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Now, here are your hosts for the running
around Charlotte podcast,
Tim Rhodes and Dc casey.
1 of the many great things about the
Nova nevada Health Charlotte Marathon is how this
event continues to give back to the community
In case she didn't know the event has
contributed nearly a half a million dollars to
its beneficiary the Avant Health Children's hospital.
1 of the folks that helps us make
that connection between the runners and the community
and our charitable partner is Betsy Za.
Betsy has been the champion head cheerleader and
Captain of Team Hem since its inception, and
she's our guest today on the running around
Charlotte. Podcast presented by Nova nevada Health Orthopedic.
Betsy. Welcome to the program. How are you
doing today?
I'm good. How are you guys? Kim in
Dc? I'm fantastic. Dc here. It's a beautiful
day out,
at least as of this recording, it's a
beautiful day.
So true. So true. Betsy what's Cooking friend.
How are you?
All good things.
Yeah.
We've got the twentieth
year coming up and?
It is bonkers.
It is bonkers. Yeah.
I remember running what Charlotte Marathon for the
first time in 94.
What you when you were 7 years old,
that was... You dash like. That was back.
That was back when it was the Charlotte
Observer or Marathon. Yeah. Yeah. It was. But
now, you guys have done such great things.
I think it's like 1 of the coolest
events in the city of Charlotte, and I'm
just happy to be apart.
Give some of the runners that participate, to
also connect with Him b Children's hospital and
the great things that they do. Well, I'm
so excited to hear with you guys and
talk about it. I I have really good
news for you.
We have... We have so many more people
for you to work with this year.
So we just got through our our
price break,
expired. The the discount
has has gone away. There's an another discount
still available, but it's not as deep
But as of comparing this year to last
year, as of that price break, you know,
after July first, we are up.
30 percent from last year. And last year,
we were up 30 percent from the year
before.
And 22, we were up 30 percent over
21.
So
on the 21, we were up a hundred
percent over 20 because we didn't do anything
in 20.
No
So we're growing
exponentially. I think I think we could hit
9000 this year.
I love that. Yeah. Let's make it 5
figures. So you're just 10000.
Let me walk it back for just a
second, in case both of our listeners may
have missed who you are and what you
do.
Tell everybody, Yeah. About your role. With team
him mb and the No 1 house Cheryl
Marathon?
Sure.
So this is my, a third year, officially
in this role.
And
what I get to do is first and
foremost have a front row to fund in
generosity.
So people who are running the Charlotte Marathon.
Have the chance to
give back to the community and connect with
the community through Him Children's hospital,
anybody that goes to the website to register
when they check out, they have the option
to donate, a hundred percent of those donations
go directly to Him b Children's hospital.
And if you want,
you can become a member of Team Hindi,
which is just what we like to call
a Vip
experience.
So for those who want to connect, they
can donate 262
dollars or fund raise that amount. With that,
you get
all the Vip treatment we can think of,
and some people just email me and ask
for different things, but that includes a t
shirt that includes,
bi weekly check ins with the whole team,
so a little bit of encouragement if you
wanna stay accountable.
You get free bag check, with yours truly
on the morning of the race, so you
don't have to wear those clothes and feel
like you have to, you know, leave them
on the street just hand them to me
or my team out there. We all have
the t shirts on, and we'll have it
folded for you yet at the finish.
I'm not guaranteeing my folding is great. Folded
cleaned press.
No. Just folding. Not longer.
We pull this up for me. Said shirt,
so we kinda had it that in.
That's funny.
Also, at the finish line for your families,
for people who are waiting for you and
cheering you on, we're gonna have some hot
chocolate, coffee,
We try to throw a space heater if
the generators will connect it, not guaranteed, but,
you, it all weather dependent any anywhere. And
so we we have a dedicated space. For
for you to meet up with your family,
the cool part about that. Also is
the Hindi hospital patients that are a part
of the race. We'll be waiting there to
congratulate you as well. So we are excited
about our connection with Him b children's Hospital.
It is a beautiful place for here in
Charlotte, something that you never wanna know about,
but always love to know that it's there
in case you need it. So it's a
joy. That's what I get to do is
I get to
provide a Vip experience for team hindi.
I get to connect runners with the hospital,
so anybody that wants to take a tour
or hear more about it. The option is
there, and that's on the website as well.
Of, I I and I just gotta say
Think you see. I I love the way
you put that. I get to. Not I
have to. I get to.
And that I... That's what I love about
you, Betsy is your your frame of reference
is
I get to do this.
And and it... It's exciting. Every day I
can tell you... You're always got a smile
on your face, so thank you. Keep going.
What else you got?
Okay. Thanks. So we we have the charity
chaser.
Which is another little piece of support for
Children's Hospital.
The Charity Chaser start at the very back
of the race,
and they are raising
dollars for every person they pass. This is
a chance for our corporate sponsors for for
people who small companies and local people who
want to get involved. They can donate
a thousand 7000,
a hundred thousand
dollars to these Charity chaser. They're gonna rep
them on their t shirts on their social
media channels, and, the charity chaser are just
some special folks that have a passion.
For him be children's Hospital in the Charlotte
marathon. So you'll see them out there in
their bright orange shirts,
and I believe they'll be on the podcast
coming up some in the ball to tell
you more about that. Now related, we're... Let's
just say
somebody's listening this.
Either 1 of our listeners are picking this
up the day that it drops. So we're
about 20 weeks away from the event. Is
it too late to get involved in Team
Him or the Charity chaser?
Never.
Never too late.
November 16.
Race day
is the day. And even after that. We'll
take it for 20 25 That's sharepoint point.
Never too early.
We're always always excited to have people learn
more I participate or be a part of
it. I went to a store 1 time,
a
specialty running shop up in Minneapolis friend of
mine owns.
And I It it was
after hours or 4 hours I don't remember.
And I wanted to get just something that
reminded me of that shop. And I said,
is it... Too earlier too late to buy
this and he looked at me said, the
registers is always open.
So the register the registers is always open
here. Right? You know, like, you can always
join and you can always
join team hem or the Charity Chaser or
whatever and part of that. So who gets
to
so we don't get confused though.
Who are... Last year the Charity Chaser were
Jimmy and sunk.
And they're not this year. They're they're rotating?
They're not And it's they're in the support
role. They're in an Am role. Okay.
And who are the charity chaser this year?
Have we identified them yet?
Well, so we have... And we have a
group,
this year, we have a group of about
5
that are kinda battling each other out. For
those 2 Charity Chaser spots. Reason being...
Yeah.
So if you wanna throw your name in
the hat to be a charity chaser... Sir.
I wouldn't I wouldn't pass many people at
this point.
We're in we're in overseas and a recruiting
user But, no. So so they're all working
together first and foremost to raise money and
awareness around him children. So they're working with
people they know.
Maybe somebody listening has gotten and asked from
1 of the Charity Chaser to support them.
And then,
about a week out from Race day, we
will, we we will have the 2, and
then we will have their support crews. So
if you guys were out watching the race
last year or a part of the race.
You saw 2 Charity chaser, and a crew
up about 5 or 6 surrounding them and
sharing them on during different portions of the
race. We'll do the same thing this year.
It's gonna be awesome. Alright. So we'll have
2 Charity chaser.
And the Charity Chaser are the ones that
raise money.
Everett... Well, anybody can raise money for him
and children's insurance. Right? Now, we have dozens
of fun.
So so how do you raise money for
Charity Chaser If you're not a charity Chaser
or yourself.
You go. So they have a fundraising page.
Very good. On the charlotte Marathon. Alright. Website.
And so if you go to the Health
Charlotte Marathon.
And you click fundraiser, you'll see Charity Chaser.
They raised over a thousand dollars so far?
Very good. Coming in lot. There you go.
I like it.
That is fantastic. And 1 of the things
that I just... I absolutely love about this
along with everything else that's going on with
it is
the storylines,
and you've introduced me to some incredible people
over the last couple of years who had
some
very personal connections to hem children's Hospital, and
that's just a beautiful thing.
Tell us about, I mean... And then there's
no... There's no real age limit not and
either. We've met some we've met some some
young folks as
who've been part of team him being over
the last couple right?
Yes.
So we always love to bring people who
have a connection to Him Children's hospital. Some
have been in their... You're Nicu and pick
you units,
neonatal intensive care, and pediatric intensive care units,
we we also have had patients that have
just had to use him before
you know, different injuries and and different illnesses
that they've add come back and be a
part of this race.
And so we love to show that support
back to the hospital
for all of the nurses and doctors and
case workers and care workers that are over
there.
A lot of the nurses and doctors are
part of the race as well. So it's
just a beautiful community connection.
That allows us to say thank you all
the way around.
We all know that movement is such a
gift that we get to do every day.
And to give thanks for that as well
as the the hospital that gets people back
moving and proven, parents and children alike has
been really great. But, yeah, Dc each year,
we we have meaningful mile patients, which are
patients and families that dedicate their time,
to be there both on race Day and
before race day. So afford the cause. They
gave out the awards last year for the
marathon a half and the 5 k. Some
of their parents and families even participated,
And these are,
some children who have been a part of
him currently, and some of them got out
of the children's hospital
you know, when they were at a year
old and now they're 8 years old and
still giving back. So it's just a great
community connection come out there if you'd like
to meet some of the patients
go over to the hospital and see some
of them. Please let me know. My email
and info and everything's on the website. I'm
sure y'all will link it here to too.
I really absolutely. And and and I think
it's also important to mention that,
and as you said earlier, this is such
an incredible resource to have in this community
and 1 that we hope. No 1 ever
has to use.
But
so it's like, yeah There's that, but it's
also important to note that you don't have
to have a connection with the hospital.
In order to participate with team ham mb
or the Charity Chaser.
No way. Babies and running. They're just no
fun. Exactly. You don't have to have a
connection just have to use yourself wanna be
awesome. Right? Look, for the last, I... I've
met some of the coolest fundraiser have no
connection to children's hospitals whatsoever. I, you know,
A teacher.
A firefighter,
a banker, a real estate broker. I mean,
you name it. They have gone above and
beyond in this
quiet, generous way
to raise some funds for people who they
will never meet,
and maybe never know,
but wanted to give out of the goodness
of their heart to make their marathon or
their half marathon or 5KA
meaningful day to them.
And so...
Anybody can do that. It's awesome.
Yeah. So III like goals.
I I like to have something to look
forward to achieving.
Last year, I think we raised what was
at a hundred and 38000.
Do we have a goal this year?
Right So our our hundred thousand dollar goal
on our website. We'll we'll stay that way.
We're almost
halfway there. We're a couple hundred dollars short
from having raised 50000 dollars so far for
for Hen beach children's Hospital. Alright right. And,
yeah.
So we're hoping to knock it out of
the water this year. So we
we're looking to you. We're looking to the
runners out there to the people who are
sitting there this summer saying.
Gosh. Yesterday was the halfway poll part of
20 24. What am I gonna do for
the next 6 months? Raise some money. Make
a goal, run a race.
Put some meeting behind your miles and make
it happen. I mean, you're gonna look at
November sixteenth and say that was so much
fun. I guarantee it. That's... We... We gotta
be way ahead of where we were last
year.
Yes. Oh. We are. Awesome. That's good news.
That's a year awesome.
I love your enthusiasm.
I love everything you do. I'm so glad
you're a part of the team.
You uplift... Our spirits every time we talk
to you. And for the runners and the
people who are out there doing the real
work raising money,
I know they feel the same way.
Oh, I'm so thankful for you guys.
I'm thankful for
everybody who's a part of this race. You
know, like said at the beginning, this is
such a cool event for the city of
Charlotte. Charlotte, has a lot of cool events.
But to be a part of this and
to connect a up and down the streets
and all around is just a joy.
So I love being in a part of
the ride.
Now you yourself are a runner 2. Correct?
I try. You tried. But didn't you recently
run a a marathon
somewhere? Where did you... Recent... Yes. Kind of
refill. Tell tell us about that?
Come on dear.
God
oh, you knew we had to go then
oh, man. I like Bragging out here, Betsy.
Yep. So I I got her in the
Berlin Marathon,
which was the first time I'd ever run.
Anywhere big like that.
It was really cool. To internationally see the
people from around the world Just, yeah. How
running
unites, people, from all different backgrounds, all different
ages and stages and
it's just a really beautiful sport. I know
y'all both think that as well, but it's
just something that anyone can do
if they put their mind to a race,
whether it's 3 miles or 26.2
miles or a thousand mile. I don't know
if people running or not. Run and do
now. But
just to get out there and move together,
community, you know is something that I value
tremendously
connection is something that I value tremendously and
running bring those brings those together
in always. So The Berlin Marathon. No, That
was last fall. Right?
Yeah. It was. Yeah. Because I got a
friend who's running it running it this year.
And he's... Is that right? Just starting to
get his training ramped up just in time
for the heat and humidity.
I
around here. It's a tough...
It's it's it's a tough marathon. Cycle to
do just in, like, July and August for
those heavy miles, but it's super fun. Because
it's late to right think. Yeah.
It's cycle You gonna tell us how you
did. You gonna share your
results. No. No.
I forgot.
Forgot.
Man. We're gonna put your a links link
in the show notes as well. So like
you wanna check out Betsy check out.
Now I do that to too you Betsy.
You're awesome. And and and everybody know you're
fast anyway, So that's neither to hear nor
there. But I look forward to seeing you
soon.
We have, know, some training runs coming up
for the for of the marathon, which I
know I'll see you out of those.
But as you said you were available 24
7... You 3 65.
The website there. If you wanna find out
more about Team hem or find out more
with the Charity Chaser, the door is literally
always open,
heck.
Right Betsy Probably let you do that thing
on
November fifteenth if you ask nice enough, but,
you know, It's all. Oh, yeah. And look,
last year, we had 223
members of team hen.
There's all people that raised over 262 dollars.
Yeah. Our, we would love... To increase that
this year and just really give you a
vip experience. If you're coming in from out
of town if you're,
local and want some family to support you
and have a place to meet up, and
and kinda be a part of it.
We can make things happen, sir Just let
me know what you need. I'm excited.
Perfect. Like you said, just find it. When
you you can find it when you register
for the Nova Hills Charlotte Marathon, you can
find the information there. If you've already registered
and you happen to miss it when Not
a worry. You can go back to the
charlotte marathon dot com and check it out
there or heck, you could just flip on
right on over to the show notes, and
we'll put the link in there.
All, good.
Betsy, It is always a pleasure to have
you on the show. So excited for
11/16/2024
and the twentieth
anniversary running of the old 1 Charlotte Marathon.
Keep on doing good work, Girl.
Thanks.
That's.
We love me. Appreciate you. Thank you. Right
you. Alright. Bye.
The running around Charlotte Podcast is presented by
the Health Charlotte Marathon.
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