Help Continue the H.O.P.E. Mission...
The H.O.P.E. Flag (Helping Others; Provide Education) was created and hand painted through a workshop at the Museum of Cultural Arts of Houston (M.O.C.A.H). Since that that we have allowed family members to place the names of children either currently affected or lost due to birth defects. Names continue to be place on the flag every day. In effort to provide them HOPE, I promised those families that I would train and get ready to carry the flag with me across the 2013 Ironman Florida finish line. You can find out more about the symbolism of the flag and creation by going to H.O.P.E. Flag Page.
It is amazing what we have learned about birth defects since the beginning of our journey in 2011. Although Shawn's specific conditions were rare, 1-in-33 children are born with some sort of birth defect. Birth defects are also the leading cause of infant mortality. We have also found that there is very little funding that goes to research, education, and awareness. This leaves parents like Rachel and I feeling hopeless and alone while our children are being treated. Rachel and I decided that we would do whatever it took to prevent another family from going through what we did with Shawn alone.
Thank you in advance for your support of this effort. This could not be done without you.In 2012, Rachel and I committed to raise the first $25,000 of the Shawn's Anomaly "Parent Packages" are just a small gesture but it has proven to have a huge impact for the families that receive it. Other than just providing them with basic toiletries, the parent packages provide the parents with a sense of hope and the assurance that they are not alone during this tough time.
port Fund at Texas Children's Hospital. The money is used to help fund congenital anomaly research projects and provide care packages to families that are currently in the hospital with their children that are undergoing treatment and surgeries to repair their birth defects. These "
I was amazed and honored to be joined by several other every day and professional endurance athletes that chose to pick one of their events this year to help raise money towards the $25,000 goal. Together we have raised approximately $10,400 in a little over a year. I never would have imagined that we would be this successful in such a short time, and we could not have done it without your help. Once again, it has proven that "Anything is Possible" and convinced me to consider this next challenge.
I thought it was very interesting that we have $14,600 left of our goal, so to help finish the season with a huge bang, I think it is possible that with your help we can raise the remaining $14,600 in the 14.6 days that lead up to the finish of the 2013 Ironman Florida by donating to my Ironman Florida "Your Journey, Your Cause" page.
On race day, I will carry the H.O.P.E. Flag for the duration of the 26.2 mile marathon of the race while wearing a donation bag. If you are at the race and you see me coming, I ask you to please contribute $1, $5, $10, $20, or $100 donations to the bag as I run by. You can also go online and donate to my fundraising page by clicking the donate button above. Remember that no donation is too big or small. Every dollar counts. You can follow my progress live on race day by going to www.hopeflagchallenge.com and please share the link on Facebook and Twitter using the hash-tag #HOPEflagchallenge so all your friends and family can help as well and send messages of support that will be read to me during the race.
Sincerely,
Matthew S. Murphy
a.k.a. "Shawn's Ironman"
Thank you to all our sponsors that have supported our efforts so far: Champion System, Newton Running,OnUrLeft Coaching, BlueFin Software, yurbuds, & MyFitFoods. We could not have gotten this far without you.
