Runners Spotlight...Natalie DeAngelo
According to Natalie, those who knew Brad Pinney know he dedicated his life to giving back to his community- whether it was in the line of fire as captain of the Wilbraham Fire Department, volunteering his time on countless community boards or simply by being a good father, husband, coach and neighbor - he was an example of what it truly means to give 100% to others.Natalie DeAngelo has run marathons before, but never one for a cause so near and dear to her heart. On April 19th, 2010, she will be running the Boston Marathon as part of our Running for Cover team in honor of the late Brad Pinney, her boyfriend's father, who passed away after a courageous 6-month battle with Melanoma in September 2008.
Natalie has watched her boyfriend Shaun, his sister Nicole and their mother Chris cope with their loss with strength and determination that is a reflection of the love and strength Brad built within his family. This served as an inspiration to Natalie. In her own words, “Running a marathon is nothing compared to what the Pinney family has endured. That's why my goal is to raise over $5,000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New England in Brad's name.”Natalie has several ways you can support her fundraising efforts to help prevent other families from experiencing the effects of this tragic disease and continue Brad's legacy of always giving back to others.
1. Donate: Donations can be made online safely, by visiting www.firstgiving.com/nataliedeangelo.
2. Save the Date: On February 20th, 2010, Natalie DeAngelo and Nicole Pinney will be hosting the First Annual Brad Pinney Wine Tasting & Silent Auction at the Hampden Country Club in Hampden, MA. All are invited to this fabulous event to celebrate Brad Pinney's giving spirit and raise funds for the Melanoma Foundation! Contact Natalie for more information at natalie.deangelo@gmail.com.
3. Follow her blog - Read Natalie’s blog to learn more about Brad or follow her training. There are some great pictures of the Pinney family and she plans to put up lots of videos of her long runs in 10 degree weather. Check out her blog here: www.helpicerun.blogspot.com
Your support means so a great deal to Natalie, the Pinney family and thousands of others who have experienced Melanoma. Thank you so much for your support!