Walk for Frankie -- October 16,2010

Walk for Frankie:  Corning Preserve Park, Albany, NY --

This is not a race report. I wanted to post a little information about an event that my cousins put together in memory of their late brother, Frankie O'Brien Jr.  Frankie passed away on December 14, 2006, at the age of 40, from an inoperable brain tumor.  He left behind his loving wife, Carrie and a very young family.

In October 2007, my cousins -- Frank's sisters -- established The Walk for Frankie in memory of their brother.  The walk was created under the Moyer Foundation and Camp Erin, an organization dedicated to assisting children bereaving the loss of a parent.  All funds go towards supporting Camp Erin, the largest network of bereavment camps in the country for children experiencing a significant loss.

Growing up, Frankie was a model for my brothers and me; he was the guy we looked up to, we watched him, we truly idolized Frank.  He was a gifted athlete from high school to college at Notre Dame, where he played hockey and lacrosse, to his professional hockey days in Europe.  He always wore number 14 and so did we, as this was the coolest number ever.  Frank was a funny guy, the constant joker with a laugh to go with it and an ability to relentlessly dish it out.  Ask anyone who ever knew him.  During our early twenties and thirties, Frank and I spent many days skiing Vermont, hiking in the Adirondacks or fishing some river somewhere.  Frank loved the outdoors and adventure; he truly loved life.  If you ever spent any time with Frank, you know what I mean.  But he loved his family more than anything, and I will never forget a few words he spoke to me one day hiking up in the Adirondacks:  He said "they're everything man, ya know?  Hey man, yeah I can't get out here as much anymore, but you don't care, it's all about them -- it's crazy, it's great," then a Frankie sinister cackle and "you'll see," and another long Frankie cackle.  Those are words I will always remember him saying.  He loved his wife and kids more than anything in the world, and I believe he really wondered why it was so difficult for others to have that.  Frankie was a special guy to a lot of a people, a great friend of mine and a wonderful husband and father.

It was a great day down at the Riverfront, with beautiful weather and a great show of support.  The event is held every October at the Corning Preserve, Albany Riverfront.  It's a great venue and a really great cause -- stay tuned for next year's Walk for Frankie. You can check it out online @ http://www.walkforfrankie.com/.  And check out The Moyer Foundation and Camp Erin @ http://www.moyerfoundation.org/.

I would also like to thank my cousins (event organizers) for giving me the opportunity to promote one of my great sponsors:  Powerbar Nutrition -- http://www.powerbar.com/.  As a Powerbar-sponsored athlete, I have a few contract responsibilities that involve product promotion, nutrition education and social/media exposure.  Our Powerbar booth at Frankie's walk was great fun and provided the walkers and runners with some product samples, great training and race fueling tips, as well as nutrition information about the wonderful Powerbar products.  Thank you.

Thanks for reading.