Letter from Big Brother Bob in Bermuda:

I wanted to share this with you because it is important to me.

So many times, in this organization, we focus on the impact a ‘Big’ has on a ‘Little’ – rarely the other way around.  I want to share with you a short story about me and my Little.

Eighteen months ago, I weighed in at a belt-busting 324lbs.  Not to put too fine a point on it, I was fat. I was really big.  Friends and relatives were scared as I approached 40 years old.  I had my own epiphany for change on August 7^th 2007, when I sat down to organize my 40^th celebrations for the following May, and realized I was over 100lbs overweight.  I decided to do something about it on that day.

On Saturday, 17^th Jan – last Saturday – I competed in the Bermuda International 10K.  Weighing in at 221lbs and bringing it home in 1 hour and 19 minutes.  You have to understand that I never, ever thought I would get here again.  Three pant sizes and two shirt sizes down, and able to run again (something I had not done in twenty-one years). In September 2008, I decided I was going to compete, with the aim of finishing, not coming last and raising some funds for an international charity. I began rigorous training. As the date loomed, I realized how emotional this day was going to be for me if I managed to finish.

As I neared the stadium, the realization that I was going to make it came home and I began to get choked up.  As I turned the last corner and headed into the stadium, standing right there at the gate was my Little Brother, waiting for me in the rain, waiting to cheer me on. He broke from the group and started running with me into the stadium.  The officials stopped him before we could make the finish-line, but he came straight to me after and threw his arms around me.

I was going to be emotional anyway, but having Shawn there to share this moment with me made it so much better.

We have walked together on Horseshoe beach and he has complained in his Little Brother way that it’s a long way – he was awestruck that I had completed ten whole kilometres.  I never thought there was a message here for Shawn, but there clearly is: Commitment.

Guess what? He now wants to come running with me and he’s talking about entering the race himself, perhaps next year.