On November 5, 2023, I will be running the New York City Marathon with Tedy's Team in honor of Ruth Curran and Phyllis Ashton.

Ruth had suffered a stroke in January, 2005.  On that day back in January, she had been watching my 3 children (ages, 5, 7 and 8) so that I could go to work. It had been a horrible winter that year and the kids were home from school on a snow day. As she always did, she had lot of crafts planned for them to do that day to keep them busy. She really enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren.

When I arrived that afternoon to pick them up, I asked the kids where Nana was and they had said that she was in bed with a headache. I had gone in to check on her to see if she needed anything but she had said that she was okay. Well, she was not okay. By that evening, she was rushed to the hospital and passed away due to complications from the stroke. This is a day that will haunt me forever. If I had only known even just one of the symptoms of stroke, maybe things would have turned out differently.

A few years later my mother suffered a stroke and we were able to act fast and get her to the hospital where she had gotten the treatment she needed to make a full recover.

In 2018, at the age of 50, I took up running to improve my health and get in shape. I found Tedy's Team while I was running the finish at the 50 at Gillette Stadium. With just two miles left to go a man passed by me giving me an encouraging thumbs up. As he passed, I saw that the back of his shirt said Tedy's Team. While grinding out those last two miles, I thought to myself, I think that might of been Tedy Bruschi! I went home that afternoon and did some research on Tedy's Team and reaized that it was Tedy Bruschi and he had started Tedy's Team in 2005 after he had suffered a stroke himslf. He had started the team to spread the awareness of stroke and heart disease (BEFAST) but it has since developed into so much more. They most recently partnered with MGH Institute of Health Profesionals and opened up the Tedy's Team Center of Excellence in Stroke Recovery which helps stroke survivors on their journey to a comeback.

Finding Tedy's Team has been such a blessing for me and I have met some of the most amazing and inspiring people. Many members of our team are stroke survivors themselves.

Knowing the warning signs of stroke can really save someone's life!

I hope you will consider supporting this awesome cause.

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The mission of Tedy's Team is to raise awareness for stroke and heart disease while supporting survivors on their journey, giving them a means for a comeback!

Tedy's Team was originally founded in 2005, when Tedy Bruschi, former linebacker for the New England Patriots suffered a stroke shortly after winning his 3rd Super Bowl and just days after returning from his first Pro Bowl. to learn more about who we are, please see our website, www.tedysteam.org.

We are honored to be part of the Official Charity Program of the TCS NYC Marathon for 2023.

New York Road Runners has allowed us to utilize their platform to elevate the awareness of the warning signs of stroke, which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for: 

• Balance Difficulties
• Eyesight Changes
• Face Drooping
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Difficulties - and if you notice any of those warning signs, it's...
• TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.

Should you ever have any questions about your donation, please reach out to Elizabeth@TedysTeam.org.

Donations to Tedy's Team are non-refundable and fully tax deductible.