Running for Alyssa

My friend, Alyssa Paro has been diagnosed and is fighting breast cancer. In light of her recent diagnoses, I have created this page in an effort to raise money for the Paro family. I will be running 26.2 miles in the Derby Festival Marathon on April 27th. I will have some fun goals along the way and need your help. Please take a few minutes out of your day to read the below. Alyssa has two small children and now has only one income to support their family.  

 Let us work together to help these incredibly strong people. 

Meeting Alyssa

I met Alyssa Paro a few years ago while working at a local flooring store.  I had recently been engaged to my wife Briley, and we were planning our wedding.  One day while speaking with another co-worker, they told me that the "new girl" Alyssa was a photographer and had done some amazing work.  Shortly thereafter, Alyssa told me that she worked in tandem with her husband Will and she provided me with a buisness card (Viva La Veritas Photography). Briley and I then checked out their website and instantly knew that they were the photographers to shoot our engagement and wedding photos.  

Briley and I quickly befriended Alyssa and Will, and their positive attitudes.  Alyssa is extremely outgoing, and just full of life when it comes to her passion of photography.  After our wedding, Briley and I knew that Viva La Veritas would be our family photoraphers for years on end. 

Through the years we have gotten to know Alyssa, we have discovered that there is much more to her than her passion for photography.  She is a wonderful mother to two young children (Ava and Liam) and a loving wife to Will. She is an avid Green Bay Packers fan (we won’t hold that against her), a wonderful interior decorator, extremely creative, artistic, and spunky.

Life Throws Alyssa a Curveball

At the end of November of 2012, we learned something else about Alyssa.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Alyssa and her doctors chose to be very aggressive in her treatment of the cancer.  During the week of Christmas 2012, Alyssa underwent a double mastectomy.  Alyssa blogs on vivalacure.org often about her treatment, and her emotions.  It is raw, real, and uncut.  

As a man every time I read one of her blogs I sometimes get confused with the medical terminology. I've never been directly affected or known anyone directly who has had to fight cancer. I can not imagine the fear and emotional trauma that Alyssa, Will, and her family are facing.  Through it all Alyssa has stood strong, has been courageous, and has been an inspiration to myself and others.

How You Can Help 

After hearing the news that one of our friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer, the first thought that came to my head was,"What can I do to help?" Immediately my wife and I discussed ways we could assist the Paro family.  I then remembered my friend had used a "Crowdfunding" website to raise money for a project that he was completing.  I discussed with Briley the idea of running a full marathon to fundraise money for Alyssa's family. With the soaring cost of healthcare, two small children at home, and having only one income, Briley and I decided that this would be the best way for us to try and help our friend.  

I know that a lot of you would give out of the kindness of your heart, but I am going to sweeten things up just a little bit. I will already be sporting a pink Viva La Cure shirt as I run, but once we hit different levels of on the way to my goal of $1000, I am willing to wear more pink.  (Keep in mind that I am a police officer, and a member of the SWAT team).

A Little Extra Motivation to Give

$100 Pink Viva La Cure shirt + pink headband

$200 Pink Viva La Cure shirt + pink headband + pink socks 

$500 Pink Viva La Cure shirt + pink headband + pink socks + pink sunglasses

$1000 Pink Viva La Cure shirt + pink headband + pink socks + pink sunglasses + pink tutu (yes, I will rock the pink tutu for 26.2)

Let’s support Alyssa and her family during this tumultuous time. Think it over, pray about it, talk to your families. Please pray for Alyssa and her family as well. I believe that we serve a God who is the Great Physician and who has the power to Heal. If you can’t give any financially, visit vivalacure.org and offer words of encouragement.