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Sweet. Loving. Empowering spirit to others. One little face has motivated one young man to run a marathon in her honor.
Meet the Glascow family: Jarrod and Mollie and their two daughters, Willow, 3, and Wren, four months. Both are working parents with two beautiful and unique little girls. But the smallest of the two is just a bit more unique as she was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome the day she was born. They call her “little birdie” and with her joyful wings, she inspired family friend, Jacob Huffstutler to run in the Mercedes Marathon/Half Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama.
The race will be held on February 17th at the Boutwell Auditorium and will begin at 7 am. All proceeds raised will benefit The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs; the center provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delay. Jacob will be one of 8,500 people who will be participating in the marathon.
Jacob first met Jarrod when the two were just kids. They have had a close friendship ever since and as they’ve grown, their families and support for one another has grown as well. As a previous Bell Runner for the Mercedes Marathon/Half Marathon, there was no question in Jacob’s head that this year he would do it with Wren as the little birdie who would sit on his shoulder to encourage him.
“When I found out that Wren was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, this was the first thing that popped into my head,” said Jacob. “The first time that [my wife and I] saw Wren she absolutely stole our heart. We both love Jarrod, Mollie, Willow & Wren to death. We feel that this is a way that we can show support to their family.”
Jacob’s goal is to raise $100 per mile. He will be running half of the marathon, which will raise a grand total of $1,310.
The Glascow family strongly supports the Mercedes Marathon as well as The Bell Center, which they visit twice a week.
“I don’t know that I can really put into words how much The Bell Center has meant to us,” said Mollie. “They have been a huge support to us from the beginning. As parents they give us support and reassurance that Wren is doing great. They also encourage us that Wren is just our baby and Down’s syndrome does not define who she is or will be. We like that mentality because we think Wren is pretty perfect!”
When it comes to Jacob running in their little birdie’s name, the couple couldn’t be more thrilled.
“We are beyond touched that Jacob is running in honor of Wren,” Mollie said. “He has and always will be a dear friend to us.”
For more information about the Mercedes Marathon/Half Marathon and The Bell Center, follow the links.
To donate, click here. Each donation will help support Jacob and Wren, as well as the Glascow family in their mission to raise money for the Mercedes Marathon.
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