My wife Kate and I have been doing many running events for our son Joshua with the phrase “#run4joshua”! This phase is on every one of our running bibs, on purple tags that we wear on our shoes, purple bracelets, Kate and I even got tattoos with this phrase incorporated into the design. This phrase carries a very special meaning to us as it is our WHY we run, to carry the memory of our sweet Joshua James on and to promote awareness for Epilepsy and SUDEP awareness.
The phrase all started when Kate had signed up for her first half marathon in March 2023 (occurring in June) and she customized her bib with “Run 4 Joshua,” with the intention that he was her motivation, because if he could go through everything that he did every day with his infectious double dimple smile, she could conquer a half marathon. The day Joshua died, as we sat on our floor for hours, numb, because we didn’t know what else to do. The chaplain sat there with us and said, “is there a physical activity you like to do?” Kate responded, “Run, I’m training for a half marathon.” She said, “I know you don’t feel like moving right now, but tomorrow, go run, run to help process this, run to handle all of the emotions flooding your body.” So we both went for a run as she suggested.
Kate completed her first half marathon in June with Joshua in her heart and soul. Since then, we both haven’t stopped running. Running is the only place where we could be both lost and find ourselves, temper our grief, even for a short period of time, be one with the world in some capacity with Joshua with us. So that is where #run4joshua became our lifeline, our INSPIRATION.
