Inspired
from Rebecca
 It’s been a long time since I’ve celebrated the little things. When the kids were little, all of the “little things”, the accomplishments, were huge successes. When they started lifting their heads, then rolling over, their first steps, potty training and the list goes on and on. As I write this, it’s been 17 days post op and, with each passing day, I feel like I get a tiny bit better. The amount of damage I did and the amount of work ahead of me can be overwhelming and I have moments of discouragement. But then I think back to when my kids were little and we got so excited when they accomplished the little things. I decided that was what I need to do. Instead of focusing on the things I can’t do or won’t be able to do for a while, I would focus on the little accomplishments of the day. Never would I have thought that making my bed was a victory. Opening a car door by myself, yet another small victory. Oh, and my favorite, showering myself and blow drying my hair. I actually had to sit on my floor and hold the blow dryer with my feet and use my better hand to brush my hair. It’s amazing how much you need your hands, but it is also amazing that if you think out of the box you can be very creative in how you can accomplish things in different ways. Now my girls are the ones that get excited for me getting the little things accomplished. Everyday that passes I can move my hands and wrist a little better.
Since my accident, I couldn’t do anything for myself, this accident has been very humbling and very eye opening. Humbling because, being a mom, I would do close to everything for my family and now they had to do EVERYTHING for me. Let’s just say I couldn’t even take care of myself in the bathroom. TMI but that has opened my eyes and shown me how much I am loved by my husband and daughters. The transition from being the one that takes care of most things in the house to being the one that has to be taken care of is very difficult. I had to give up the control. I’ve learned how to walk away and let my family do things their way. It's not that it’s the wrong way. It’s just different from my way. Who knew there is a better way to load the dishwasher, or laundry could sit for days in a basket and stay clean, a lot more wrinkled but still clean. Honestly, none of it really matters. Dishes can sit in the sink, counters don’t have to be wiped down. Family first, followed by my closest circle of friends who have all stepped up with great dinners, awesome treats, beautiful flowers and support and encouragement for me when I was so close and now so far from my Epic goal. Ultimately, I am so grateful for all of you and for everything you have done for me and my family as we add this chapter to my life’s story.
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In this section for our newsletter we are asking our readers and supporters of CMAK and the Race4Chase Program to submit stories of inspiration emanating from Chase and the programs that he has inspired. CMAK encourages everyone to submit their stories to be published in this section to Kevin Grimes at kgrimes@cmakfoundation.org.. This month's story was received by CMAK from the Bayside (RI)YMCA Race4Chase program from the Marquez family :
The Race4Chase Program is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind program. It has a
profound and positive impact on everyone involved: It touches the young
athletes, from as young as six years old to older kids, their family members
and parents and their coaches who work with the kids every day preparing
them for the race. This program is so much more than training for a triathlon.
It’s about teaching compassion, creating a teamwork experience that will go
beyond the duration of the program, forming bonds with the community and
friends, and swimming, biking, and running for someone more than oneself,
for Chase.
This is our story: our two daughters Sophia and Annabelle have participated in
this program for the third year now. They were part of the first team that
started this program at the Bayside YMCA in 2018. They have grown so much
since then and we were fortunate to be able to continue with the Race4Chase
Program every year since. Triathlons are not easy to accomplish. They
require you to work on your abilities in three different disciplines, carried out at
the same race! It takes you out of your comfort zone when you race to put on
your biking and running clothes while still wet from the swimming.
Our kids have embraced this lesson and they learned a great deal: Doing your
best makes you feel good, helping others and cheering them on makes you
feel even better. They learned about teamwork, they grew through their
coaches and junior coaches, also in a discipline that they did not know much
about before... our younger daughter learned how to ride her bike during this
program three years ago. We will never forget that!
2020 has been a strange and difficult year. It has challenged us in so many
ways, but it has also brought us closer together as a family and community.
After having spent months in a distant learning environment, our daughters
could not wait to see their friends, coaches and teammates. Especially in the
times of COVID-19, the kids practiced being good team members and saw
that individual success is also the result of helping and supporting each other.
We are so grateful for their coaches at the Bayside YMCA who encouraged
and motivated them on this path because they and we believe that what these
young athletes experience will be important throughout their entire life. Life is
and will not always be easy. Finishing the race and uplifting each other while
swimming, biking or running, will make us stronger, kinder and better.
We are amazed and thankful that even in 2020 with all its difficulties, the
program was possible. The CMAK Foundation and Bayside YMCA went
beyond and above to make it happen. Although the program was shorter than
in previous years and the group sizes smaller due to state guidelines, the
structure remained the same. The coaches and team even organized a final
race at the Bayside YMCA site which was a wonderful experience for the
young athletes and their families.
Thank you very much for making this happen. We wish and hope the
Race4Chase Program will continue growing and Chase’s story keeps on
inspiring countless young athletes and their families.
Sincerely,
The Marquez Family
(Silke and Yomar)
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CMAK is proud of each of our sites to have provided such a wonderful experience for the athletes and their families in these difficult times. Our hats are off to the coaches and junior coaches who made a personal commitment to be a part of Race4Chase and continue to make an impact on the athletes.
OCTOBER: Celebrate 15 Days of Chase
 Join us as we continue to celebrate Chase' 15th birthday with the 15 Days of Chase. Today is the 10th day of our count culminating on October 31st. (see below) Follow us on Twitter and / or Facebook to receive daily updates on the 15 Days of Chase. You'll discover more than ever about Chase, his family and CMAK. If you missed the previous days, you can view the posts at the CMAK Facebook page.
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Day 10
One of my kid's favorite cartoons was Sponge Bob Square Pants, I just love this full toothy grin taken at one of my favorite places, Lake Quassy. Amusement parks, carnivals, town festivals, you name it, we would take the kids. We took the kids to Disney once. We felt they were big enough to handle the over stimulation of all that it had to offer. We have precious video of Chase and his interactions with Erin and Goofy. We let Chase pick out a hat and he wanted the characters to sign his hat, instead of an autograph book. The hat hangs on our wall along with all of the medals that were given in Chase's memory. I think it was that same year we also went to Bush Gardens in Tampa, and he and Stephen went on Chase's first big roller coaster ride. He came off of it with this panicked look on his face and, at that moment, he was like "never again" but, as the day progressed, he decided it was a super cool thing he had done. But if you asked him if he wanted to go again, he was happy hanging with me.
 
 
Chase's Birthday BINGO- SOLD OUT!
Thank you to all those that purchased BINGO cards. We are limited to 100 cards so we are full for this event. If it goes well, we might consider having another night as most of our events are limited to virtual in nature.
Note Change of Address for CMAK
CMAK Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation
2 Washington Square
Newtown, CT 06482
We would like to remind you of the DOT Generation Charity Partnership Program for which CMAK is a member. You can express your support of CMAK through contracting for your printing needs with DOT Generation of Connecticut who will in turn contribute 5% of gross sales to CMAK. For more details about the program and a full list of services, please contact our good friend and long supporter, David Stowe, at david@dotgeneration.com.
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