Orange Appeal January/February 2020

beautybody&spirit

F.I.T. AGAIN: RUNNING FOR A REASON

With a commitment to get fit 10 years ago, a group of women decided they would train for and run in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. They worked hard and all say one person made it possible for them to get to the finish line — their volunteer trainer David Cassidy, who was an athletic trainer and sports medicine marketing manger with AdventHealth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

F.I.T. team photographed at Track Shack. Top: Sara Brady, Sam O’Lenick, Wendy Sullivan, Ali Polejes and Betsy Hughes; bottom: Kari Conley, Pam Saffran and Leah Shepherd. Not pictured: Dr. Aileen Field

Over the past decade some of the women have continued with half marathons while others have been more casual runners, but a sudden loss — David Cassidy’s 2019 suicide — brought them back together and they jumped into training mode. They will once again take on the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, on January 11, to bring awareness to mental health issues.

“Ten years ago, AdventHealth — Florida Hospital back then — was talking about doing something to get people healthier. So, I took that challenge and I actually reached out to people I knew in the business community as well my kids’ school and other places,” Samantha (Sam) O’Lenick explains. “Actually 30 ladies came and joined us. Dave Cassidy was our coach and was quite an inspiration to all of us. We had been flirting with the idea of getting back together again and then tragically, Dave took his own life. That got us jazzed and ready to go. We are going to raise awareness for Dave and mental health. Each and every one of us struggles with it and if we can eliminate the stigma, that’s what we want to do.”

The F.I.T. (females in training) 2020 team includes: Leah Shepherd, Samantha O’Lenick, Sara Brady, Wendy Sullivan, Alison Appelbaum Polejes, Kari Conley, Pam Saffran and Dr. Aileen Field. And although the group is smaller than the original one, it is no less enthusiastic and motivated.

“I think the gift that I got from this was the connection with these women and

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beautybody&spirit

David Cassidy, Sam O’Lenick and Ali Polejes

also that I have been running for 10 years. This is a big challenge — we’re all 10 years older. Dave brought all the joy into this and also took the pressure off us in terms of our own competitive ways. It’s about the camaraderie and the accomplishment — and it’s special that we are doing this for Dave,” Sara Brady says.

“The biggest thing for me is that Dave was such an encouragement. I started running 10 years ago because of Sam and Dave. I have run nine marathons since then, and he encouraged me. I actually ran the Marine Corps marathon with him a few years ago. He was always there for me,” Wendy Sullivan explains.

“I met Dave back in the mid-’90s when I worked for the Orlando Magic. So, when I heard he was going to be our trainer I thought it was great our paths had crossed again. It was like no time had passed. He was like an old friend and it was heartbreaking to get the news. To run in his honor, especially on his birthday, is even more special for us,” Leah Shepherd says.

“As a mental health counselor, this is really important for us to raise awareness for these issues that are out there and a lot of people don’t talk about,” Pam Saffran adds.

“I’m thankful for Sam who brought us together, and Dave for being with us. It made possible what we all thought was impossible. We trained in so little time, just like we are doing now. I remember the morning of the race I started to freak out a little, but he gave us all the inspiration to do it,” Kari Conley explains.

“It’s going to be very emotional crossing the finish line. It was the first and second time, but this time we will be crying different tears,” Ali Polejes says.

“Ten years ago, I helped a little with the coaching. Dave had been a friend of Track Shack for years. He had an athletic training background, so to coach all the ladies was a piece of cake for him. He loved it. David’s widow and daughter are also planning to run the race,” shares Track Shack owner Betsy Hughes.

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