Fiver’s Flamingos – a worthy cause!
How does one start something like this? I guess you go back to the beginning, which in this case would be Mel, AKA Fiver, and we are her Flamingos.
Back in 2007, our friend Mel (
To say that we all (Mel’s friends) felt more then a bit helpless would be an understatement. How do you fix something that can’t be fixed? The answer is, you can’t. But what you can do is take a page out of Mel’s book, slap a smile on your face, and always look on the funny side of life.
So 4 of us did something spur of the moment in 2009, when we got together to run the inaugural Disney Princess Half Marathon (13.1 miles) at Disney World. We made team jerseys with iron on letters, and dubbed ourselves “Fiver’s Flamingos” in honor of Mel, who loves both Flamingos and Disney more than anyone we know.
In 2010 we teamed up with The ALS Association of Georgia (http://www.alsaga.org/) to help raise some money to find both a cure and treatments for ALS, as we ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon again that year & 2011 with some new faces on the team.
ALS Research had a major breakthrough this year, as Northwestern University scientists discovered a common disease process for all of the types of ALS. This is a big step forward, and has helped researchers narrow down future studies in search of an effective treatment for ALS, and someday, a Cure. Your support has helped fund ALS Research projects like this, as well as directly helping the thousands of families affected by ALS in Georgia.
Right now, the ALS Association of Georgia is helping Melissa (Fiver) by providing a computer she can use just by moving her eyes.
Please, if you don’t mind, would you donate 1$ for every mile we are running? That would be 13.1 miles for $13.10. And even if all you have is $1 total, every little bit helps. Just click here: http://projectfiver.com/support.
100% of your donation (goes to the ALS Association of Georgia. Not one penny goes towards administering this group or paying race fees, etc. http://projectfiver.com/support
Thank you so much for your support!
You can find out more about Mel here: http://www.projectfiver.com/
You can find out more about The ALS Association of Georgia here: http://www.alsaga.org/
Fiver’s Flamingos also has a Facebook FAN PAGE!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fivers-Flamingos/254829158749
Meet our Team, Fiver’s Flamingos: (This section is in progress)
Terrence is the team’s mascot, and our very best runner. Rumor has it that he may show up at the race again this year…
Janine, the team captain, has way too many hobbies. One of them is to run races; she’s run more 5K, 8K, 10K, & 10 mile races then she can count, dozens of 1/2 marathons, 2 Full Marathons (pictured here at mile 10 of the Disney World Marathon in 2011) – with 1/2 marathons being her favorite race. So, what could be more awesome than running the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon with all her friends?
She first met Fiver at D*C ’06 at the Yule Ball. It was friendship at first sight once they realized they were both Slytherin’s at heart.
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Conley is proud to race with the Flamingos in Fiver’s honor for the 4th year in a row. Racing with this team kickstarted her running mojo after taking several years off; to date, she’s completed 4 half marathons, two 5Ks and a Ragnar Relay. Disney Princess remains her favorite half marathon because it’s always with wonderful friends and for a wonderful cause. Love you, Mel!
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Caitlin is living proof that Janine can make anything sound like fun, even running 13.1 miles. She’s caught the running bug now, though– this will be her 7th half-marathon (and she just ran her first full marathon). In real life, Caitlin is a biologist transitioning to a career as a science educator, and when she isn’t running, she can often be found sewing costumes, knitting, reading, or finding geeky stuff on the Internets.
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Ron is an avid runner, having run multiple full and 1/2 marathons- in fact he just set a PR at the Disney World 1/2 marathon 1:49:33. He’s also the first man to join this estrogen filled team, and is happy to be running for his friend Mel.
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Michelle has been running 5K races for years, but decided last year was the year to attempt the Half Marathon, and what better race to start with then the Disney Princess Half Marathon? What could be more awesome then running with friends in honor of Mel? Michelle met Mel at Dragon*con 2008, and has been impressed with her determination and high spirits. It’s an honor to run and help a wonderful organization at the same time. When Michelle isn’t running the paved trails of her home-town, she’s either knitting, watching Doctor Who, climbing mountains, or writing her Thesis.
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Rogue is another victim of Janine’s ability to make anything sound enjoyable. Previously, Rogue has only been motivated to run when chased, usually by something large and life-threatening, like a sharktopus or remote control Christmas pterodactyl. Now the 2012 Princess race will be his third half marathon. Despite his pleas, his knees have not forgiven him.”
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Christina started running again in September 2011. She has run in multiple 5Ks, 10Ks, and 1/2 marathons since, including several at Disney. In addition to running, she enjoys cheering for her friends as they run.
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Kelli Kelli is new to the running scene, but has already gone through 3 pairs of shoes, four 5Ks, and one very long Half-Marathon. She is living proof that overweight people can run, if they are determined. This will be her first time to run the Princess HM, and it will be her first of 6-8 half-marathons in 2012. Barring injury or the end of the world, she plans to join the ranks of Half Fanatics by the end of this year. In her “free time”, she’s the mother of the most adorable toddler, a work-at-home mom, freelance designer and editor, Sunday School teacher, and budding domestic goddess. She has never met Mel, but is proud to be running with this great team of people for such an important cause.
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Amber is the original running instigator who somehow convinced Janine to try this crazy thing called a 1/2 marathon. She’s completed multiple 5Ks, 15 1/2 marathons and 1 marathon (with a 13 mile warm up the day before, yes she was goofy enough to run the Goofy). Not bad for a swimmer who’s posing as a runner. She’s extremely excited to have the honor of being the Flamingo this year. Amber’s an aerospace and operational physiologist in the Navy and if she’s not running you can find her in the pool or doing geeky stuff. She met Mel for the first time in 2007 and has been inspired by her bravery and outlook on life. She considers herself lucky to say she knows such an amazing lady. She is also dedicating this run to her father who passed away in 2009. While he didn’t suffer from ALS, he bravely fought a neurological disorder years.
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Betsy
MellyMel
Doug
Maggie
Meredith