Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: Carolyn's Kindness 5k

Losing Carolyn so suddenly and during a quarantine was an incredible shock to all who knew her.  I could add to that "and all who loved her" but it would be redundant, because to know Carolyn, was to love her.  It was impossible not to love her.  She emitted a light and an energy that was otherworldly. Her compassion for others and her commitment to her faith was displayed in all of her actions.  She was truly an angel on earth to so many.  This is why the loss of her physical presence is so difficult to bear.  However, in addition to her children, Carolyn has left us a legacy.  We honor her legacy of kindness for all and her love of all things Fall, by remembering her during her favorite season. 

We invite you to participate in the 2021 Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: Carolyn's Kindness 5k.  This event will take place on Saturday October 23rd. This year the race will remain mostly VIRTUAL, but if you are in the Bensalem area and would like to join friends and family IN-PERSON, there will be a group meeting at 2742 Ogden Ave. Bensalem, PA.  The in-person option will be entirely outside in front of Carolyn's childhood home. The race in-person will begin promptly at 9:00 am, and we encourage others to start their virtual 5k's at the same time, but it isn't required.  We will host a zoom toast at 11:00 am.

We chose October for a few reasons--Carolyn loved everything Pumpkin Spiced, Harry Potter, Fall, and Halloween (just take a scroll through her FB page to see some of the epic costumes).  It also corresponds with Notre Dame High School's 13th Annual Pink Out at the high school where Carolyn taught and was her home away from home. ND Cares uses funds raised by the Pink Out to bring awareness and equity to help people and their families dealing with cancer.  Last year they raised over $10,000 for local families and charities with expenses, mammograms, wigs, as well as collect comfort items to make up care bags for chemotherapy patients and provide a scholarship to a senior at Notre Dame majoring in healthcare.  We would ask that if you are going to participate in the Kindness 5k, that you consider making a donation.  All donations will go to  ND Cares for their mission. Please make your donation in Carolyn's Memory and anyone else impacted by cancer by Venmo'ing Bill Graham @William-Graham-79.

The space Carolyn filled in this world will never be replaced, but "the things we lose have a way of coming back in the end, if not always in the way we expected".  Let's honor Carolyn by remembering her core value of kindness to all by gathering either in-person or virtually together to participate in this event.  Perhaps consider toasting to her that day with a Pumpkin Spiced Latte or a Pumpkin Ale with us Zoom.  I'm sure she will be doing the same as she sees all of those she loved come together in this way to keep her legacy alive and with us until we meet her again.