Melissa's Fundraising Page
My name is Melissa Zotos and this is my first time running a marathon. How did I get here? Well it started with going through some very difficult life challenges over the course of the year 2023-2024. The traumatic events that lead up to me becoming a runner I will not share specifically on this page, but for those of you who know, thank you for being apart of Team Melissa during the most difficult time of my life.
I was not a runner. I liked exercise, but prior to this past year, running was not my choice of exercise. So for some reason unknown to me, running became a tool I used for stress relief, and building mental strength. If I could put one foot in front of the other physically, then I could use the same mantra to get through the intense personal challenges I was facing on a daily basis. Another important part of this story is that I am an employee at Brigham and Women's hospital (that is how I found out about the Stepping Strong running team). Since July 2022, I have had the privilege of working with a very special group of people at BWH. My colleagues were another important part of this journey for me.
In April 2024, I started with my first 5K, which just so happened to be the BAA 5K where I was privileged to join and learn about the Stepping Strong team. Then in June, I ran the BAA 10K. Very soon, I will be running the BAA half marathon. The natural progression would be to sign up for the Boston Marathon right? Well that was a little harder for me to wrap my head around. How could I possibly do everything I am doing right now and train for 26.2 miles? And raise thousands of dollars? Those were my thoughts on the tough days. And on the good days? I knew I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. So that was it. I decided my trauma was not going to define me. I would not allow the bad days to consume me. It was all about changing my perspective. Which was easier for me to do being surrounded by the right "team".
So I applied for charity bib with the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Team. I was inspired by their mission to help trauma survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Just as my "team" helped me. I knew I wanted to be a part of that. Below you will see a great description, that I cannot take credit for writing, about the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation. Please take the time to read it in addition to my personal story:
In 2013, Boston was changed forever when a beautiful Marathon Monday turned into a senseless tragedy. Gillian Reny, then a high school senior, was one of 39 critically injured patients rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where doctors and nurses saved her life and legs. With gratitude to the Brigham, the Reny family established The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation to help other trauma patients regain their strength and ability to step strong once again.The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation aims to catalyze trauma innovation for injured civilians and military heroes through multidisciplinary investigative collaborations across the continuum of trauma care, from prevention to treatment and recovery. Stepping Strong-funded initiatives are making a profound impact on trauma survivors and their families worldwide. The center has raised more than $30 million to fuel trauma research, advance education, build community, and inspire advocacy. But much more needs to be done.Trauma is a neglected global epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Trauma is the number one cause of death for people 44 or younger, ahead of cancer and heart disease.
- Traumatic injuries comprise 40% of visits to emergency departments.
- More than $2 trillion per year is spent on decreased productivity, work loss, and medical costs due to traumatic injuries.
- Despite the significant burden of trauma, less than 2% of federal funding is allocated toward trauma research, inhibiting our ability to understand how to prevent, treat, and improve recovery from traumatic injury.
Thank you for supporting this extraordinary group of runners and continuing to honor the Boston Strong spirit that still defines our city today. Learn more about the Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at the Brigham: www.bwhsteppingstrong.org Qualified runners are encouraged to join our team as well.
Brigham and Women's Hospital is a proud partner of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.
Achievements
Self-Gift Badge
I'm a runner and a Brigham donor!
Personal Progress:
of Goal
$9,332
Raised
$10,000.00
Honor Roll
Amanda, Matt & Lena Reynolds
$100
Anonymous
Anonymous
$100
Brian & Dana Burke
Brianne Eastwood & Family
$250
Cindy Cloutier
$500
Dave & Jacquelyn Cloutier
$1,000
Elizabeth Gonzalez
Gary Sullivan
$500
Go Melissa!!!!
$200
Jerry & Paula Burke
$250
Joseph Naber
$250
Maggie Burke
Margaret Burke
$925
Motorola Solutions Foundation Employee Giving
$250
Mrs. Magda Abdou
$400
peter schuler
$526
Rachel
$200
Robbin Dunn
$250
Scott MacDonald
$500
