A Promise is a Promise

This all started with a promise.  Well, the First Annual Patrick Downey 5K did, anyway.  Now it’s just kinda blossomed and snowballed and gotten a little bit out of control.  So, after three races, over $20K raised in funds, a very cool sponsorship from Converse, a lot of paperwork and figuring out stuff and now I have created the Patrick Downey Foundation.

Before my brother passed away, I promised him that I would help to raise awareness for the awful disease that took him, esophageal cancer.  And that’s what I plan for this foundation to do.  But that’s only one thing I want it to do.

The other thing I hope to achieve is to keep Patrick’s spirit alive.  Hence, “Patness”.  If you knew Patrick, you understand what this means.  He was a unique, crazy individual.  He was talented and tempestuous.  He was as frustrating as he was loyal.  He was a true stubborn Taurus.  But no one who ever met him could ever say they forgot him.

One of my all-time favorite stories about Patrick is one I’ve heard my entire life and my parents still tell to this day.  When I was just a baby, and the oldest sibling, Frank, was in school, my father came home early one day and found my mother up in my bedroom changing me.  But there was no sign of Patrick.
“Where is he,” my dad asked my mom.
“Downstairs,” said my mom.
“No he isn’t,” said dad.

So panic ensues and my dad starts to drive around the neighborhood and happens upon little 3 year old Patrick a few blocks away, who waves happily from the street saying, “Hi Daddy!!”
My father calmly says, “Hi Patrick.  Hey, what are you doing running around the neighborhood like this?”
Patrick replies, “Oh, Daddy, I wasn’t running.  I was walking very slowly.  And I even looked both ways before I crossed the street.”

Did I mention strong-willed?

Enjoy!