Rewind to January 2011 – I was at the lowest possible place in my life. It was two years post-college, during which I’d been a Division I athlete, and I decided to move back to my hometown to regroup and think about my purpose in life. ‘I’m an athlete,’ I said to myself. “Well, not anymore — you’re an old washed-up athlete now. Think harder.’ What could I do with a sport I love to give back to someone in the community? It was at that time that I found a Facebook group called I Run 4, which pairs runners with individuals who have special needs, through Facebook. After waiting six long months, I was paired with my buddy – his name was Liam and lived in Ireland.
On August 1st, 2014, Liam helped me find my purpose in life. I am supposed to be supporting others, to use my legs for them, but more importantly, to share my heart with them. Fast forward to October 2015. I typed up a long email to a guy named Kim Rooster Rossiter (a man I’m honored to now call a friend and mentor) who is part of Ainsley’s Angels of America, an organization that pairs able-bodied runners with those who would not be able to complete an endurance race without assistance. I’d followed them for well over a year on the IR4 page, most notably remembering a remarkable father-son duo run across the United States (Shaun Evans who I now get to call a friend). I needed some help I knew he could assist me with. It was my dream to travel to Ireland and race with Liam, me lending my legs, him experiencing his first race EVER.
Three hours later, an incoming call from Virginia Beach popped up on my iPhone, and my life forever changed. Before I knew it, a racing chariot was being shipped to my house for my trip to Ireland, and I was named the southeast Pennsylvania ambassador for Ainsley’s Angels of America. I deep down knew all of this happened for a reason.
I don’t like to play favorites and every race and rider has its favorite moments. But racing with Liam is an experience I will treasure for a lifetime. Not only meeting him and his family in person was a dream come true as I spent 10 days in Ireland with them, but to race with him was indescribable. His smiles say it all. To this day, each and every run I’m fueled by the diamond duo 💎 whether I’m running solo or pushing another rider athlete. Liam is one of my many whys. On that day in March 2015, I helped Liam experience freedom and the joys of racing. During my 10 day stay in Ireland, it didn’t rain once (unheard of!!) Our Race was hours before I needed to travel To the airport and head home. What happened 25 minutes after we finished? It rained — the universe was sad this was ending. Despite the bittersweet ending, the absolute icing on the cake... that Freedom Chair stayed in Ireland, it’s new international home 
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