This special edition blog was a little tougher than others to write. KPF moms can be found advocating for their children, cheering on the race course, signing up for races from their laptop and managing logistics. What I have determined is that they do not necessarily want the spotlight or do not necessarily see themselves as extraordinary. BUT THEY ARE!
For Mother’s Day (whether they like it or not) we are turning the spotlight on them. We want to highlight all the moms because they are among the unsung heroes of, and advocates for, their families.
Speaking from experience, getting up on race day takes exceptionally longer than on a normal day. It goes something like this: Wake up at an ungodly hour, wiggle into my bike clothes (aka cramming into Spandex). Then, my dystonia kicks in and it’s just about all I can do to avoid whooping my mom. There’s an exchange of words.
Mom: Just sit still!
Me: I would if I could!
(followed by chuckles and additional bantering)
Unlike our routine tete-a-tete, the morning of a race at the Kramlich residence seems to be void of the razzing, but still a sprint to get ready on time. Getting Kyleigh dressed takes a bit longer on race day – especially when layers are required.
Kyleigh comes first, then “everything else is negotiable” Christina jokes, “Mom is lucky to end up dressed and with her teeth and hair brushed.”
With similar scenarios playing out across our KPeasey family, the push for inclusion goes way beyond the finish line with moms leading the charge. We witness their fight for inclusion on a regular basis, as education advocates, as medical advocates, as therapists, as coaches – all in the name of challenging society, as well as their kids, to do more. Moms do whatever it takes to ensure their kids try their best with the abilities they have to be successful in every path they choose to blaze – whether there are inclusion-driven nonprofit organizations to assist or not.
“Our mom helped bring the miracle league to Buckhead baseball in the early 90s, and I might say the seeds of KPF were planted then,” Brent recalls. “Bringing inclusion to baseball was just one of the ways the wonderful moms in our world help make Team Pease a winner.”
Some KPF moms, mine included, are not necessarily runners. Athlete support is not limited to pushing a jogger through a hilly racecourse. It also takes place on the sidelines, in the simplest of acts. Naomi Williams once told a group of KPF supporters how wonderful it was to be a soccer mom for once. To be able to stand and cheer and pass out orange slices while her son, Noah, raced in a marathon made her feel engaged and was the bond that drew her closer to her son and other in-chair and volunteer athletes.
KPF moms are known for rolling up their sleeves and pitching in.
“My favorite memory of KPF moms diving into help was the Annandale Village Extra Mile 5K in 2019,” Shawna said, KPF’s Director of Operations and Development. “It was my first solo staffing event. I was nervous and there were pieces that needed to be done. All the moms jumped in. They moved everyday chairs. They checked off finishers. They watched personal items. It was a full-on team effort.”
The moms of KPF play vital roles in front of and behind the scenes - at the races and at home. From wrangling their kids into racing wardrobe to the daily morning routine. From running alongside their athlete to themselves being in-chair athletes. Moms are essential in keeping the wheels of The Kyle Pease Foundation turning.
So, THANK YOU, to all the moms. We appreciate you, we acknowledge your herculean efforts, and we love you!