Hungry 4 Some Supper Myself

The Hungry 4 Some Supper Myself Run was started in memory of Christian M. Rector. Chris was a sophomore at Baraboo High School. His passions were running and playing in the High School Band. But he loved to be a part of it all, whether it was hanging out in the hall with friends, running 800's with the Cross Country Team, playing in Pep Band for the Friday night game, or enjoying time with his ...family. Although Chris liked to be a part of everything, he was not a follower. He was confident in who he was as a person. He always had a smile on his face and love in his heart. He was infectious! He touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. Some maybe did not realize it at the time, but all who knew him, now feel the loss. He was always giving of himself and always looking for ways to contribute to his community, school, team or family. He wanted to help those that were not as fortunate as he. He was always asking if he could participate in runs or events that would benefit a charity or cause. One way he felt he could really make a difference in someone's life was to be an organ donor.

He had just started Driver's Ed last January and came home during the first week to talk to us about Organ Donation. They had talked about it that day in Driver's Ed and he was so excited and adamant about becoming an organ donor. He could not understand why anyone would not want to be a donor. He said, "Why would someone want to pass up the opportunity to save another person's life? If I can't use my organs, but they can somehow help someone else by giving them one of mine, then I want to do that." As a parent I was so impressed with Chris. That a kid just 16 years old would think enough of others to be willing and ready to donate a part of himself to save the lives of others, wow! We had no idea that in just a few short months this conversation would become so important. In May of 2009, Chris died in a tragic accident at our home, but his decision to become an organ donor allows him to live on, not only in spirit, but also in his organ recipients. His kidneys went to help a woman in California and a man in Indiana. His liver saved the life of someone in Illinois and his eyes helped 2 other people restore their sight.

Hungry 4 Some Supper Myself came from when Chris was just 5 or 6 years old. We were coming back from a family day out (I think we had gone to the Milwaukee Zoo that day) and all 4 boys were in the back of the van and it was completely quiet. Kenny and I were enjoying this rare moment of quiet when out of the blue Chris says, "Yep, Kenny, I'm kinda hungry for some supper myself!" We all started laughing because he said it in such a way that you would have thought we were having a conversation on if/when we were hungry where we were going to stop etc. But really it had been completely quiet for the last 10 minutes! That little ditty just stuck with Chris for the rest of his life. I don't think more than a few days would go by without someone saying to Chris or someone else within the family that they were "Kinda hungry for some supper themselves!" Chris often said it himself and we all would smile and laugh each time it was said thinking of him at 5 years old. As a family, we are so proud of Chris!

​This run is an opportunity to carry on doing what he believed in. To help to keep inspiring people to be more than they thought they could be, and to maybe open their eyes to the fact that giving an organ or tissue after you've passed away is a gift that will not only save someone else's life but will also give your family a part of you that is still living somewhere helping someone each and every day.