Wow! This morning was such a tear jerker - in a 'happy tears' kinda way.From the moment Tara took off in the 2.25 km Junior Dash, she was stone last - but with all those people cheering her on from the side, clapping and shouting such inspirationally beautiful things to her - it was so hard to not just stop and sob with pride in her, and gratitude for the kindness of strangers. Instead I had to run/walk alongside Tara saying "come on baby, you can do it" without letting her know how I was breaking inside. I just wanted to pick her up and carry her - but she did it all by herself.
And you know - even tho' she had some pain with her prosthetic and had to readjust it half way thro' - not once did she even think of stopping, giving up or crying. She just kept on going.At one stage she saw two kids lagging and said "I have to beat them" and she went for it - and did overtake them briefly - but then at the end they raced past her again.
But she didn't mind. She was just soooo excited to get her first medal for running ever! All three girls were.
And it was really sweet because the girls' running numbers were 1, 2 and 3 so their names must've been at the top of the Junior Dash list - and when we arrived, we heard the compere saying over the loudspeaker that "the whole Panayis family is here - Cassie, Jadie and Tara" - so they all got to feel special.Plus Tara was interviewed by the press afterwards - so that was pretty spectacular for her.
And then we all went for donuts at Aus Fair - with the Paton girls who ran with Tony, Jadie and Tara - and the very nice woman there gave the girls a whole bunch of extra donuts just to be nice! So now they all can't wait for next year's marathon!See video below for Tara's final 'sprint'...The guy on the loudspeaker is saying "yeah, Gold Coast Bulletin, where are you? Check this out...in the kid's race. You little Champion, you!" Thank you Jean-Luc, George and Lizzie for being such running inspirations in Tara's life!
5 comments:
Out of everything that you've been through so far that you've so kindly shared with us, nothing has moved me more than seeing Tara run in that race. I'm speechless.
She is just BRILLIANT. And never in my life have I used that word with such heart felt passion.
LOL
L-L. x
WELL WELL DONE GIRLS WAY TO GO ALL OF YOU, YOU DESERVED THOSE DONUTS AT THE END !!!!
LOVE TIA
Well done Panayis 1, 2 3 girls! You all did so well but seeing Tara race accross the finishing line was just awe inspiring. We also did our walk in Richmond Park, in the rain, but it was such fun just to be together for such a beautiful cause.
I also loved reading the KungFu Panda story about today being a present. I'm writing it down and sending it to friends. I love it.
So great to speak to you on Sunday Tara and sad I didn't get to say hi to Cas and Jade! Much love and kisses from us all, Filipa, Max, Jaspar & Ava
xxxxxxxxxx
hey guys this is domi
iam writing this from school
you were all so great and i would never have done that race like tara
PS thanks for mentioning me
i read about you in a magazine Tara, i have pseudoarthrosis too. but in my right leg. I'm 22 and i still wear a brace, but i can do most of the things my mates do. i think you are really brave. i dont think i could have just told the doctors to cut my leg off.
Post a Comment