This post is from our east west student, Aaron Silverman. many of you know Aaron, the oldest of the Silverman kids. he has been with east west for many years now and is coming up on his brown belt. Aaron has a fantastic attitude and we are all so proud of his accomplishments inside the school and out. he is training with team challenge for his first 1/2 marathon. please read his note to everyone and help if you can!

Hello everyone,

I have some really exciting news that I want to share with you. I have begun training with Team Challenge to compete in and complete the Napa to Sonoma ½ Marathon this July.

Team Challenge is the half-marathon training and fundraising program that partners with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). As I am learning about these diseases, I understand how awful it must be to live with these illnesses where the immune system attacks the digestive system. We do not know what causes these diseases but almost 1.4 million Americans suffer from them. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are known together as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They are painful, medically incurable illnesses. The funds raised through Team Challenge directly benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in support of its mission to find a cure and improve the quality of life of the children and adults affected by these diseases.

I know that the challenge of training is going to require a lot of dedication and commitment on my part, but I’m super excited and ready to dedicate and commit myself to my training. I am currently training 4-5 days a week on my own, slowly increasing my mileage, and once a week I get to train with the other Team challenge participants and coaches. My team and I are already up to running 5 miles on our group runs.

I am having an awesome time and can’t wait for what is ahead of me. My training and fundraising is going to be hard work, but not as hard as it must be for these people to deal with these awful illnesses every day of their lives. I try to live by Grandmaster Lee’s motto: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will still land among the stars!” Right now, I’m absolutely shooting for the moon

I really wanted to join this effort because I love to run. I knew this would be a great way to challenge myself because I’ve never attempted to run this far in my life. I am racing and fundraising to help spread awareness about these diseases and to help CCFA fund research to find a cure, as well as support groups for patients who are suffering, and education programs for doctors, patients and their families. If you know me, then you’ll know that helping people is something I absolutely love to do!!!!

I have committed to raise a minimum of $2,800 in donations for the CCFA. I will take care of the training and 13.1 miles, but I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit my website and make a contribution at online.ccfa.org/AaronSilverman Every dollar will help so much.

I know that with the support of my friends, family, and others, I will be able to raise the money and finish the race with no problem. Thank you for believing in me and in the great work that the CCFA does. I’ll keep you updated as I continue my journey to race day

Thanks so much in advance for supporting me and supporting this wonderful cause,

Aaron Silverman