26.2 by eric wiltfang

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​My good friend and LucStrong teammate, Eric Wiltfang, is getting prepared to run the Chicago Marathon and needs our help. He is running in honor of Luc Bodden and is looking to raise as much money as possible for The LucStrong Foundation. Read more about his current campaign and fundraiser written in his own words below. Thank you Eric and run like the wind. Proud to support such an incredible athlete.  ~ JD Slajchert

As a parent, we all understand how important it is to protect our children. Purity only exists for a short time. Tragedy and hardships are a somber truth of life and for some, they begin to learn these lessons at a very early age. For my son, and for many others that loved Luc Bodden, tragedy struck in the fall of 2016. My son lost one of his dearest friends to complications related to a disease most people know nothing about. Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder affects over 100,000 Americans each year, and this time cost a very special friend his life.

I was concerned for my 10-year-old’s well-being. My wife and I were loving him and trying to cater to his needs, when I started to realize that I too had my heart crushed. I believed I had done a poor job of protecting my boy from unimaginable hurt. I had always assumed that I could protect my children from whatever would come their way but not this, not this time. This is when I knew that there had to be a way—something I could do to show my son that something good can come from such a terrible situation. 

I started running as a way of clearing my head. I ran when I felt happy and I ran when I was having doubts. Running became a form of therapy, but it also became my way of showing my son how to channel his feelings of fear, doubt and worries. Now, a few years later, I am ready to show my son how a tragic event, so painful, can be the catalyst of something so positive. I am ready to prove to him that hope is real.  

On October 13th, 2019 I will run my first Marathon - The Chicago marathon. I’m doing this to raise money and awareness for the non-profit founded by the parents who lost their son and named it The LucStrong Foundation in his honor. This foundation supports families with children who are diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. 

Our goal is to ask 1000 people to sponsor this cause in the amount of $26.20 per pledge.  $26.20 might not seem like a lot, a week’s worth of coffee or a few gallons of gas but all together the money we raise will go raised ($26,200) goes a long way in helping The Lucstrong Foundation provide love and financial support to even more families in 2019 and 2020. 100% of your donation will go directly to The Lucstrong Foundation.

I now run with more purpose than ever!

​To make a donation please visit www.lucstrong.org

Eric Wiltfang

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