Donor shout out number 2!!

Hope everyone’s having an awesome weekend. Training this week didn’t go quite as planned—my body is fighting me a little. It seems to be saying something like, “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re not 24 anymore, you know.” So I had to ease off a bit, take some extra rest, and tweak the training plan.

But now, on to the good stuff—this week’s donor shout outs!

First up: Lindsay Stevenson.
Lindsay and I go way back to our days at Regis College. She’s pure sunshine—always optimistic, always the one bringing the party.

Lindsay is also a survivor. She beat ovarian cancer, so let’s just say this is not someone you want to mess with. Total warrior. She and her partner Melissa are raising two amazing kids—a boy and a girl. One’s a total athlete, and the other’s following in Lindsay’s footsteps with a love for theater. (No offense, Linds, but your daughter might even outshine you… the girl’s got serious pipes!)

Back when we were graduating, I don’t think either of us could have imagined the lives we have now. Marriage equality wasn’t even legal in Massachusetts yet, and we didn’t have many role models for what our futures could look like. But here we are. Dreams realized. I’m so grateful—for that, and for you.

Next up: Amber Holycross.
Amber is a dear friend of my wife Kate’s—they met at Northeastern and have stayed close ever since. Amber is an incredibly accomplished architect in New York. She’s left her mark on some stunning buildings and has truly helped shape her hometown as the city evolves.

She and her husband Colin have two boys who keep them busy with sports and activities. Right now, Colin is undergoing treatment for leukemia—and doing it like a total badass. Please keep him in your prayers. He’s showing so much strength and determination. I’m grateful beyond words that they took the time and energy to support this cause. Thank you, Amber and Colin.

Now on to Kristen Noonan.
Kristen has been a friend of mine for years, but we met back in my very first office job at HCPro. At the time, she was my boss’s boss’s boss—and eventually became a great friend, fellow triathlete, and even a travel buddy across Europe.

There’s that saying: “If you can see it, you can be it.” Kristen was one of those people I saw leading at work and thought, maybe I can do that too. She just finished second in her own triathlon, and I’ll be thinking about her grit when I need to find that extra push on race day.

Kristen’s daughter, Chloe, is about to start high school (Kristen—don’t blink, those four years fly by). Chloe is a talented baker and starred in her school’s play last year. Clearly the apple didn’t fall far.

Next shout out goes to Nancy Laughlin.
Nancy is one of the kindest, most joyful people I know. She and her husband Tom are always off on some amazing adventure with friends—I’m constantly inspired by the way they live life.

I first met Nancy because Becky used to babysit her kids—Gavin, Chris, and Maggie—and I’d tag along sometimes. They were such a great bunch, and Nancy and Tom created a truly beautiful family.

Now for Michelle Keith.
Michelle is Becky’s cousin, and I’ve known her for years. She’s an incredible person and an even better mom to Claudia.

Michelle’s a longtime executive at Eastern Bank, and she’s the kind of woman who seems to do it all. As for Claudia—I’m just waiting to hear where I can get her rookie card when she goes pro after crushing it at UNH. Can’t wait to cheer her on from the stands at Gillette.

Up next: Jennifer Costa Hughes.
Jen is part of the Cape Cousin crew in the Gabriel family. I met her when I was 16 and Becky roped me into babysitting for a wedding—Scott and I were on duty while the rest of the family celebrated.

Jen has been a constant at Gabriel family events over the years. She proudly calls herself Becky’s favorite cousin, and honestly, I wouldn’t argue. She and her mom and sisters have this amazing energy—welcoming, warm, and always ready for a good time.

Next: Debra Holden.
Keeping the cousin theme going, Debra is a cousin of Eloise’s. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her a few times over the years. I don’t have a ton of stories to share, but I can say she always seems to be surrounded by adorable kids—and she has fantastic taste in sunglasses. Debra, I’m so thankful for your support.

And finally: Leslie and Alan Schwartz.
I’ve known Leslie since elementary school. She taught in Salem with my mom for over 30 years. In addition to being an incredible educator, she’s now a proud grandmother and, these days, a world traveler.

One of my favorite things to ask my mom is, “Where are Leslie and Alan off to now?” They’ve been everywhere—from safaris in Africa to the deserts of Egypt, all across Europe and Israel. Total life goals. Thankfully, they come home often enough to catch a full season of shows with my parents at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

That’s a wrap for this week’s donor shout outs. I’ll be back soon with more. You’ve helped me get to nearly $4,300 toward our $14,000 goal for Joslin in Becky’s memory. I’m so grateful.

Thank you. I’ll be back in a couple of days! Cross a couple fingers and toes that I can get back to a full training schedule this week!

—Kate