 Honor Roll
Outstanding volunteers were nominated for the 2011 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. Their dedication and achievements made selecting a winner very challenging. We recognize all of the nominees by listing them in our 2011 Honor Roll:
| «Lance Safford » | «AID Atlanta» |
| «Stacy Matseas» | «American Cancer Society» |
| «Nick Giordano, Jr.» | «American Liver Foundation» |
| «Timothy Sathre» | «ARC» |
| «Mireya Kilmon» | «Arthritis Fdn, Florida Chapter» |
| «Gini Bowling» | «Beit T'Shuvah» |
| «Rachel Weissler» | «Bike Florida, Inc.» |
| «Robert E. Skold, Jr.» | «Children's Tumor Foundation» |
| «Dr. Paul Chan» | «Church World Service» |
| «Bridget Spence» | «Event 360» |
| «Lorne Shiff» | «Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation» |
| «Mary Brown» | «Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation» |
| «Michele Wilkinson» | «Madison Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure» |
| «Kyle Croft» | «March of Dimes» |
| «Amanda Brannan » | «Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure» |
| «Jane Chambers » | «National MS Society – Central Virginia Chapter» |
| «Leo Katsetos» | «National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter» |
| «Aaron Hawkins» | «National Multiple Sclerosis Society» |
| «Craig Washka» | «National Multiple Sclerosis Society» |
| «Michael Weiss» | «National Multiple Sclerosis Society» |
| «Debra Kulig» | «National MS Society, South Florida Chapter» |
| «Robin Kettlewell» | «North Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure» |
| «Major Jose Rivera» | «Organization for Autism Research» |
| «Jodi Whitmore» | «Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure» |
| «Mark Longfellow» | «Susan G. Komen for the Cure Orange County Affiliate» |
| «Greg Barbutti» | «Texas Mamma Jamma Ride» |
| «Charlotte Hale» | «Texas Mamma Jamma Ride» |
| «Traci Engelman» | «The National Multiple Sclerosis Society» |
| «Steve Clayton» | «The National Multiple Sclerosis Society» |
| «Debra Acosta» | «The San Antonio Aff of Susan G. Komen for the Cure» |
| «Lilla Wirtanen-Debenedet » |
2010 Winner: Jennifer Bechard
Whether she is lying in a hospital bed or crossing a finish line, 22-year-old Jennifer Bechard doesn’t let hydrocephalus stop her from acting on her passion: supporting the Hydrocephalus Association’s series of fundraising walks.
Her exemplary commitment earned Bechard the 2010 Cash, Sweat and Tears Award, an honor presented each year by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council to an inspiring volunteer who goes above and beyond in “thon fundraising.”
“You would never know by her attitude and determination that (Bechard) has hydrocephalus, a chronic neurological condition consisting of an abnormal accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain,” HA Regional Program Manager Sarah Oxford wrote in her nomination.
Bechard, a Northville, MI resident, has led three Hyrocephalus WALKs in her home state, leads a support group there and voluntarily designs WALK websites for chapters across the country, often from her hospital bed. (Over the years, Bechard has undergone more than 80 brain surgeries.)
“The ranks of “thon” fundraisers are rich with stories of people who dig deep within themselves to support critical causes,” said Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council President David Hessekiel. “Jennifer Bechard’s dedication of time, energy and spirit inspires us all.”
“Through my hospital stays and surgeries, the walk has been one of the positive factors that kept me motivated,” said Bechard. “A cloud of people in white t-shirts crossing the finish line is just one of the images I replay in my head every time I am headed back to surgery. Even in the midst of the most trying times with hydrocephalus, I have a reason to be thankful, because I am helping to end the difficulties and struggles that come with this condition.”
2010 Honor Roll:
Sixty outstanding volunteers were nominated for the 2010 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. Their dedication and achievements made selecting a winner very challenging. We recognize all of the nominees by listing them in our 2010 Honor Roll:
| Alissa Schor | Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter |
| Lynne Ferrell, LTCG | Alzheimer’s Association, Minnesota/North Dakota |
| David Pittman | American Cancer Society |
| Mark Fischer | American Diabetes Association |
| Isaac Sutton | American Friends of ALYN Hospital |
| Emil Knopf | American Heart Association |
| Kim Racine | American Heart Association |
| Shelly Church | American Heart Association |
| Suzanne Suarez | American Heart Association |
| David Collins | American Heart Association |
| Veena Kumar | American Heart Association |
| Charleen White | American Heart Association |
| Al Carey | American Heart Association |
| Valarie Nosenzo | American Heart Association |
| Jack Lynch | American Heart Association |
| Edmund Ludwig | American Heart Association, Founders Affiliate |
| Shirley Stoll | American Heart Association, Greater Southeast Affiliate |
| Craig McKenzie | American Heart Association, Mid Atlantic Affiliate |
| Alan Jesiel | American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate |
| Jim Postl | American Heart Association, South Central Affiliate |
| Scott McClelland | American Heart Association, South Central Affiliate |
| Rusty Wallace | American Heart Association, South Central Affiliate |
| Dorene Dodd | American Heart Association/American Stroke Association |
| Kevin Williams | American Heart Association/American Stroke Association |
| Robin Cutter | American Heart Association/American Stroke Association |
| Mycle Brandy | American Heart Association-OC Start! Training |
| David Shuey | Arthritis Foundation |
| Trisha Buerge | Autism Speaks |
| Brent Ross | Bay Area Wilderness Training |
| Ken Froese | CES Canada |
| Henry Jones | Church World Service |
| Brandon Straughan | Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation |
| John Guthrie | Community Education Services Canada |
| Jim Bodine | Delaware Valley Chapter/Alzheimer’s Association |
| Mike Zeller | Fetal Hope Foundation |
| John Corneille | Foundation Fighting Blindness |
| Paul Gray | Gilda’s Club Seattle |
| Catherine DuBay | Girls on the Run |
| Cheryl Monaco | Hampton Roads Community Care |
| Joseph Renaghan | Homes for Our Troops |
| Lauren Alford | ING |
| Brett Blankner | Ironbaby for March of Dimes |
| Jere Carpentier | LIVESTRONG |
| Jim Frederick | Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS |
| David Costa | Lorenzen Cancer Foundation |
| Joy Heinsohn | Miles for Cystic Fibrosis |
| Sgt. Samantha J. Allen | National Down Syndrome Society |
| Jeff Hendricks | National MS Society |
| Kevin O’Sullivan | National Multiple Sclerosis Society |
| Jim Soter | National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter |
| Joe Fairchild | National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter |
| Wilson Chua | Organization for Autism Research |
| Aimee Jungman | run for her® |
| Paula Colorosa | Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver |
| Matt Wilbur | Team Fox (The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Grassroots Community Fundraising Program) |
| Raymond Burke | The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention |
| Michael Lade | The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network |
| Denise Hulsey | The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter |
| Melissa Shoemake | Virginia Assoc. of Nurse Anesthetist (CRNAS RCOK) |
| Mark Wagner | World Vision |
2009 Winner: Barbara Jo Kirshbaum
Barbara Jo Kirshbaum was nominated for this award by Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Program Director Eloise Caggiano. In her testimonial, Caggiano explained:
“Barbara Jo Kirshbaum has been walking for breast cancer since 1998. And since 2002, she has participated in every Avon Walk for Breast Cancer nationwide each year. This past year she reached two amazing milestones, she completed her 100th walk for breast cancer and not only reached – but exceeded! -- her astonishing fund-raising goal of $1 million dollars! That’s one woman – one cause – more than one million dollars!
“Barbara Jo is a true inspiration. She has a warm smile and a friendly hug for everyone at the Avon Walks and her tireless efforts prove that anything is possible! She has walked more than 5,000 miles for the breast cancer cause, and at a spry 70 years old, Barbara Jo has already signed on for all nine Avon Walks in 2009! She keeps going and going – there’s no telling what she’ll achieve next year!”
Asked about her accomplishments, Barbara Jo said she had many more miles to walk and dollars to raise:
"Many people have asked me if I am continuing to walk and fundraise, since I reached such big goals in 2008. My answer is 'yes', I am continuing because breast cancer is still being diagnosed every 3 minutes. Actually my goals for 2009 are the same as in 1998 when I started at 60 yrs. old. It is about challenging my body and raising as much as I can in the fight against breast cancer. I walk because I can't walk away!"
Learn more about Barbara Jo's inspiring story -- and support her fundraising -- by visiting www.bjkcounselor.com
2009 Cash, Sweat & Tears Honor Roll
Thirty-seven outstanding volunteers were nominated for the 2009 Cash, Sweat & Tears Award. Their dedication and achievements made selecting a winner very challenging. We recognize all of the nominees by listing them in our 2009 Honor Roll:
| Greg Barbutti | Hill Country Ride for AIDA |
| Heather Barone | American Lung Assoc |
| Steve Bartolucci | Lance Armstrong Fdn |
| David Bechhofer | Avon |
| Chris Beers | Kids in Crisis |
| Maria Bellumori | American Lung Assoc |
| Gina Bellumori | American Lung Assoc |
| Bruce Bokish | National MS Society |
| Bill Burnett | Juvenile Diabetes Research Fdn |
| Tom Corbett | National MS Society |
| Bob Dier | LeRoy Haynes Center for Children |
| Rita Fischer | AIDS Walk New York |
| Elliot Ganz | American Friends of ALYN Hospital |
| Emily Greenberger | The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s |
| Charlotte Hale | Hill Country Ride for AIDA |
| Jason Heetland | ALS Assoc |
| Lauren Heller | Susan G. Komen for the Cure |
| Carolyn Hill-Morris | PKD Fdn |
| Syd Jones | Big City Mountaineers |
| Diane Kawer | National MS Society |
| John Kellenyi | The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society |
| Alyssa Krafsur | National Psoriasis |
| Kathy Lubbers | Arthritis Foundation |
| Carolyn Morrision | Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne |
| Jennifer Morrison | Organization for Autism Research |
| Vivian Parisi | Breast Cancer Network of Strength |
| Tracy Perry | The Children’s Hospital Foundation |
| Sheila Rollings | American Lung Assoc |
| Michael Russo | Homes for Our Troops |
| Steven Sams | AIDS Walk in San Francisco |
| Lynn Smythe | Step By Step Fundraising |
| Eric Song | Toronto City Mission |
| Kevin Stenstrom | Melanoma Research Fdn |
| Brianna Vivian | Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America |
| Jessica Wright | Alzheimer’s Association |
| April Yamaichi | Bay Area Wilderness Training |
