Miss Hannah Uhrmacher was a charmer…no doubt about that.
Always considerate of other folks first. Always ready to laugh. Always anxious to figure out how to support or help other children going through her same struggles, ever hopeful for others when her own situation got more challenging.
I’m honored to run in her memory – to have her as a constant inspiration on my team. But she is not the only Uhrmacher lady prepared to help me find my way to the finish line for this celebrated event.
I introduce her older sister, Chloe. Chloe came out with their mother to see me at the Tim McGraw concert in Omaha, and she made no bones about it: she was ready to be a part of my team.
See, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Hannah’s thoughtfulness, consideration, and hopeful spirit were all shared in their house. In so many ways, Hannah and Chloe are the same.
Just look at what Chloe offered when asked about my running the marathon in honor of her sister. “Jeff is running for my little sister, because she died of brain and spinal cancer in September of last year,” she said. “Jeff used to write emails to Hannah, and I used to read them to her. She could read really well, but sometimes, she was too tired or too sick to read them herself. I also read all of her CaringBridge site entries to her.”
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CaringBridge is a great nonprofit organization offering free personalized Web sites to those wishing to say in touch with family and friends during significant life events. Visit their website at http://caringbridge.org.
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Chloe also shared a funny story about Hannah’s visit to a Tim McGraw concert. “They [Hannah and Jeff] were good friends, and one night Hannah got to go to her first Tim and Faith concert. She came home and said ‘Now I know two Tim’s: TIM AND FAITH and TIM McGRAW!’”
Hannah’s older sister helped to set the story straight. “We had to tell her that ‘Tim and Faith’ was [the same as] ‘Tim McGraw.’ So then she said, ‘Oh…so I guess I only know ONE Tim!”
Chloe…I’m thrilled to have you in my corner, girl! You are a keeper.
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