Wayne Teen Founds 5K in Honor of Late Mother

Hello, I am Rohit Shinde from Boy Scout Troop 102 in Wayne, NJ. I am currently a junior at Wayne Hills High School and I attended A.P Terhune Elementary School. 

I have attained the rank of Life and am aiming for the prestigious rank of Eagle. To achieve this rank I must complete an eagle service project. 

For my eagle service project, I have organized a 5k run/walk for women’s cancer around Packanack Lake on May 17, 2014 from 8 to 11 a.m. The 5k will benefit the Guardians of the Ribbon (pink fire trucks), a local organization that helps women suffering from cancer by raising awareness in the community as well as using funds to help cancer patients financially. 

The 5k will benefit the Guardians by raising awareness for their organization so that they receive more calls for help and more support. The profits from the 5k will also help the Guardians stay in the forefront of the battle against cancer. This 5k will evolve into more than a simple race, it will become a social hub where cancer patients and survivors can mingle, share stories, and give each other advice.

I have taken on this gargantuan challenge for another prominent reason. I would like to honor the memory of my mother, who passed away from Stage IV Breast Cancer on September 2, 2013. 

She was the strongest woman in my life as she battled the sinister disease twice and fought it each time with a smile on her face, never showing a sign of weakness at any moment. The strength she had to battle cancer was unmatched to any strength I have ever seen. She even had enough positive energy to constantly encourage me to reach my full potential. 

Because of her support, I am a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society. I am also a three-season varsity runner on the cross country, winter track, and spring track teams.  She also pushed me in academics as she shaped me into the successful AP/Honors student that I am today. 

I am currently in four AP classes (AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP U.S. History II) and one honors (Honors Spanish).  She made me the man that I am today and I want to continue the success that she has blessed me with. She has given me something that I can never repay, the love of a mother. 

Thus, this is more than an Eagle Project for me this a chance to give back, at least a fraction, of what my mother has given to me. 

Losing her put me on the precipice of collapse, as the mixture of anger, depression, and fear beat me down. I am doing this Eagle Project to make sure that no one has to go through this same traumatic experience. I want to help Wayne families through this struggle because the last thing I want for a family in Wayne is to give up because of financial insecurity or simply because they lost hope. 

Helping to alleviate financial issues will ease some of the mental pain for these courageous fighters. I want to do as much as possible to give cancer patients the best chance possible. My mother’s influence on me is infinite and I want to share it.

Therefore I want township residents to help to me achieve this goal by registering for this event and promoting the run. Please go to http://run4theribbon.com to register for the walk/run or donate. The link contains all the details on the event including free t-shirts for the first 150 participants. 

The 5k will take place on May 17, 2014 at Packanack Elementary School from 8 to 11 a.m. I can be reached at 973-767-8539 (cell), 973-616-5257 (home), or at Rohit.shinde26@gmail.com. Thank you for taking the time to consider this request.                                                                              

Thank you,

Rohit Shinde