Boston Marathon 2011

Khara's Personal Fundraising page

Creator: Khara Campbell

Please sponsor me:

Help me reach my goal of: $6,000
So far I've raised: $7,394.44

Why I'm fundraising for the Joslin Diabetes Center

I'm fundraising for this event because I lost two incredible men to this disease. I'm going to share a little bit about them, and what they meant to me. If you have a hero you're grateful for in your life, maybe these stories will inspire you to donate, or fight for a cause close to your heart, too.

Conrad "Connie" Stone was a real-life Santa Claus. Roly poly, with a jolly smile, who gave more gifts than necessary. But his way of thinking was, 'it's necessary if it makes you happy'. He was like a 2nd Dad to me, as he was not my father at all, but part of my extended, quite convoluted family tree. He put me through college, bought me my first car, first pair of skis, took me on my one and only trip to Europe so I could see the world. To say he was 'generous' is an understatement. But it wasn't the gifts that made him a hero, it was that he BELIEVED life could be what you wanted it. In my more risk-taking early 20s, when I told him I'd decided to give acting a real go, and move from Massachusetts to Hollywood, he didn't say "Not with the education I paid for, Missy!" or "Be realistic!" He just said "Those are going to be very lean years". He wanted to caution me of the challenges, but he NEVER said I wasn't capable. He believed in me, and you know, that's really all it takes. If one person believes in you, you can believe in yourself, too. I think a little bit of him reminds me, that in the face of adversity, or challenges that seem impossible, I CAN do it. I think this is why it's my 9th marathon, not my 9th 5k. It's this kind of Believe and Achieve spirit that drives me, and I am grateful for his optimism and support throughout my childhood and early adult years.

Not only was he optimistic, Connie was also determined. In September, 2005, the doctors told him he had 5 months to live. He proved them wrong, and we were blessed with not 5 months, but over 19 more months to enjoy and appreciate every minute with our Santa Claus. I know he believed it was his family that kept him alive longer, but I believe it was also that he was a wonderful - and stubborn - person. The doctors could tell him whatever they wanted. But Connie was gonna stick around til he was damn ready to go. And that's exactly what he did.

My Uncle John Emerson was probably one of the funniest, coolest Uncles around. One of my earliest memories was of me, lying on a cot in our Martha's Vineyard rental as he read me anecdotes from the 'Fart Book'. I was rolling!! I mean, what is funnier to kids - ok, to ANYONE - than farts? Haha, maybe I've grown out of it (a little), but the guy was hysterical. He had many voices, stories, amazing dance moves as he'd pretend to be one of the Four Seasons singing 'Sherry! Sherry, baby!!' The guy was a star; a man of the town - literally. He worked in the Town Government, serving on the Board of Selectmen, as well as serving as the Sewer Commissioner. (Dirty Job, but someone's gotta do it! ;) Everyone in town knew 'Johnny' including Connie. The guys grew up together, and Connie's sister, Peggy, married Johnny. Our family was always, and still is, a close knit group.

Uncle John had to take insulin for as long as I can remember, whereas Connie's diabetes developed into his later years. Connie was the one who had been told that he only had months to live, but Uncle John got very sick, very fast. Connie had to say goodbye to a friend he'd known for over 50 years, in December, 2005. They were both sick with diabetes, and it had already taken one of them. Connie, too, was taking insulin, as well as undergoing Dialysis treatments which pumped good glucose in and took the bad (waste) fluid out - two times a day and throughout the night while he slept. It's no way to live, but if Connie got to see the faces of his shining grandkids, his many sons, family and friends, it was worth it.

This past December, two twin boys were added to the Stone family - grandsons Connie will never meet. Maybe if there had been a cure, or more education, programs on preventing Type 2 Diabetes, Connie would have lived to meet them. Maybe Uncle John would have lived long enough, too.

Please support my cause. To add insult to injury, my Dad has developed Type 2 diabetes, and although he's pretty good about keeping it in check, I worry I may lose him, too. If everyone can donate One Dollar for each mile I run, I'll be 26.2 dollars closer to my goal. Two Dollars for each mile means 52.4 dollars! Please give whatever you can - I heart you for it!!
Always,
Khara

My sponsors to date:

Name	Amount	Message
AOL Group Matching Gift	$998
Matching Gift from Joseph Balan	$50
Jim and Kim Stone	$75	In honor of my father, Connie, and my Uncle John.
Chip Kelly	$50	You're gonna kill it, all the way from the Wildcats to the Ducks ;)
Keith and Ellen Stone	$500	Khara you are an inspiration during a difficult time for my family. I love you and Uncle Jack and Connie would be so proud. Keith, Ellen, Baylee, Evan, Kullen, Keigan and Bryce
Conor Barron	$15
Sal Barragato	$50	Best of luck Khara! I like to donate in honor of my dad! Sal
Elizabeth Alvarez	$50	Proud you are finally reaching a big goal of yours. Haven't seen you in forever, but positive thoughts & good luck!
Jeffrey Bell	$20
Kevin Morris	$20	Helping others is what life is all about. Good for you!
Soren Garcia-Rey	$5
Anonymous	$10	It's not much but it'll add to the pile!!
Anonymous	$20	Good Luck Khara!!
John Emerson	$200	I'm so proud of you Khara,and I know John and Connie will be cheering you on throughout the marathon (I'm sure John will be laughing at the stories you told about him and your memories of the Vineyard) I love you!
kelly magnuson	$10	way to go!
Casey Dake	$27	Thanks for lending your spirit to a great cause.
Jessica Goltermann	$20	Good luck!!!
Beverly and Beverly Atkins	$75	Enjoy the day!
Jim Wiatt	$50	Good luck Khara!
Allison Beck	$20	Good Luck Khara! Run proud!
Kathryn D'Alessandro	$50	Good Luck Khara!
Kim and Keith Antifonario	$25	Great cause!! Lots of Luck!
Keri Walsh	$25
Beville Darden	$40	Good luck, Khara!
Edna Margaret Gentry	$10	Good luck
Josh Marshall	$20
Marybeth Bergeron	$25	Good luck, Khara!
Kim Peeler	$26	you rock!
Khara and Donna and David Campbell	$150
Scott Fritz	$50	Run Forest Run!
Kristen Weinstein	$26.2	You rock!
TaraLynn Morana	$100
Mario Faciane	$25	great cause and wish you well on your run..
Susan Lawlor	$20
Bryan Alvey	$100
Robynne DeCaprio	$50	Good luck Khara! I wish I could be there to watch you sprinting across the finish line!! Love yoU!
rebecca howard	$50	you go girl!
Dru Montgomery	$100
Sam Guerra	$20
Jenny Carr	$50	Can't wait to cheer you on as you cross the finish line!
Taryn Feingold	$15
William Meara	$50
Megan McDonald	$20	Go Kahahara
Caroline Kim	$100	run, hamster, run!
Mike Puretz	$25	REPRESENT!
Kevin and Stephanie Bloom	$200
Kimberly Walton	$50	Good luck, girl!
Briana Emerson	$50	I wish I had a million to give you...I am so lucky to have you in my life...Can't wait to see you cross the finish line...My Dad and Uncle Connie will be looking down smiling...I love you!
Matthew McCourt	$100	If you don't finish in the top 3 racers I want my money back. P.S. Notice I said top 3 racers, not top 3 women. So, get cracking - those wheelchair guys finish in like an hour and a half.
Nabeela Syed	$25
Lisa and Jeff Fischer	$50	Congratulations on your 9th Marathon and qualifying for Boston is no small feat! Run strong. Lisa
Emily DeLaney	$30
Reg Gonzales	$25	Yeahhh!
Jaime Irvine	$25
Anthony Alanis	$10
Marc Pitre	$20	Great cause, great effort, Khara!
Amy Hussey	$50
Rita Colimon	$15
brian schaus	$30	Now is the time to run your best. Keep your head up and if it does not hurt a little you can go faster. Good Luck.
Jarrod Hicks	$25	Best of luck Khara
Jessica and Matthew Thompson	$25	Good Luck Khara!
Jessica and Mike Conn	$50	Good luck Khara! Very proud of your hard work and dedication to such a wonderful cause.
Naomi Yasuda	$100	:)
Rhonda George	$100	So proud of you lil' sis!
Raj Patel	$26.22	Khar-bear! This is very awesome - good luck to you!
Max Miller	$25	Run it!!
Sherylgrace Avisado	$20	Good luck!
Hunter Farrell	$5	I miss you.
Ted Porter	$10	go for it khara
Laeloni Dunbar	$20	Good luck big sis!!
alex thompson	$10
Kenneth Shadford	$25	Kick Ass, Khara!!
Jennifer Pastorini	$100	You run your ass off sister!
Joan and Mark Makarewicz	$100	Go Khara!! We're all so proud of you--what a wonderful tribute to two of the coolest guys any of us had the pleasure to know.On the occasion of Connie's birthday,I know he and Johnny are smiling down at you, girl!
Anonymous	$100	All the best to you, Khara!
Paula and Jimmy Good	$26.2	Khara: Best of luck! Connie and Jack would be so proud of you! Jimmy & Paula Good
Tom Henderson	$26.2	Good luck at Boston. You are honoring two fine men. Run proud.
Evan Mader	$100
Dana and Brian Hanseth	$100	So proud of you!!! Have a great run!
Darrell Mashia	$20	Rock on!
Chris & Kate Campbell	$100	Best of Luck Khara!! We are so proud of you and can't wait to see you cross the finish line!!! Love you!
Patricia Button	$100	Good luck Khara-you rock girl!!! xo
Patricia Stone	$1,000	What a wonderful way to honor "the guys". Even though I won't be here u will be in my heart every mile of the way. I love u
Katie & Matt Fischer	$100	Go Khara Go! This gift is also in honor of my grandmother, Violet Passallo.
Allicia Elias	$30	I love you and your family. Good luck Camp bell!
Carmen Doi	$25	I love you and good luck! xo
Justin Cook	$15
Lauren and Andy McElaney	$100	Go KC - so proud of you!
Laura Brown	$15	Congrats, Khara! From one fundraising runner to another :) it's a great thing!!
Anonymous	$50	Looking forward to rooting you on to the finish line in Boston! Best of luck to you!
Vinny Cimmino	$100	You're doing a great thing! We need more people like you in the world!
Alesa and Brian DePersia	$200	You are amazing and inspiring! Love you, Khara!
Tina and Jeff and Jeff Dale	$26.2	Khara, Good Luck! What a great cause you are running for!
Erica and Sam Collins	$25	In memory of 'craftmatic' beds made of couch cushions at a long ago sleepover.
Nicole Lent	$26.2	Go Khara! I know you will do great! Glad to be able to help your cause! xo, Nikki
Jimmy and Kate Freeman	$26.22	GO CAMPBELL GO! You've come a LONG way (literally and figuratively) since we ran together 7-8 years ago! CRAZY it's been that long, eh?
Barry and Lynne Balan	$50	Kara, those are great memories always cherish those two men. I also have great memories of them. Barry Balan
Ashley Campbell	$200	I'm so proud of you and the whole family is too! Connie and Uncle John would be very thankful and honored :) Congrats to you for taking on this big endeavor and achieving your Boston Marathon dream. Love you, Ashley
Andy Cormier	$25	God bless! My grandmother died of diabetes complications, and my dad has it.
Joe Balan	$50	Good Luck Khara. In honor of Jack and Connie. I remember many an election year holding "Emerson" signs in Chelmsford Center as a kid. He was as you describe a funny and dedicated man.

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