Running to Stand Still

“In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.” – Andy Warhol

It’s not everyday a regular guy like me can look into a camera and talk about a passionate subject to potentially a million people.

I have been a member of the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation team since December 2010.  In 2011 instead of running just one race to help raise money I ran eight….almost.  I raised over $14,000 so the American Cancer Society could help fund research, education, advocacy and support programs for victims, survivors and caregivers.  I am extremely proud of this.

In late March I was approached by Michelle Moore who is the Illinois DetermiNation Director.  She told me that the TNT television network was going to run a 60 second vignette entitled “Dramatic Difference” and wondered if they had anyone they’d like to nominate for the commercial. The Illinois DetermiNation folks wanted to nominate me for this month long national ad campaign highlighting someone who has made a dramatic difference in people’s lives and community.

I was extremely honored by the gesture but never thought anything would come of it.  I had a great year of fundraising and training.  A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into last year’s effort, but I didn’t feel it was any more special than what numerous other teammates had done for DetermiNation last year or what the survivors and caregivers go through every day.

In late March DetermiNation had a team of runners racing the Shamrock Shuffle here in Chicago.  I was down there to cheer and ring cow bells for our team.  Michelle pulled me aside and told me that TNT had read my blogs, knew my story and that they wanted to profile me in the vignette.

“You’re kidding me!” I said

So on April 28th the TNT production crew came to film me running the CARA Lakefront 10 Miler and then we all went back to my house for interviews with myself, Amy Keilman and Marc Feliciano.  Two friends I’m proud to say I run for…so here it is…enjoy.

Since last year I have recovered, started running again and have planned a whole new schedule of races for 2012 to help raise money to fight cancer with my DetermiNation teammates.  Please click TEAM SCHOBER to check it out and as always please help if you can.