This year, 25 runners will be running the New York Marathon to honor Jimmy and to raise money for the Lead The Way Fund set up in his memory. I am so honored to be one of those runners and hope you all can help me reach my fund-raising goal.

For those of you who may not have known Jimmy personally, he was one of the most fun and vibrant people I have ever known. Always on a mission to make you laugh and forget about whatever it was that you were worried about, he put everyone around him instantly at ease and somehow made every situation so much more fun just with his presence.

The last time I saw Jimmy was at one of his favorite bars on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. That night is something I think about constantly because it brings me peace when I miss him. He was approaching his departure for Afghanistan and I remember so clearly how passionately he spoke about what he was going to do. He talked about how excited he was to serve his country and how confident he was that this is what he was meant to do with his life. Similarly, he talked about finding the love of his life in Mary and how happy she had made him. At such a young age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. A lot of people spend their entire lives searching for these things and he had it.

This confidence and courage are an inspiration to me and so many others, and I know it will help all 25 of us get across the finish line on November 1st.

Please take a moment to donate however much you feel comfortable giving in honor of this amazing person and for all those fighting for us.

Thank you!

Lee

Lead The Way Fund, Inc. rasies funds in support of families of U.S. Army Rangers who have died, been disabled, or who are currenting serving in harm's way around the world.