BRANDON PORTER and the NYC FIREFIGHTERS STAIR CLIMB 2016

On September 9, 2015 a message was delivered to my Facebook Inbox. It was from Brandon Porter. Brandon explains to me that on Saturday, September 5, 2015 he did the Dallas 9/11 Stair Climb. He goes on to explain that it was the 3rd year he had done this Stair Climb and each year he climbed in honor of Nicholas. Brandon is a member of the Rescue Unit for his city like Nick.

After the September 5th stairclimb Brandon had the honor of meeting members of Rescue 5 along with friends and family of members who passed on 9/11/01. One of those being Madeline Bergin Koenig, wife of John Bergin. Brandon gave Madeline the lanyard he wore around his neck with the picture on it of the firefighter they are honoring.

At the September 11th anniversary gathering, all the wives of the firefighters lost 9/11 and myself, the only Mom were presented with the lanyards those Texas firefighters wore the day of the climb. A picture of that is below. You will also find pictures from that day that Brandon sent to me.

This year Brandon will be coming to New York along with his wife Molly because he will be doing the 2016 NY Firefighter Stair Climb on Sunday, March 13th, and he will be climbing in honor of Nicky again. Plans have been made to have them at Rescue 5 on March 12th for a gathering and it will be at that time that Nick’s family will get to meet and thank him for doing this year for Nick.

Thanks Brandon for doing this!

Christopher Capobianco Runs TCS NYC Marathon 2015

This is really a great story and I hope you will be patient while I roll it out. Nick’s fund had been involved in fundraisers with the ING NYC Marathon from 2006-2013. The Marathon’s sponsor changed with the 2014 Marathon and would only allow existing charity partners to have a team running in 2014 if they placed an application and were excepted. We were not.

However, in 2014, I receive a note from Chris Capobianco and it went like this.

Good Afternoon Barbara,
I'm writing regarding Nick's Fund. I have spoken at length with Katy DeCoursey, as well as her friends Chris and Erin Faison about their experience running and raising money in the past for Nick’s Scholarship Fund. Myself and one or two other individuals are interested in running for the fund in 2014 and want to know how to get involved. I’ve run three half-marathons in the past few years and am ready to commit to a full marathon and doing it supporting Nick’s Fund. I would like to set up a time to discuss this for some time in the near future. Hope to hear from you soon!
Best regards,
Christopher Capobianco

My answer to his e-mail.......

Hi Christopher,
I remember your name actually, you are one of Katy's donors. Katy has been such a wonderful addition to our team. She has been involved with us in the past and we have appreciated her a great deal. However, I am sorry to inform you that Nick's Fund is not involved with the Marathon this year.

I am hoping that you can find another worthy charity to run for and we will give a shout out if we are again involved with the NYC Marathon in the future. Thank you for your interest and hope that our paths will get to cross.
Sincerely,
Barbara

Then on April 1, 2015 I receive another e-mail from Chris and it went like this......

Hello Barbara,
I reached out to you last year upon recommendation from Katy Decoursey, and learned that your Foundation was not taking part in the 2014 TCS NYC Marathon. This year I earned a spot in the race via the lottery and would be happy to raise money and run for Nick’s Fund. I reached out to some folks who have run on Nick’s Team in the past (mostly friends of Katy) and they are not running this year. I don’t know how much of an impact I’ll make on my own.

I would still be more than happy to be involved and raise money during my training. Please let me know if you’d be interested in having me represent Nick’s Team this year.......and if so, what I’d need to do to get started.
Best regards,
Christopher Capobianco

My answer to him..........

Hi Chris,
It’s good to hear from you and find your offer to raise money in support of Nick’s Fund a great gesture.
Sincerely,
Barbara

Well, Chris ran the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon and when asked how it went for him he answered.....

Hi Barbara!
Sunday was truly a great experience! My finish time was 4:31:30......a little longer than I was hoping for, but not too bad considering it was my first NYC Marathon. I was really taken by the support the spectators gave to the runners throughout the race. I’ve done a marathon before and multiple half-marathons and none of them came close to this experience. I was very touching to see all the people who ran in honor of loved ones who have passed away from cancer and other circumstances. Thanks, Chris

Chris alone raised $905.00 in support of Nick’s Fund..........Thanks Chris!

INGRID LECHNER CLIMBS THE STAIRS IN THE CENTURYLINK BUILDING IN DENVER FOR “NICKY LOVE”.

It’s been a while since 9/11/15, but I wanted to share with everyone a story of human goodness. It’s the Sunday morning after 9/11/15 and my husband tells me that someone named Ingrid Lechner called and left a message saying that she did the Denver Stair climb in honor of Nick. She left her number and I called her back.

What followed was two people who had Nicky in common coming together to share in our own special ways the commonality. I learned that she was a volunteer firefighter in Colorado and her husband was one as well. I shared with her Nick’s story in part and when our conversation was over, we both had a fair view, me of her and her of Nicky.

We ended our conversation and some days later I said to myself, why didn’t you ask her to send some pictures of herself on that day so I could post them on his Facebook page and on his website. So I called her again requesting the pics. I asked her for her tee shirt size and will be sending her one of Nick’s Memorial Tees and our “Tribute to Nicky Love” dvd. She e-mailed me back and the content and pictures are to follow!

Re: I climbed for Nicky Love....

Dear Barbara,
I'm so happy to be associated with you and your family. What a remarkable person and firefighter Nicky was, and what an amazing family he has. You are all just pure love. It's an honor to be forever connected to Nicky as a sister firefighter.

My shirt size is small and my address is:
Ingrid Lechner
Her Address

I would love your address as well. This year I was selected to be a part of the 2016 Colorado Firefighter Calendar. We raise donations for The Children's Hospital Pediatric Burn Unit and Colorado Burn Camp. I have made a donation in your family's name and would like to send you a calendar.

Smiles,
Ingrid