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Johnny's Run for Life 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Registration - 7:30 a.m.
1-Mile Fun Run - 9:00 a.m.
5K Run - 9:30 a.m.
Awards Ceremony - 10:30 a.m.
Come Run, Walk or Wheel
at the Wilson Farm Park
500 Lee Road
Chesterbrook, PA 19087
www.wilsonfarmpark.com
Click Here to Register Online
Click Here for a Brochure
Sponsored by:
- JJ White Incorporated
- Gimpel Software
Prizes and Categories
A $50 cash award will be given to the top male and female finisher in the 5K race. Medals will be awarded to the top three males and females in each 5K age group.
5K Age Groups
10 & Under 11 to 14
15 to 19 20 to 29
30 to 39 40 to 49
50 to 59 60 and over
Awards to the top 15 finishers 14 & under in the 1-mile Fun Run.
All children participating will receive a participation award.
Registration
T-shirts are guaranteed if you are pre-registered by October 1, 2011
Pre-Registration
Adults - $20
Children under 18 and Students 21 & under - $10
Family - $35 (includes 2 t-shirts)
Extra t-shirts are $5.00/each
Race Day Registration
(t-shirts available while supply lasts)
Adults - $25
Children under 18 and Students 21 and under - $15
Family - $40 (includes 2 t-shirts)
Extra t-shirts - $5.00/each
Teams registering with 25 or more registrants will receive colored t-shirts.
A non-refundable check or money-order made payable to A Baby's Breath must accompany your registration and is to be mailed to 827 West Lancaster Ave, 2nd Floor, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.
Click here for a race registration form you can print, fill out and send in with your registration fee. Or click here to fill out your registration online and pay by credit card. For additional information, contact Marianne Stutzman at 610.520.2227 or email at abbmainline@gmail.com.
Words from Johnny's Mom:
I believe my son, Johnny Williamson, would be particularly pleased to see this, the second annual “Johnny’s Run for Life” in support of A Baby’s Breath of Bryn Mawr. Everyone who knew him knew how strongly he believed in the right to life for all of God’s children. Johnny died wearing the pro-life bracelet he wore everyday for six years. He stood up boldly before his high school and college classmates and stated his beliefs proudly. Those who knew him also knew how much he loved to run. My foremost running memory of Johnny, however, is not of his success in the sport, but a glimpse of the formation of his faith and character.
Johnny was an exceptional runner when he was quite young. In fifth and sixth grades, he ranked consistently in the top eight cross country runners in the Archdiocese, and in track even held the fastest mile time in the Archdiocese for a week. As he grew, however, he developed an extremely painful condition in his lower spine that couldn't be diagnosed until he was a sophomore at O'Hara. Even after being diagnosed, Johnny never ran again without pain. One day in seventh grade, instead of coming off the cross country course in the top group, he finished nearly last. He came away crying in pain and had to stop near a tree because the pain made him so nauseous. He looked at me through his tears and pleaded with me to tell him why God gave him through his tears and pleaded with me to tell him why God gave him such a gift only to take it away. Summoning the Holy Spirit, I responded that being one of the fastest runners was terrific, and it is always good to use God's gifts to the best advantage, but that was not going to get him into heaven. Learning instead to surmount obstacles with patience, grace and perseverance was development of character, and that was what we were put on earth to learn. He took me at my word, which at twelve years old was remarkable in itself. He changed his goal in running eventually from expecting to be All-Catholic every season in high school to striving to be All-Catholic at least once before he graduated. He did...second team All-Catholic in Indoor Track in a relay in his Senior year. He ran his heart out and his leg of the race put his team in second place. I was never prouder of him, and he was never prouder of himself in that aspect of his life.
Johnny was certainly not perfect. He procrastinated more than anyone I know; he wasn't always as focused as he ought to have been he often put fun before duty in his studies. When he found himself getting off track, however, he was always able to find his way back to holiness. He never lapsed in his faith and the practice of it, but in the last two years of his life he deepened his faith commitment, joining the Drexel Newman Center and the Penn/Drexel Liturgical Music Group, becoming a Eucharistic Minister, agreeing to sponsor his girlfriend Jamie's entry to the Catholic Church in April, 2009 (his brother, Dan, assumed that commitment for him.) Johnny never missed an opportunity to speak out fearlessly in the classroom or among friends of his certainty that all human beings deserved the right to life. His last two Facebook entries were (quoting Dr. Seuss) “A person’s a person no matter how small,” and “Choose Life.” He lived his brief life "abundantly." I am certain he did not realize the impact he had on so many; that wasn’t his way. But he would certainly be pleased if his example could encourage other young people to pick up his banner of faith in God and respect for all life and continue what he began.
Donna Marie Williamson
Johnny's Fraternity from Drexel U |
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Ready,
Set, Go |
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Villanovans for Life volunteers |
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