Hi! My name is Duane Spears. That kid is me in 1958 holding my medley relay team’s first-place trophy. Can this kid raise one billion dollars in 1 minute and 57 seconds? He thinks he can.Like so many of you, I have felt the excruciating emotional pain, the feelings of total helplessness and the heart-wrenching sadness that one experiences when you watch a loved one die or suffer.
I’m “up to” helping our family and friends who have a life-ending-illness or a debilitating injury and to helping ourselves by developing a healthy lifestyle with habits and practices that will promote lifelong health…
I have decided I’m not helpless; there is something I can do. It is my goal to raise one billion dollars for charity, yes, I said ONE BILLION DOLLARS. There’s magic in thinking big.You will be given the opportunity to participate in this effort by making a pledge to YOUR favorite charity. STOP! Before you say YES. Please read on.
In July 2008, at age 64, I’m going to break my 46 year old high school record in the 800 meter run by 1 second and raise one billion dollars for our favorite charities.
At age 15, I set a national record in the AAU Jr. Olympics for the 880 yard run. This record stood for several years. Then in 1961 while attending high school at Osawatomie, Kansas, I set my school record for the 880 yard run. My record of 1:58 still stands today. A wayward life cut short my running career…Over the years, I’ve dreamed of getting into condition and breaking my old record, but I never could muster the desire. After personally experiencing the pain and heartache when a loved one has had a life-ending-illness, I have been motivated to get into shape, break my old record, and raise a billion dollars for our favorite charities. Now I’m back in Osawatomie, KS training to break my old record at our new YMCA.
I have six compelling reasons for creating this fund raiser and they all have names. They are Becky, Galeta, Maria, Sharlie, Lexi and Chuck. I’m sure you could add your own names to this list.
Becky (niece) was a brave young woman who passed away April 18, 2000 at age 30 from ovarian cancer.
Galeta (mother) was a remarkable lady who survived colon cancer in 1996. Mom passed away in 2004.
Maria (cousin) a young mother who battled Hodgkin’s disease for 7 years until her death at age 32.
Sharlie (friend) is a beautiful young lady who has cystic fibrosis and struggles with this disease every day.
Lexi (Sharlie’s sister) had cystic fibrosis and after a valiant fight passed away after her body rejected a double lung transplant.
Chuck (nephew) sustained two closed head injuries, one in 1987 and the other in 1997 and he still suffers with excruciating headaches.
Three things you can do today to make a difference:
1. Go to the “Make Pledge” page and make a pledge of $4 or more to YOUR favorite charity, knowing it may double eight times. Use the calculator on the “Make Pledge” page to determine the amount of your gift.
2. Help in spreading the word about this fund raiser by finding two people who will make a pledge to their favorite charity. Invite them to this web site – www.billiondollarcharityrun.com
3. Sign up for my Essentials of Health Newsletter for the latest research on nutritional science by entering your name and email address in the below form.
I hope to see you in Topeka, Kansas in July 2008 at the Sunflower Games to watch me break my old record and raise one billion dollars for charity.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful gift.
Respectfully,
Duane E. Spears
The Billion Dollar Runner
