This April, rookie teammate, Kevin Wilson, will be earning his Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal in memory of his dad.
Kevin after finishing the TCS New York City Marathon
The Six Star Medal is an esteemed award for runners who complete all six original major marathons: Boston, New York City, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and London, but for Kevin it means so much more.
“Throughout my life, my dad was always there for me. He and my mom were my biggest supporters throughout my athletic career, from football and wrestling to my marathon journey,” Kevin said. “Being a part of Tedy’s Team to earn my Sixth Star Medal is the perfect way for me to turn those miles into a tribute to my dad.”
In 2009, Kevin’s dad, Dennis, suffered two strokes. His first stroke happened when Kevin and his wife, Angela, were at his parent’s house. Within a few minutes of talking with him, they knew something was wrong and called 9-1-1.
Fortunately, there were no major setbacks from this stroke, but a few months later, Dennis suffered another stroke that left him with deficits that affected his ability to walk and move around.
A few years later, during Kevin’s son’s birthday party, his mother, Isabel, suffered a stroke. Thankfully, Kevin and his brothers were able to quickly recognize the signs and get her to the hospital right away. Their swift action allowed her to receive the immediate care she needed to make a full recovery.
“That moment reinforced just how critical awareness and education of the warning signs are,” explained Kevin. “They can truly save a life.”
Unfortunately, in November of 2019, Dennis, passed away after living with stroke complications for 10 years.
Kevin and Angela with their kids
Since his dad’s passing, Kevin has used running as a way of staying connected with his dad and honoring his strength and resilience. It has also helped Kevin on his own personal health journey.
“My grandfather also lived for years with the effects of stroke before passing away,” Kevin said. “Having a family history that impacts me firsthand makes me deeply committed to improving my own health as well as spreading awareness and raising funds to support this vital cause.”
On Monday, April 20th, Kevin will join his teammates as they take on the 130th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America. To support Kevin’s fundraising and awareness efforts, please visit his personal fundraising page and learn the warning signs of stroke which are best remembered by using the acronym BE FAST, which stands for:
- Balance Difficulties
- Eyesight Changes
- Face Drooping
- Arm Weakness
- Speech Difficulties – and if you notice any of those warning signs, it’s…
- TIME TO CALL 9-1-1.
BE FAST is an acronym to help you quickly recognize common signs of a stroke and to take any necessary action by calling for emergency medical services. Other symptoms may include sudden and severe unexplained headache or migraine with no obvious cause, and confusion or trouble understanding things they would normally know.
Back to All Blog Posts