Spirit of Joshua Award
Staging a marathon is extremely stressful and very labor intensive, offset however by the many special moments each marathon reveals. Our greatest rewards are by far the people we are privileged to meet and the incredible stories they share with us. One such encounter occurred Marathon Sunday 2002.

While most people were finished with their race and the task of break down and clean up had begun, a member of our staff was approached by a young woman requesting her brother's marathon medal. A call went out over the radio for the event directors to meet at the command center. A hush went over the group as the young woman, who introduced herself as Jill, quietly spoke about her best friend. She explained how six months earlier he had excitedly committed to run his first marathon and had chosen ours to run. She promised him that she would be there for him when he crossed the finish line and together they planned for a special trip to San Diego. He was not there on race day. Jill's best friend, her brother Joshua, had perished along with thousands others in the World Trade Center as a result of the attacks of September 11, 2001. In spite of her still fresh pain Jill knew she had to keep her promise to her brother and without telling her family or friends she made what was to be a fun trip to San Diego with her brother, alone.

We were all so touched and inspired by Jill and her brother Joshua who we've come to know through Jill. From this encounter the Spirit of Joshua Award was born. This award is presented annually to someone who has overcome great obstacles to get to the marathon. It is a living tribute to Josh and to his sister Jill, who despite her brother's death, kept her commitment to him.

2009 Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Jenifer Jaffe

In September of 2007, Jenifer was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare and very aggressive form of cancer, striking only about four in one million people.  Because of its rarity, it attracts little research and few doctors know how to treat it.   She was scheduled for major reconstructive surgery at a local hospital within a week of this dreadful diagnosis.

Jenifer is a fighter and instead of accepting the recommended course of action she quickly moved to learn everything she could about LMS.  What she learned was that the odds were overwhelmingly against her but that they were improved if she was treated in one of the five or six hospitals with a sarcoma specialty and by a surgeon who had actually treated this type of cancer. 

Her HMO, however, refused to let her go outside their network insisting that her surgery be done by a surgeon who admitted he had never seen this disease in his 30 years of practice.  She fought the HMO for a second opinion and staged a fierce battle to have her surgery done at Cedars Sinai in Los Angles while the clock ticked.

Here is her story.

“I found my heroes at Cedars Sinai Medical Center - oncologist, Dr. Forscher, and surgeon, Dr. Alan Silberman, along with their incredible support staff.  They continue to oversee my care and I have enjoyed surgically induced remission since November 1st, 2007.     

In the spring of 2008, I had a chance meeting with a woman whose husband, an active-duty Marine, was battling the very same type of rare cancer as I was. As she spoke, I felt chills. Many oncologists in a lifetime of treating patients will only meet one or maybe two LMS patients and here was another one.  As I drove home, I felt there must have been some purpose for our meeting, though I’m still not entirely sure of God’s plan.

Sadly, this woman’s husband, Lt. Col. Thomas F. Mazzella (pictured on left) died on October 23rd, 2008, leaving a wife of 12 years and two young sons behind.  He dedicated his life to serving this great country, and for that I am truly thankful.  Prior to his passing, I let his wife know that I wanted to walk the half marathon in honor of Tom. It was a small gesture I could make to show my gratitude.

On January 25th, my sister Leslee and I will walk the Carlsbad Half Marathon in Tom’s honor, raising money for the LMSarcoma Direct Research Foundation. We are blessed to be able to walk together to help find a cure for this disease.”   

Click here to read about our past Spirit of Joshua Award recipients.

Do you know someone who you think deserves the Spirit of Joshua Award?
You're encouraged to nominate a Carlsbad Marathon registrant whom you feel exhibits the kind of extraordinary courage, compassion, commitment and determination as you have read above. If your candidate is chosen, we would like to acknowledge that person at the finish line of the Carlsbad Marathon.

How to nominate someone:
Submit your recommendation and candidate information no later than December 15.

Submissions may be sent via email to info@inmotionevents.com subject line: Spirit of Joshua Award candidate or, faxed to: Sprit of Joshua Award Candidate, fax number: 760.692.2901.