Just returned from a 7 mile run in the snow, through the slush and many puddles. Cars where honking and people where looking at me like I was nuts. I also experience what runners call “the zone” or “runner high” , I was running and cars where splashing me, I was running through puddles, slush ans snow and I LOVED every minute of it.

It made me think and ask the following question? What is your favorite running story, or type of run. Running til you puke? Running with the rain dripping off the front of a running hat? Hitting a turn and accelerating through and out of the turn? Seeing someone in front of you, bearing down and catching them? passing someone on their bike?

Love to hear some stories. Please post it on the JT Foundation Facebook page or better yet on the JT Foundation Blog. http://thejtfoundation.com/wordpress/

         Scott Defilippis to become a JT Foundation Spokes Athlete! 

The JT Foundation for Autism Awareness and our Team for Autism Awarenessis EXTREMELY excited to be able to have teamed up with Professional Triathlete Scott Defilippis for the 2010 season.

Scott who is a Member of the teamTTB Professional Triathlon will be racing and training all over the world in 2010 and will be helping to spread the word about Autism and The JT Foundation. Visit the JT web site to follow Scott and teamTBB.

 Each member of Scott’s teamTBB was asked to take on a worthy charitable cause and we were lucky enough that Scott choose The JT Foundation and the Autism fight. Thanks Scott!

Scott has been a JT Foundation and Team for Autism member ever since he ran the final miles with me during our first JT Foundation event in 2007, The 150 Mile Run for Autism. Scott was there to support his friend and former coach Brian Shea who had been attempting to run 150 miles in 3 days before a serious injury resulted in the JT TEAM to take over on day 2. (related story coming soon). Scott ran the last 7 miles with me and since then he has always been there with The JT Foundation.

 Also, Scott and his brother Rob have also been an Apparel sponsor through their running shops, Runners High. To learn more about Runners High visit www.runners-high.com.

Our plans for the 2010 season are still in the development stages but we are really excited about the possibilities.

 For now we will be keeping you up to date regarding Scott’s training and racing through his Blog posts and the JT Foundation Facebook page. So look for these posts and to learn more about Scott, teamTBB and to help support his efforts.

If you wish or know any other Athletes that would like to join Scott as a SpokesAthlete please contact thejtfoundation@aol

When you love someone with autism, there are those moments when they overcome a challenge, or conquer a fear – and words just fail to describe how inspiring it is to see them do it.
 

A movie airing this Saturday on HBO will bring that feeling to film, as much as it can be. It’s called “Temple Grandin,” and it’s about a woman who grew up when few people knew what autism meant – or what individuals with autism could achieve.

The people at Autism Speaks have informed us to watch with some friends from within your community, and someone who wants to learn more about autism.

Hope you’ll plan on watching too. If you’re an HBO subscriber, invite friends over to share the experience with you. If you’re not, email friends to find folks to watch with:

Born in Massachusetts in 1947, Temple Grandin was initially labeled as brain damaged because she was unable to communicate as a toddler. After she was diagnosed with autism at age three, her parents were told she should be institutionalized.

Instead, Temple got the speech therapy and the special training she needed, and went on to prove herself as a brilliant student.

She also became a teacher to her teachers, in many ways – helping them understand how a person with autism experiences the world. In later life, by authoring books on autism and becoming an advocate, Temple brought that understanding to the rest of the country and the world.

Saturday’s HBO movie tells the story of Temple’s life – a story that will inspire people both within and outside the autism community.

Special Thanks to :

Mark Roithmayr
President, Autism Speaks Who passed this invite to the Autism community.

Get that special someone a romantic gift and help a cause!

Valentine’s Day Special

For every gift certificate purchased for a massage

20% of the proceeds will be donated to the

The JT Foundation for Autism Awareness

This offer is being offered through

Terri Wall CMT

and Therapeutic Massage

Contact Terri at: 732 598 0549

Terri is located in downtown Point Pleasant Beach at

908 Richmond Ave.

Hours:

M, W, TH, F- 9-2

SATURDAY 9-6

SUNDAYS and evenings: By appointment only.

So get your someone special a great gift…..

even if that special person is you!

Your Invited!

To Join The JT Foundation’s Team for Autism Awareness at the

Sports Medicine Symposium and Coaching Clinic

for Endurance and Multisport Athletes

February 20, 2010 8:00am to 5:00pm

____________________________

A portion of proceeds will be donated to The Jt Foundation and other worthy causes associated with the Clinics partisipants.

____________________________

Presented by

• Dr. Gerardo Goldberger:  Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute
• Doug Rice of the Sandy Hookers Tri Club and the Race Forum

• Tom Manzi of  Training Bible Coaching

FeaturingJoe Friel, author of the Triathlon Training Bible Book Series

__________________________________________________

In association with and held at CentraState Wellness Center

901 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728

________________________________________________

What you can expect!

An interactive educational program, presenting topics related to sports medicine, coaching methodology and training techniques.

The athletes will have the opportunity to attend concurrent lectures given by nationally renowned physicians, coaches and professional athletes.

The presenters will provide one-on-one consultations at their respective stations, answering questions related to swimming, biking and running techniques, periodization, transitions, racing season planning, nutrition, and equipment.

There will be a collaborative effort between coaches and medical professionals to address injury prevention in orthopedic surgery and podiatry, along with presentations related to cardiac and pulmonary preparation for endurance events.

Attendees will receive individual instruction by physical therapists and trainers regarding proper stretching techniques, core strengthening and pelvic stabilization programs, to enhance performance.

The athletes will have the opportunity to undergo swim stroke analysis, running technique and shoe evaluations, in addition to bike fitting sessions, and VO2 testing, all of which are only available on a limited basis and first come first serve.

___________________________________________

Other speakers and experts that will be in attendance:

• Dr. Phil Skiba, PhysFarm Jessi Stensland, Movement U
• Brian Shea, Personal Best Nutrition
• Bike Fitting by Brielle Cyclery, Cycles 54 and The Peddler
• Swim Stroke Analysis by Tina Fiore & Run Analysis by Christine Clifton

 

• Other speakers and presenters include:
• Dr. Michael Lynch, Chiropractor Dr. Steve Lemberger, Podiatry Dr. Liz Perez, ART/Chiropractor Dr. John Connors, Podiatry Dr. Rob McKinley, Pulmonology Dr. Laurie Glasser, Physiatrist
• Dr. D. Marzo, Sports Psychologist Dr. Gregg Berkowitz, Orthopedics Dr. Vivian Kominos, Cardiology
• Dr. Michael Greller, Orthopedics Charles Weingroff, DPT Joe Peragine, DPT
• Karen Kozel, DPT Dave Stretanski, Chi Running Jennisse Schule, VO2 Max Testing
• Scott DeFilippis, Pro Triathlete Jacqui Gordon, Pro Triathlete Ken Glah, Pro Triathlete
• Keith Cook, Tri Coach Dave Slavinski, Tri Coach Joe Donahue, Tri Coach
• Shannon Cutrona, Trainer

To Register go to: www.RaceForum.com/Sports

 Limited Entries

 $99 until event is full

JT’s Santa Story

This story began the day after John-Thomas Hughes (JT) visited with Santa prior to Christmas in 2007.

You see, in 2007, JT was an eight year old young man who had Autism and who happened to love Santa Claus. For that Christmas all JT wanted was his very own Santa Suit…it was all he talked about for weeks leading up to Christmas. Well much to JT’s delight Santa delivered.  JT’s Santa Suit was perfect, with a furry hat, a big red coat and a beard as white as snow. JT tore open the package and put on his suit and began to play Santa, taking things from around the house and bringing them to guests as his way of gift giving, all with a big…Ho Ho Hoo. JT wore his Santa Suit for the rest of that winter, into the Spring, Summer and Fall, right up until Christmas 2008.

Christmas 2008 arrived. What to get JT for this Christmas? This was the question everyone asked and we had no answers. But without telling anyone, JT knew exactly what he wanted.

When JT’s mother took him to see Santa, what JT asked for came as a big surprise. For his wish was not something that she could order on line, or just go to the toy store to purchase; JT whispered to Santa that he would like Santa to leave him…..Santa’s Sleigh.

Christmas time is a time of miracles but to actually get Santa’s Sleigh or one built for an 8 year old little boy with Autism seemed almost too much to ask for. One common trait of a child with Autism, called stimming, is that once they get an idea about something, it can tend to be all they talk about and think about.

But like all parents who love their children and would try to grant their every wish, JT’s mom and dad went on the hunt to find JT’s very own Santa’s Sleigh. Store after store and magazine after magazine they hunted, but no sleigh was sturdy enough for an 8 year old autistic child to play in. No one wanted little JT to be disappointed.

With less than 3 weeks till Christmas, JT’s mother asked her mother (better known as Memom) to see if she could help. So off Memom went, to every hardware store in her town and in the surrounding towns. Lots of people tried to come up with ideas, but no one was able to find or locate a sleigh other than one meant for lawn decorations.

Then, after many unsuccessful tries, Memom ventured into Mueller’s Florist in Manasquan a flower shop in a neighboring town that is known for great holiday decorations and custom flower arrangements. She hoped that just maybe they could find a sleigh here.

There, three young ladies listened to Memom’s story but they too could not come up with any ideas.  Another lady who worked at the shop, named Vicky Renner who had overheard Memom’s plight came and asked if she could help. Memom again retold her story of young JT who had Autism and his only wish for Christmas of getting Santa’s Sleigh. In a flash Vicky who absolutely loved Christmas and the meaning of Christmas grabbed paper and a pen and drew a perfect sleigh and asked if this is what JT had asked for? With a sad look Memom said yes, but we have no way to get one and time is running out.

Vicky then asked Memom for a little time so she could talk to her husband Billy, a local contactor to see if he could help with the project.  Excited but still a bit nervous Memom phoned her daughter to tell her that she might have found a sleigh.  Her daughter was thrilled and asked what will it look like?  Memom wasn’t sure. So her daughter asked what will it cost?  Again, Memom wasn’t sure. Finally her daughter asked when will it be ready? Memom wasn’t sure. With so many unknowns JT’s mom wasn’t confident that Christmas would really satisfy her little boy.

Memom and Vicky phoned back and forth and the more they talked, the more confidence she gained that the sleigh would be perfect, but others who didn’t meet Vicky were unsure if this unknown lady could really help, and what price would we have to pay, considering that Memom went into a very exclusive shop to ask for a custom sleigh to be made.

Finally, on the Sunday before Christmas Vicky called Memom, the sleigh was ready and they would like to like to put JT’s name on it. So with the artistic hands and love from Santa’s helpers, the Renner’s, Vicky, Billy and their daughter Victoria, they added JT’s name to the sleigh that they built and painted, custom just for JT.

With time running out and Christmas just a few short days away Memom called JT’s mom and dad and told them they needed to pick up a sleigh from Vicky’s house, a sleigh that neither of them had ever seen. So off went JT’s mom and dad along with grand pop to pick up the sleigh. Meanwhile, Memom, jumping out of her skin, waited at home with JT and his little sister. What would her daughter say when she phoned that the sleigh was picked up? Was this truly the Christmas miracle that we all wait all our lives for? Twenty minutes passed. Thirty minutes passed. Then the phone rang, and with tears in her voice Memom heard …. “You did great, it is beautiful and we did get a Christmas Miracle”.

Memom asked her daughter how much the sleigh had cost them?  To her amazement, Vicky and her husband would not accept money. It was their gift of love, they only wanted to help JT to have his Christmas dreams come true.

Vicky and her husband taught all of us what Christmas and the holidays are all about; it is about sharing the love in your heart and about thinking of others when you are so busy and really have no time for one more project.

So on this Christmas you can ride past JT’s house and see a red sleigh with JT’s initials on it, and with any luck you might even see a little man in a red Santa suit ringing jingle bells and yelling Ho Ho Hoo —-Merry Christmas!

Regardless of what holiday you celebrate stories like this need to be told and shared. Giving back is what it is all about. So this holiday try not to so much think about getting, but rather giving! Vicky and her family will never be forgotten.

So may God Bless you with a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

PS: We hope you were able to read this wonderful true story and please join us in prayer that JT doesn’t ask for Santa’s reindeers for next Christmas!

http://jerseymikes.com/news/read.asp?id=165

Please take a few moments and click on the link next to the Jersey Mike’s Logo.

I have had the privilege to have worked for Jersey Mike’s for 25+ years and can say that I grew up in and with the business. We have 400+ stores all over the country ans as many of you know it all started in a tiny shop in little ol’ Point Pleasant Beach.

Sure I learned how to a make and now teach -COACH the best sub on the planet, but more importantly I have been able to learn how to get involved and Give Back. This lesson and my boss and friend Peter Cancro’s example is what led me to GET involved and GIVE BACK>

So get out there and give a little of your time and or money to the many worthy causes…of course we do hope you take a look at The JT Foundation for Autism Awareness.

Thank you Peter Cancro and God Bless!

I am fetured in this clip and am proud as hell to wear the RED-White and Blue of Jersey Mike’s.

Many of the Team for Autism Team members will be heading to Lake Como on Saturday December 12th to to participate and join forces with Team Wilton at the Jingle Bell’s Run/Walk to Fight Arthritis.

Brian Wilton has been an extremely active member and supporter of The JT Foundation for Autism as well as many other worthy causes. It is time to give back to a GIVER>

If you can not make it to run then please consider making a donation (even a $1.00) via the following link. Arthritis is something that my family is dealing with, much like many of yours.

http://2009jbrwlakecomo.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=315468&lis=1&kntae315468=C016BE8ACC5F42C1BE5F90B924389D5D&team=3553785

Hope everyone isn’t being NAUGHTY…You know who’s watching…SETH>

Congratulations goes to Dr. lance Nemiroff for completing and becoming an Ironman.

The hard work and dedication from him and wife Susan has paid off.

Lance finish a very respectable 14:26 at the IM Cazumel!

Great JOB!

For more JT Foundation Team Member results and information please visit www.thejtfoundation.com and click on our BLOG. If you would like to add a POST please register and share you story!

Hey all,

Well we are approaching the end of week #2.

My update goes something like this………Ah started yesterday. Basically that’s it. Was away the last two weeks, flying all over this great land of ours. I tried to work out but I kept getting locked in my hotel room;-)

2nd day with no carbs. Eggs for breakfast, chicken and sweet potatoes for lunch, an apple for lunch and chicken or pork for dinner. I also have to start doing something Iabsolutely hate….eat vegetables. Had Broccoli last night. Thank GOD for salt and pepper.

I am also going to add this to the NEW JT Blog. Would love to have you guys also do some posts. I know that with Facebook and all the other stuff a Blog might be to much but we are working on a way to have them all work together. I have provided the Blog link ……so go on and sign up.