Michael Blood: Running the TCS NYC Marathon for Lee Pesky Learning Center

My History with the Lee Pesky Learning Center

In 2018, I met with Evelyn Johnson of the Lee Pesky Learning Center about their desire to improve prescreening for dyslexia. She describe several methods that are currently being done and several ideas for how we could improve on them.

We all immediately recognized the national and local impact and my company Matraex, Inc shortly after was engaged to start building what became the first portion of the Early ID program.

In early May 2019, as we were at about the half way point in developing the Early ID, my wife and I were invited to a fundraising event for the learning center. It turns out that this yearly event was critical in raising funds for programs for students with learning disabilities as well as training for educators for those same students.

The real value of the event to me was that I got a chance to see at a much deeper level the impact that the Lee Pesky Learning Center programs have and the true need for their services. My wife and I ended up contributing to the center.

I Am Running A Marathon

At the event I overheard talk of a Marathon and as a runner I was intrigued and I asked (with the assistance of the brazen Jason Crawforth). The Center ended up inviting me to run in the NYC Marathon and raise funds for the Lee Pesky Learning Center.

Starting in June 2019 and ending in November 2019, I plan to raise a record amount funds through the New York City Marathon for the programs at Lee Pesky Learning Center.

The Lee Pesky Learning Center has put up a fundraising site that I can point donors to: Click here

In Late May 2018, I started training in earnest, which means that I am starting to switch over to road miles from trail miles. I upgraded to a paid version of Strava and will start working to improve my V0₂Max.

You can take a look at my strava profile to see if I made any headway.

Also, I am not running alone, here is a link to the rest of the Lee Pesky Learning Center team

NYC TCS 2019 Marathon

A bit of information about the Marathon. Every year the New York Road Runner Club puts on the NYC Marathon and it has grown in popularity

The marathon will be run on Sunday, November 3, 2019 (click here to see their countdown)
Last year, in 2018, 52000 particpants ran the marathon.
The Marathon Started in 1970.
This year, the NYC marathon is sponsored by a new company, renamed the "TCS New York Marathon"
To get in, you must either run fast, or run for a Non Profit(article)
A 43 year old (such as myself) would have to be able to run a marathon in 2 hours and 58 minutes to qualify (that's 26.1 miles at an average of 6 minutes and 49 seconds per mile)
400+ Non Profit groups can also sign up slots for runners and run to raise funds .

Donations

The online donation site works for donations up to $1000.

I am also taking a proactive role in raising funds from my personal, business and community networks.

In order to help the Lee Pesky Learning Center put all of the funds raised to good use, I will personally be coordinating check or other transfer methods to avoid credit card or other fees which reduce the money that Lee Pesky can use.

Value of Donating

Here are several reasons to donate

Help students here in Boise, Idaho
Lee Pesky is a stable, well run organization that makes a difference
Make Michael Run

Still looking for more reasons, call me at 208-440-4818. Also, I stole this list of a donation of different sizes could be used from the list on the Donation Page that Lee Pesky provide me

$1,000 - Provide 10 high-school students with our Transition to college online course.
$500 - Afford a student their first five sessions with an LPLC counselor.
$250 - Supply technology for 5 students to participate in our Distance Learning academic interventions.
$100 - Equip 5 teachers with early reading training materials
$50 - Supply Scholastic books and Every Child Ready to Learn curricular materials for one pre-school
$25 - Gift 25 Pre-K teachers with the Go Pre-K! educational app.