We are only 5 days away from the Peter De Mott Peace Trot. Yikes! 

Five years ago, when Patrick O'Neill and came up with the idea to do the Peace Trot, at first I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do it. At the time I wasn’t a runner and didn’t think that I liked running. And I was just too sad.

Now, I have to say, I am so grateful that they came up with the idea because otherwise I never would have started running (our gently jogging). I love running. It’s been great to discover that I can do it. I feel so much healthier and I have discovered that I am a nicer person when I run. And as I run, it’s been a great way to feel connected to Peter. 

But this spring has been hard in terms of training for the Trot. Though I run throughout the year, in the month of March, I begin to train in earnest for the Trot. But this year I developed plantar fasciitis and I’ve had lots of trouble training. I have to say it’s been VERY challenging. I REALLY miss being able to run and I am having an even deeper understanding of how important it was to Peter. The good news is that I went to the podiatrist 2 weeks ago and my foot is already starting to feel better. Last week I was able to walk for a couple of miles each day without pain. And then the Doc gave me permission to run a mile each day for a couple of days, again no pain. 

Today I ran about 3 miles and still no pain. I’m looking forward to Sunday. I may be able to trot the whole 5K or I may have to walk some of it. But this I can say, it will be good to be moving and to be with great friends! 

Come join us. If you can’t come, order a tee shirt in solidarity. http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/

Hello all--

The Fifth Annual Peter De Mott Peace Trot is coming up in less than a week!  If you are planning to trot, now is the time to register (the online form closes at midnight on Thursday): http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/register.html.  Registering online helps us organizers a lot with planning and preparation-- and, for you, insures both a quick race check-in on the day of the trot, and that you'll get a t-shirt).

This event is volunteer driven -- and we could still use help.  We have jobs for trotters and non-trotters alike!  Please sign up here: http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/volunteer.html

New: if you or someone you know cannot trot, but would still like a t-shirt, we have an order form: http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/order-t-shirts.html

Join us as we practice running the course: Mondays @ 5pm and Wednesdays at 5:30pm.  Meet at the Sculpture Garden across from the ponds in the F.R. Newman Arboretum, Cornell Plantations.  Call Tom Joyce with practice run questions: (607) 277-7426.

Please help out with this fundraiser by getting sponsors-- they can support you by donating online, writing a check, or giving cash.  Read more: http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/fundraise.html.  For some ideas on how to do this, read Connie Thomas's piece: http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/blog/connie-thomas-talks-fundraising.  Read the letter below to learn more about why we run this event as a fund raiser.

And finally a huge THANK YOU to everyone for ALL the support over the years!! We are grateful!!!



Dear Friends,  

We are gearing up for the 5th annual Peter De Mott Peace Trot.  As I write this letter I can hardly believe that we have been doing this now for five years! There are so many emotions that come up as I say that number. Working on this event has been great way for us to honor Peter’s life and work.  For me it weaves together many of the strands of who he was: running, supporting the work of the Catholic Worker and bringing together the community of family, friends and activists.  I am so grateful for all the incredible energy of the many people who have helped to make the Peace Trot happen.

Since Peter’s death, the Ithaca Catholic Worker Community has been meeting weekly at the house that now carries his name.  The house has been such a gift to us as we try, in our clumsy ways, to live the works of mercy and the call to be peacemakers.  

Over the past five years the Peace Trot has also become our community’s biggest fundraiser. What, you ask, do we need these funds for? So far we have used the funds for:

Paying down the mortgage of the house
Buying and installing a new wood stove
Buying new gutters
General house repairs
Printing
Transportation

During this past year our community has been able to offer hospitality to numerous people seeking a place to stay. We have a supper every first Sunday of the month and a weeklyTuesday night supper and meeting. We invite you all.  (See www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org for more information.)

In the great Catholic Worker tradition, going back to the 1930’s we oppose the “Works of War”.  Our focus has been bomb laden drones deployed from Hancock Airfield, near Syracuse, NY.  Many innocent people are killed in drone attacks in countries around the world. We call attention to these illegal (under international law) activities by the military command, including the President. As a result of this work, many from our community have been to court, and some to jail.  Needless to say there have been expenses incurred.

This year our goal is to raise ten thousand dollars from this fundraiser.  The money will help pay down the mortgage, pay house repairs (i.e. work on the foundation), supplies, travel, printing, and legal expenses.

We invite you to join us in this fundraiser. If you are able, send us a check or donate online.  Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to sponsor your participation in the Peter De Mott Peace Trot.  Volunteer to help either on the day of the race, or during this time of preparation.

In Peace,
Ellen Grady, for the Peace Trot organizing committee, who are Tom Joyce, Oona GradyDeFlaun, Heather Scott, and Robert Sparks.

Dear Friends,  

We are gearing up for the 5th annual Peter De Mott Peace Trot.  As I write this letter I can hardly believe that we have been doing this now for five years! There are so many emotions that come up as I say that number. Working on this event has been great way for us to honor Peter’s life and work.  For me it weaves together many of the strands of who he was: running, supporting the work of the Catholic Worker and bringing together the community of family, friends and activists.  I am so grateful for all the incredible energy of the many people who have helped to make the Peace Trot happen.

Since Peter’s death, the Ithaca Catholic Worker Community has been meeting weekly at the house that now carries his name.  The house has been such a gift to us as we try, in our clumsy ways, to live the works of mercy and the call to be peacemakers.  

Over the past five years the Peace Trot has also become our community’s biggest fundraiser. What, you ask, do we need these funds for? So far we have used the funds for:

• Paying down the mortgage of the house
• Buying and installing a new wood stove
• Buying new gutters
• General house repairs
• Printing
• Transportation

During this past year our community has been able to offer hospitality to numerous people seeking a place to stay. We have a supper every first Sunday of the month and a weeklyTuesday night supper and meeting. We invite you all.  (See www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org for more information.)

In the great Catholic Worker tradition, going back to the 1930’s we oppose the “Works of War”.  Our focus has been bomb laden drones deployed from Hancock Airfield, near Syracuse, NY.  Many innocent people are killed in drone attacks in countries around the world. We call attention to these illegal (under international law) activities by the military command, including the President. As a result of this work, many from our community have been to court, and some to jail.  Needless to say there have been expenses incurred.

This year our goal is to raise ten thousand dollars from this fundraiser.  The money will help pay down the mortgage, pay house repairs (i.e. work on the foundation), supplies, travel, printing, and legal expenses.

We invite you to join us in this fundraiser. If you are able, send us a check or donate online.  Ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to sponsor your participation in the Peter De Mott Peace Trot.  Volunteer to help either on the day of the race, or during this time of preparation.

In Peace,
Ellen Grady, for the Peace Trot organizing committee, who are Tom Joyce, Oona GradyDeFlaun, Heather Scott, and Robert Sparks.


P.S.  Registration is now live!  Please sign up to trot at www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org.  And please join us for practice runs at the Plantations on Mondays at 5pm.  More information on the website.

Greetings to all!

Though winter doesn't seem quite ready to bid us farewell, the sun is shining brightly today and the snowdrops are bravely peaking their blossoms up through the mud and ice.  Spring is surely on its way!

And with Spring comes the trot preparations.. we (the committee) have been meeting and scheming up plans for the best year yet and we're excited!  We'll be posting more information in the coming weeks, but we've got the basics up on the site now (www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org).  Have a look.  Put the date on your calendar.  Pull out your running shoes and get moving!  We've got 75 days to go...

As always, please do be in touch if you've got ideas or want to get involved.  We're always so grateful with how the community comes together to support this event!

Have a wonderful day!

Best,
Oona, Tom, Ellen, Heather, Robert