motivation

Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 4:35 PM To: Dan Brady (Runners of Compassion Nanaimo) Subject: Runner of Compassion Nanaimo Chapter make a difference

Hi Dan,
At my Rotary Club of Nanaimo meeting at the Howard Johnson at noon today, a local educator stood to tell a story of success made possible by the Runners of Compassion, Nanaimo Chapter.
She was a guidance counselor at a Nanaimo secondary school last year when they received a consignment of new and gently used running shoes from ROC.
Coaches and phys-ed teachers made regular visits to her shoe stash, but she made comment about one day when a teacher came up and showed her a pair of shoes held together, not of duct tape but of scotch tape. There were no insoles, no protection and it was pouring rain outside. The student, a tall, six-foot 16-year old stood to one side with his head hung low obviously embarrassed.
The counselor said, "Come with me," and they went to a closet with rows of shoes provided by ROC. The student tried on several pairs and finally settled on startlingly white shoes which apparently fit perfectly.
He was weeping with his good fortune at finally replacing the shoes which had literally fallen off his feet.
The counselor said she saw him regularly and the student said - and showed her proudly - that he had been keeping the clean white shoes still clean and white even though it was a wet and muddy season.
The Runners of Compassion programs do make a difference in Nanaimo, one person at a time.
Best of luck continuing the great work.