GyGsMailbag: A Runner, a Cub Scout, and Race Against Time

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Thu, 15 Jun 2000 10:23:01 EDT


Chip Beck is a correspondent for APB News, a Marine and a
friend of Richard
Keech. I felt the least I could do is to forward his letter to
all the other
readers of Richard's newsletter. Joan Keech Spann

From:
BeckChip@aol.com
To:
undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject:
A Runner, a Cub Scout, and Race Against Time
Date:
Thu, 15 Jun 2000 09:44:39 EDT


Note: For those in organizations or wider nets, please
distribute or publicize
as appropriate for your regulations --thanks. Chip
_______________________________

A RUNNER, A CUB SCOUT, AND A RACE AGAINST TIME
from Chip Beck

As some of you know, one of my activities as an “old geezer”
is running
daily and a once-a-year “jog” in the Marine Corps Marathon. I
have been
running ever since high school and Navy frogman training (both
some 30-40
years ago), but I did not take up the Marathon until I was 47.
I’ve now
completed 6 out of the last 7 USMC Marathons. Severe running
injuries
sidelined me for the 1999 event, but after a 15 months hiatus, I
have
recovered and am back on track for the October 2000 Marathon
here in
Arlington and Washington, D.C.

At age 54, I feel blessed to still be running, albeit a bit
slower some
years than others, and to be healthy enough to recuperate fully
from my
running injuries. Having been fortunate to lead an active and
healthy life
in war and peace, I take each day as gift and appreciate the
years behind me
as well as whatever time lies ahead.

Not everyone is fortunate to have a “flat course,” and some
people face
an uphill run in life’s marathon. That is why I decided this
year to make a
small difference as I pound out the 26.2 mile run with 18,000
other runners
in the nation’s capital. It’s a crazy hobby, so why not make it
count for
something?

You see, I am also a Cub Scout Master for Pack 116 in
Arlington,
Virginia. One of my Webelos Scouts, who also happens to be my
son Alex’s
best friend, is a bright, energetic, and popular 4th-grader.
His love of
life is evident, and he is a charming, humorous little boy. He
loves to
swim, play baseball, and blows a mean saxophone. His name is
Adam.

Adam has cystic fibrosis, a relatively rare condition that
affects the
quality of life for 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S.
While there
is no current cure for the condition, progress at treating it
has been made,
but it’s still not good enough -- CF must be conquered or
controlled, and it
can be.

The development of Gene Therapy research is aiming to
pin-point the root
cause of CF and find treatments or a cure that will control or
eliminate this
affliction. For 30,000 children and young adults, the search
for a cure is a
race that we can help win.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) in Bethesda, Maryland
has one of the
most efficient and effective medical research programs in the
nation. It is
working around the clock to understand CF and find a cure.
That’s why this
year, in the Marine Corps Marathon, I will be running as one of
“Adam’s
Amblers” on behalf of “my” Cub Scout, the CFF, and all those in
search or in
need of a cure for CF.

As a CFF Team runner, I have committed to raising a minimum
of $1500 by
mid-September to support CF-related research. Of course, I’d
like to raise
much more than the minimum. I am asking you, my friends,
colleagues and
contacts, and any of your friends to whom you can pass this
message, to join
me by donating whatever amount you can spare for this worthy
cause in the
fight against this disease.

My wife Kathy and I will contribute financially to this
cause, and I
promise that once I cross the starting line at the Marathon,
this old Sailor
will cross the finish line as well -- no matter what -- to
symbolize that the
race for a cure must also be won by finishing the research that
has already
been started and shows such promise.

If you can help, please send a (tax-deductible) donation by
check made
out to “CFF” (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) and mail it to:
“Adam’s Amblers” - CFF
c/o Chip Beck
P.O. Box 5573
Arlington, Virginia 22205

I will pass all the donations on to Karen Finks at CFF in
Bethesda on
behalf of Adam, but the entire amount will go to work for the
full spectrum
of folks who are hoping for a break-through in combating and
treating CF.
For more information on CF, log on to <<www.cff.org>>

Please forward this to your friends, as appropriate. My
sincere thanks
to all in advance. I’ll let you know our success, and my
Marathon results,
in October, but please help now, if you can. If not, at least
pass along the
message and my appreciation.

Best regards,

CDR Chip Beck, USNR (ret)
BSA Cubmaster, Pack 116
Arlington, VA
BeckChip@AOL.com