Help Carly raise money

For someone who loves to run and loves the Cape, the Falmouth Road race has been on my bucket list for a very long time. To be honest, ever since I ran the Marathon in 2022 I have taken a break with running long distances and have been very happy sticking with my 3-4 miles a few times a week. However, I have had a little itch to sign up for something to push myself a bit more. So when I heard about the local, non-profit Garrison Speed Shop from my running group recently, I knew it was just the right time. 

As soon as I looked into GSS and was chatting more and more with Jackie (the co-founders wife) I knew this was meant to be.

While I don't have a super personal, deep connection with military or motorcycles, both the Army & Harleys do happen to hold a sweet little place in my heart because of my Dad. 

My Dad, Jeff, is an 82nd Airborne Army veteran & started riding motorcycles at a very young age. It was a very big passion of his growing up in the 70s, throughout being a young parent & continuing in his adulthood through September 2008, when an unfortunate accident happened.  

To make a long story short, both my mom and Dad were enjoying a wonderful fall day out with their “Harley crew” when a deer bolted out in front of them. They both were extremely injured, suffered from traumatic brain injuries and to this day still show signs of those brain injuries. Thankfully you wouldn't know unless you knew them personally :) 

Well, the irony of this terrible motorcycle riding ending, is that growing up my Dad NEVER talked to us about the Army. But, once this unfortunate event happened, almost now 20 years ago, he has brought out all the stories of being in the Army as a young man and hasn’t stopped sharing his love/hate relationship since! If you ever meet him you’ll be sure to hear him yell “hooah” at any point & always make sure to ask at any establishment if they give a “vets discount.” 

Anyway, I’m here to do my best and what I can and that is raising money for this awesome non-profit & crossing the finish line to support veterans like my Dad. Not only am I running to honor him, on August 17th, his 68th birthday, I’m also running for the strength he has shown in more ways than being in the Army as a young man, but now as a Grandfather. He has shown true heroism now more than ever to his daughters & grandchildren by seeking the mental health care he has needed from growing up in that era, as well as continued recovery from his motorcycle accident.

I'm running and raising in honor of him and all the vets who can have the access to this awesome non-profit GSS to just be themselves with people who truly get them, hear them, and honor them.