Help Robin raise money

It is with pleasure that I am raising money for Dreamfar High School Marathon, an organization that I have been a part of for 7 years (and counting).  As a school psychologist, I believe strongly in the connection between exercise and mental health.  Setting goals, learning to be flexible and  changing them as needed (without judgment), working together with others,  and forming meaningful connections with peers and adults also has a positive impact on one's mental health, in addition to being valuable life skills to implement in this "Marathon of Life."  Dreamfar does all of these things and I have seen the positive impact it has had on my students, both at Brookline High School, where I was a leader, as well as in my mentoring work with students from other Dreamfar Communities over the years, including Boston, Newton, Wellesley, Needham and Wellesley.  Students have told me that, through the process of training for either a marathon or half marathon, they have grown in confidence and belief in themselves.  They perceive that having trained for a distance race enabled them to get better and more confident in other areas of their life.  Some have said that they feel less depressed and anxious (likely a combination of endorphins and the satisfaction of seeing their own progress toward a goal), and other students from foreign countries have indicated that their English got better having run alongside native English Speakers.  

Running is also great for students on the Autism Spectrum, as it can be easier to talk or share things about oneself when running NEXT to someone, as opposed to sitting and looking at them face-to-face.  Sometimes you do not even have to talk at all, but knowing that everyone is "in it together" fosters a sense of community and belonging, something that students on the spectrum do not always feel. 

I got to see the benefits of Dreamfar in my first one-on-one mentee that I was assigned to back in 2017, my first year with Dreamfar.  At that time, my mentee was a senior in high school and really struggling academically and socially.  He barely spoke to me, but through the miles of running together, he started to trust me, and a really strong bond was formed.  There was a positive correlation between the miles recommended on the training schedule, and the amount of words he would say to me.  He was almost a different person from the beginning of the season in October to the end of the season in May.  He was so proud to cross the marathon finish line, which, by the way, he did before me.  He felt so confident that he ran ahead of me during the race (we mentors cannot run ahead, but the students can).  As I slowly made my way to the finish line, I was getting text messages from my mentee and his mother telling me that they were waiting for me, that I was doing great, and to just believe--keep taking one step in front of the other.  How the tables had turned!  Once I FINALLY crossed the finish line, my mentee was the first person I saw.  He immediately ran over to me, hugged me, and said, "I am going to graduate high school having run a marathon!" His life was changed.

Chris (not pictured) and I have stayed in touch through the years since--going on some runs together and sharing meals.  He is now in graduate school, finishing a Masters degree in an accelerated program, looking for jobs and internships for next year, and has a girlfriend!  He also came back to be a Dreamfar Mentor this past season, and hopes to return again!  His mother tells me all the time that she truly credits Dreamfar for helping to get him to where he is today.  I am so proud to have been (and continue to be) part of his life's journey.

Since Dreamfar is a non-profit organization, and is free to students, we rely on donations to support them during the season.  Dreamfar covers race fees for the students, and will provide needed gear for any student whose family cannot afford the gear. I, on behalf of Dreamfar, thank you for your valuable donation to help students cross whatever finish line they are currently striving for.

With Appreciation,

Robin