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CMAK Foundation Newsletter


 
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March 2021      
Inspired

from Rebecca

The month of March has now come and gone and I have to say it was filled with a lot of HAPPINESS for me. This may sound crazy but my girls were the recipients of a free tanning bed and I was strongly against it, but because Steve is so handy and knowledgeable with many different things he was able to get this tanning bed working. To say I was grumpy since the beginning of February is an understatement. The cold dreary grey days had taken their toll and vacation was still weeks away. Erin and Stephen convinced me to get in the tanning bed because I was so miserable and the “fake” sun would do me good. Ten minutes later and I have to say it worked. There was a shift in my mood and it stayed with me. Two weeks later I was in my happy place, Marco Island, Florida. We arrived to rain, but it was still Florida and the temps were way better than back home In Connecticut. The rest of the week was so wonderful. Flip flops just make my life so much better. Celebrating a friend’s milestone 50th birthday with her awesome hubby was great and finishing the weekend with another couple rounded out the week with the purchase of a dune buggy for our friends!  March was filled with HAPPINESS for many of us!

The first third of the year is over and that truly brings me more HAPPINESS. We are officially into Spring then comes Summer and early Fall, all seasons I really enjoy. The weather has been amazing for the last week and I’ve noticed the buds on the trees along with the crocus flowers in their beautiful bright colors. The stalks of the tulips, daffodils, Tiger Lilly’s and Iris’s are all poking out of the ground, all reaching up to get the warmth of the sun from the cold wet ground finding their happiness too. Springtime is an awesome time of the year, a rebirth of such wonders. And, as I collect my words, GRATITUDE, LOVE & HAPPINESS and put they in my pocket as I continue this journey, I gratefully look to my FAITH!

How appropriate that our word for the month of April is FAITH!

         

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 comes from Rebecca Kowalski from her own recent experience: 

For the past 8 years, we have hosted Race4Chase Finales and I always thought how cool the life guards looked in the water helping the little kids get from one end of the pool, pond or lake to the other.  They would always cheer and watch to make sure the athletes feel safe while in the water and begin the first phase of their triathlon. Many times I would search for a lifeguard to volunteer for a Finale and we always found one willing to donate their time.

As I started my journey 5 years ago to become a triathlete, first as a “runner of 5k’s" and then training all year long for my first sprint triathlon, I had in the back of my mind a bigger goal to always reach for something else to celebrate Chase’s life and all that he could have become. Last year, I chose to do a 70.3 Ironman distance to celebrate Chase's would be 15th birthday. This year I was inspired by Chase to become a lifeguard. This year Chase would be 16 and what better way to celebrate the young man he could have become than by getting my lifeguard certification in honor of him!



I worked with a group of amazing teenagers from Newtown High School who were all going for their certification along with two women closer to my age, Jessica Marion and Diane Salvo. It was truly an honor to work with these kids who are all around the same age as Chase would be. We were all nervous when we were learning all of the life saving skills but we managed to work together in small teams and save each other from a multitude of drowning scenarios. Our trainer, Kristen Rebelo, said we were one of the best groups she has worked with in a long time! There was a sense of pride I had watching these kids work so hard and working side by side with them was so much fun.


l-r Jessica Marion, Rebecca Kowalski, Diane Salvo

To say my life has taken a hard left turn is an understatement, but it has. I work out almost everyday. I’ve learned so much about food and nutrition, health and wellness along with the sport of triathlon. I’ve learned the thrill of victory, completing my IronChase 70.3 and the agony of defeat, breaking both wrists two weeks before my EpicChase triathlon. I’ve learned how to accept the generosity of friends and family in my time of need.

I am so grateful for the seven amazing years I had with Chase and I will continue to be Inspired by Chase!

Who knows what he could inspire in YOU! We would love to hear your story.



Race4Chase KidsTriathlon Program



Some of the Race4Chase Kids Triathlon program sites have begun accepting application for those youth interested in joining the six week training program this summer.  Others will begin the process in the month of April. Please see the full list of locations at the cmakfoundation.org/race4chase-sites and contact the sites directly to inquire about participation in the 2021 program.

We hope to be able to stage a traditional Race4Chase FINALE at the end of the program and we have tentatively reserved the following dates in anticipation:

Saturday, July 24th, 2021, CSD Community YMCA, Clover, SC
Saturday, July 31st, 2021, YMCA Camp Sloper, Southington, CT
Sunday, August 15th, 2021, Fort Adams, Newport, RI

The next few months we will put to good use our Words of the Month.  In April, we will have Faith that our full programs will be allowed followed by much Hope in May that our Faith has been rewarded until we truly begin to Believe in June as we anticipate the start of our Race4Chase athlete's training.


 

CMAK: WORD of the Month

CMAK will be choosing one word as the theme for each month; words to inspire, words to contemplate, words to motivate and words to capture our imagination.  We will try to embrace these words each month as we do our best to fulfill our mission.  We hope they will inspire all to keep life in perspective and Chase in your hearts and minds.

Word of the Month for March: Happiness



WORD of the Month for April: FAITH


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2021 Word of the Month 

January: Grateful
February:  LOVE  
March: Happiness
April: Faith
May: Hope 
June: Believe
July: Amazing
August: Inspired
September: Blessed
October: Embrace
November: Thrive
December: Family
 

Chase Kowalski Memorial Golf Tournament



Save the Date!

The Chase Kowalski Memorial Golf Tournament 
is set for August 7th, 2021. subject to clearance from local regulations.  CMAK will follow CDC guidelines in place on the date. Anyone interested in becoming a hole sponsor for hole sponsors, raffle donator, etc. can contact sharon.pirhala@gmail.com.
 

Crazy 8 Ride4Chase


Crazy 8 Ride4Chase will be postponed until September 2021 with  a tentative date of September 19th. More details to follow in subsequent newsletters.


 
 
St Pat's Trivia Night Results

"Share the Happiness"

1st  IronViking (aka:Nick Waaler)   
2nd Tracey and Liz Kosa
3rd Suzy Finn 
 

Although some might say they had the "Luck of the Irish" that night, but we are more convinced it was skill rather than luck that brought our winners to the podium.
 

WINTROP Men's Basketball

Congratulations to Coach Kelsey and the Winthrop Men's Basketball Team for winning the Big South Tournament for the 2nd year in a row and making it to the NCAA Tournament.





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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.
 


Race4Chase News




Please submit your Race4Chase stories and photos to kgrimes@cmakfoundation.org.
 

Baton Update

Nothing new to report from our baton holders this month.  We hope to have more activity in the coming months as in person activities expand.

A big thanks to RELAYBATONS.com for donating all the Race4Chase batons for this program and also for use in our Race4Chase Kid’s Triathlon program. 

 

Upcoming Events


Race4Chase Kids Community Triathlon
Great Hollow Lake
Wolfe Park
Monroe, CT
Sunday, July 18th, 2021

Race4Chase Kids Triathlon FINALE SC
CSD Community YMCA
Clover, SC
Saturday, July 24th, 2021

Race4Chase Kids Triathlon FINALE CT
YMCA Camp Sloper
Southington, CT
Saturday, July 31st, 2021

Chase Kowalski Memorial Golf Tournament
Nippo Lake Golf Club
Barrington, NH
8am-1pm
Saturday, August 7th, 2021


Race4Chase Kids Triathlon FINALE RI-MA
Fort Adams
Newport, RI
Sunday. August 15th, 2021

Crazy 8 Ride4Chase
Location TBA
September 19th, 2021
(tentative)
Entertainment: Boondocks Band

TCS New York City Marathon
Race4Chase Team

November TBD, 2021
New York, New York
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