A Reluctant Request for “The Reluctant Runner”

I know I’ve been late with my recap of my Mousefest adventures and I promise to get on the stick and tell you about them this week.

While i continue to gather my Mousefest notes please let me discuss a more important matter with you.

I’m sure this blog entry will get me in trouble….so let’s keep it between us…just you and me.

For the first time since Marathon weekend 2006 I will not be running in either the Walt Disney World Half or Full Marathon.

This is due to orders from my doctors to sort of take a year off, which I have reluctantly agreed to do….but I’m back on that horse in 2009.

What I have not stepped back from is giving support to all of you who have elected to go on the adventure of training for the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.

Some of you have contacted me with questions and comments and I hope I have helped you prepare for a wonderful and rewarding experience.

I honestly must admit that I will have a difficult time next weekend as my heart will be with all my friends who are down in Orlando, carbo-loading the night before their respective race, going to bed early, getting up around 2 A.M. and somehow making their way to EPCOT at around 3:30 A.M. on race day.

I wish everyone the best of luck…you are all winners…and my special support goes to those of you who are first timers for this event. I’m sure you will all be sporting some “bling” next week.

Mike the Troublemaker

So why will this blog get me in trouble?

Well, you see of all those who are running the 2009 Half-Marathon this year I have a special affection for one first time runner and that is my All Ears Colleague Michelle Scribner-MacLean.

Michelle has been down in WDW in the past during the Marathon Weekends and after last year’s trip she decided she would give it a whirl for 2009.

Michelle is one of those people who would get you out of breath just from showing you her schedule.

I won’t tell you about her full-time job as a College Professor who instructs her students on how to be the best teachers possible, or mention how she is involved in her sons’ activities, or donates hours of her time towards professional development in her sons’ school district, her piano lessons, tennis schedule…and all that.

Her husband Andrew, and sons Evan and Liam will all attest that Michelle is a busy person yet always finds the time to give them whatever they need as a wife and mom.

Still with all that she does Michelle has found the time to train for this 13.1 mile event…even though she’s never run before in her life.

Michelle lives but 10 miles from me; among hills that would make Expedition Everest jealous. It’s not easy training on those hills.

What most people don’t know about Michelle is that she is one of the most giving people in the world. The AllEars team has had the luxury of seeing Michelle in action.

I have marvelled at her uncanny ability to know when someone needs anything…and that does not just include a hand for helping but also an ear for listening.

Michelle cannot walk by a Salvation Army bowl during Christmas time without tossing a few dollars in the pot.

She will be angry at me for saying this but over the past two Mousefests I’ve seen her treat many people who she felt were on tight budgets to a meal ….keeping it quiet…not saying a word. She’s not one to accept pats on the back for what she calls, “just doing what’s right.”

This past Mousefest was the same. This woman was always quick to volunteer at any of the Mousefest events and was quick to shy away from any accolades.

What she IS is a giver…a very subtle giver.

You may have seen a recent article by her entitled, “The Reluctant Runner” in which she discusses her year long adventure and dream of running in the 2009 Half-Marathon.

What Michelle is reluctant to mention most of the time is that what pushes her…inspires her to get up every morning to run…and it’s cold up here in NH from October to January.

What motivates her is the memory of her late mother Marlene Scribner, who served as a nurse at Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

Spaulding Hospital is a special place. It is the largest provider of rehabilitation medicine in New England and provides countless hours of rehabilitation services.

Michele’s mom Marlene, is somewhat of a legend at Spaulding Hospital. Marlene served Spaulding for 29 wonderful years and to this day those who knew and loved her have in them a piece of Marlene…a special positive attitude and approach to life that uplifted every patient and co-worker who was blessed to have known this woman.

Marlene’s legacy also includes a very comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and effective anti-coagulation program that is now the standard for all SRH patients.

Marlene’s greatest legacy however, may be her daughter Michelle who every day lives life as her mother would want her to…giving of herself….unselfish…caring…the model of how we all should lead our lives.

So it just so happens that there is a Marlene Scribner Award that is awarded to a deserving registered nurse every year to help send that nurse to the Annual Regstered Nurse Conference.

This award constantly reminds everyone of how dedicted Marlene Scribner was to the mentoring and development of new nurses…who in turn would better serve the patients of Spaulding Hospital.

Well, quietly Michelle has dedicated her training to her mother and this award but because this fundraising stuff is relatively new to her, she has only told a few close friends and colleagues.

Well, I’m about to get in trouble with Michelle because I’m here telling everyone that of all the wonderful causes and fund raising efforts that go with the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon, nothing touches my heart more this year than Michelle’s effort to raise funds for her mom’s award.

Yes Michelle and I are dear friends and I plead guilty to wanting my friend to achieve her goal but it’s more than that.

When Michelle talks of her mom and her life work her eyes light up and a big smile comes across her face. She misses her mom dearly and this is how she pays respect to her mom and her legacy.

A daughter’s love for her mother always hits home for me.

I try very hard not to show favorites when there are so many wonderful causes out there.

Many of them get lots of PR..and support.

Very few, if any, have the dedication and love of a daughter for her mother and the chance to continue the wonderful work and legacy that has helped so many people.

So if there are any of you out there who I have helped to work towards this goal of stepping up to the starting line of the WDW Half-Marathon and you are looking to help someone who I feel is running for a most worthy cause please join me in helping Michelle raise funds for her mom’s award by going to Michelle’s donation page .

Thank you for helping my friend Michelle but please don’t tell her I told you about this…I’ll be in big trouble.

God bless Marlene Scribner and God bless Michelle Scribner-MacLean next weekend.

Shhhh….not a word to her….promise?