First time to the finish

Brendan, my name is Robert Key and I have a web site called Faithful Soles that is inspirational stories for runners of all ages and abilities. I saw your picture and was very inspired by it. With your parents' permission, I would appreciate it if you would write a story about your race and send it to us for our "Story of the Week" along with your picture (we would only use your first name and last initial). I have already had one story submitted by a 14 year old who runs cross-country, and one of our prior "Runners of the Week" was a 10 year old girl who does triathlons. My son, who is 14, recently completed his second half-marathon. I work with youth directly and indirectly through a program I have on the web site called PR10K (Promote Running for 10,000 Kids) and I believe you could really inspire a lot of young people with your efforts. Please be sure to show this message to your parents and ask them to email me at runner@faithfulsoles.com with any questions or comments. Thank you.

Hi- My name is Brendan. I am nine years old, from the North Shore of Boston. This is a photo of my very first race taken by my mom. The Kids Fun Run at the San Diego Triathlon Challenge in La Jolla, California on November 5, 2006. We posted that picture in support the Challenged Athletes Foundation. This was the 13th annual SDTC, a fundraising event for the CAF that raised nearly $2.5 million to benifit physically challenged athletes of all abilities. I was eight-years-old at the time. I was invited to the event where I received an athletic running prosthetic from the CAF. I was born without a functional left leg. I had always dreamed of being able to run as fast as my friends and now, thanks to the CAF and my new athletic prosthetic I am doing just that. This short run down the street and back was my very first race. Amazing how winning your first race can charge up your life. Now I am training and headed for real competition at the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma in June of 2007. Dreams do come true!

You can read my story and learn about the Challenged Athletes Foundation at
raceforareason.kintera.org/icanrun.

I am glad you like my photo. It is good to know there is support for all
the runners out there!

Thank-you, Brendan

Thanks Brendan! I hope to see you at the CAF SDTC this year!!!

All the best,
Bobby

"if you run for yourself, you might let yourself down, but if you run for someone else, you'll never let them down..."

Thanks to you too Bobby for all you are doing! The North Pole, WOW!
One day I hope to learn to ride a bike. Next week I am going to Carlsbad to the CAF Mobility Clinic. Hoping Peter and Sarah can give me sone running tips. I just love those two. I had a knee put into my running leg recently. It is so cool.

That's an awesome photo Brendan! Keep it up!