Helping a mom and her dream

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

My mother is the greatest source of inspiration in my life. My mother stayed at home with four children and raised us to be productive, successful, contributing Americans.

I joined the U.S. Navy to support my country and inspire women to be strong and determined to share what I learned from my mother. My mother broadened our horizons by humbling us and showing us during the holidays and throughout the year that there are people that "need" while we are at home and "want."

She showed us how to contribute to our community by sponsoring elderly people for the holidays and spending our Christmas mornings, not opening our own gifts, but sharing moments with the elderly who had been forgotten that year for the holidays. My mom dedicated so much of her spirit and often gave furniture and items in use in our home to others who couldn't afford it. Simply because "… they need it more than we do."

A few years ago my mother battled depression, and after frustration with the doctors prescribing her medicine to basically just numb her pain, she chose the more healthy road of physical fitness. She began competing in triathlons and started actually winning. I believe that she surprised herself when she realized what her body was capable of doing.

She ran her first marathon this past year and qualified for the 2010 Boston Marathon; she also made a spot on Team USA to compete in the Budapest 2010 Triathlon. Her dream of "being successful" started with being a wonderful mother and wonderful volunteer and lead to the greatest accomplishment of her life.

She has dedicated herself to her family and her community in so many ways, and I want to try to help her reach her goal to fund her trip to Budapest. However, I'm in the military and am not exactly a millionaire. I have worked hard to raise money for my mom but it seems like I'm still so far behind.

I'm writing this in hopes that maybe it touches someone enough to reach out and lend a helping hand. She requires some sort of sponsorship, funding, donations of any kind, and I know she would be eternally grateful and will reciprocate in some way. If you are in a position to help my mother reach her dreams please help.

Caitlin Brunetta, Patuxent River