Help Donald raise money

I’m Don, a 39 year old father of 4.  So why am I running a 7 mile road race?  I’m doing it for the strongest person I know, my wife Nikki. 

On Memorial Day 2024, Nikki had a heart attack at only 37 years old.  That day was the scariest day of my life.

This was our wakeup call. We were both out of shape and were not living a very healthy lifestyle.   Nikki and I started making significant changes to our lifestyles.  We started eating better and trying to exercise, but that is not easy with four kids under the age of 7. So what could we do?

Finding Home at the North Suburban YMCA

The YMCA has been a major part of my life, even before I was born!  I learned to swim by taking lessons at the YMCA back in Syracuse, NY.  I spent over a dozen summers as a camper and staff member at YMCA camps as a child/young adult.  Heck, my parents even met at a YMCA camp in the 1980’s! When we were looking for a place to start our lifestyle makeover, the YMCA was the obvious place to check out first.

The moment we walked into the YMCA at North Suburban in Woburn, we knew it would be the place for us.  The staff were extremely welcoming and made us feel like we belonged.  As someone who has always been a bit self-conscious when working out due to my size and lack of workout knowledge, I didn’t feel that way at the YMCA. There were people of all ages, backgrounds, and physical abilities working side-by-side and willing to help whoever needed it. It truly felt like a place where I and our entire family belonged.

For us busy parents, a lot of the help we get from the YMCA comes from the amazing Child Watch program. Having a space where the kids can play while we work out has allowed us to consistently be able to exercise in peace.   The amazing staff have been so helpful in letting us actually enjoy our time at the YMCA. 

Since joining, I have lost 50lbs and now am at the same weight I was when I graduated High School!!!  And that’s nothing compared to Nikki.  She has lost 82 lbs!!! The YMCA has helped us reclaim our lives.

Why am I raising $1,500?

This wasn’t the plan.  Nikki was the one originally asked to join the YMCA team and was planning to run in the race, but due to recent health issues with a potential autoimmune condition, she is not going to be able to do so this year, so I have volunteered to take her place. 

The YMCA gave us the tools, the coaching, and the community to become "whole different people." But the Y is more than just a gym—it’s a support system that ensures everyone has access to these life-changing resources, regardless of their financial situation. It's a place where everyone can belong.

I am running the Falmouth Road Race this summer for Nikki and to pay it forward. I’m raising funds for the YMCA of Greater Boston so they can continue to offer valuable services—like swimming lessons, summer camp, youth programs, and wellness coaching—to families who need them most.

How You Can Help

Our goal is to raise $1,500 by August. Your donation, no matter the size, helps ensure that another parent, another neighbor, or another child gets the chances that we have been so lucky to find.

Thank you for being part of my journey and for supporting a cause that truly saves lives.

Donate to help Don (and Nikki) raise money for The 2026 ASICS Falmouth Road Race’s fundraising campaign.