Spirit of Joshua Award - Past Recipients

2011 Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient Peter Nerothin

While past winners of this award were able to run in the race, our 2011 winner could not. Peter Nerothin was far too busy on race day. President and Founder of Insulindependence, one of our Official Charities, Peter was there though and long before the runners and walkers hit the streets and after they are done. Peter, along with his group of passionate volunteers were along the race course overseeing a mile of the route.

We’ve come to know Peter as a remarkable person with the drive and determination of ten. Always the athlete - Peter completed his first marathon at the age of 20, it wasn’t until he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his senior year of college; however, that his passion became his calling. In 2005, in the midst of training for an Ironman race, Peter created Insulindependence, an organization whose stated mission is to inspire people with diabetes to set personal fitness goals, educate them on adaptive management strategies through hands-on experience, and equip them to explore their individual capacities. Peter launched Insulindependence with an expedition to Peru, where a group of five teens and three adult mentors spent two weeks hiking through the Andes and learning to manage diabetes in some of the most challenging of circumstances. The success of his first trip spawned a broad range of programs for those living with diabetes including travel adventures, a surfing club, a running and walking club, and the Triabetes triathlon club for people with diabetes.

Peter is an example of how one, when confronted with a life-altering health diagnosis, rather than give up can choose to take a new, extraordinary path in life. Peter’s path has touched and improved the lives of many living with diabetes. Peter’s selfless determination and passion guide his organization which impacts the lives of many living with diabetes by instilling confidence and creating extraordinary experiences.

2010 Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient Jeremy Poincenot

A year ago Jeremy Poincenot was a typical San Diego State University student and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  He woke one morning just after turning 19 and realized his vision was blurry.  Over the next two months he lost all of his central vision and is now legally blind with 20/1000 vision due to a rare, incurable genetic disorder called LHON.

The shock of sudden blindness is a challenge that Jeremy has confronted with an amazing attitude.  Rather than feel sorry for himself for what he lost (the ability to see faces, read, drive, etc.), he has focused on being grateful for the many things he still has.  He has taken on many new challenges:

• Along with some college friends, he created a Cycling Under Reduced Eyesight - CURE, a charity bike ride to raise awareness and funds for LHON research underway at the Doheny Eye Institute.
• He took up blind golf and placed 3rd in the US Blind Golf Association National Championships.
• Along with some fraternity brothers, he developed a clothing company.
• He’s given speeches about LHON and blindness to sororities, fraternities and philanthropic organizations.
• He’s gone skydiving, taken up surfing and begun painting.

The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon was Jeremy’s first-ever competitive running event. Alden Wood, a fraternity brother, served as his visual interpreter (seeing-eye brother).

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.”   

2008 Carlsbad Marathon Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Shari Hume

Running had always been an important part of Shari Hume's life (in photo on left side with Jill), but when two of her young children were diagnosed with serious illnesses, running took on a new meaning. While running, she could work out the devastations, the frustrations and the fear that come with chronic illnesses and she could return from her runs with a new strength and a renewed sense of purpose. In 2003, Shari and her husband, Tom, formed Cure JM Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness, provide support, and fund research into a cure for Juvenile Dermatomyositis, a very race genetic disease, which her 8-year old son, Parker, had been battling for four years. Shari then made the decision to use running to help achieve the goals of the new foundation. She began training for the Carlsbad Marathon, collected pledges for each mile she ran and since that time she has been able to raise almost $250,000 for Cure JM. While doing this she and Tom learned that their youngest son, Cole, was suffering from Kawasaki disease, an equally rare and very serious disease.

Last year, Connor joined his Mother’s fight showing much courage and strength in the face of adversity. Connor has been the biggest supporter of his brothers, comforting them during their hospital stays, holding their hands when they get shots, pushing their IV pole down the hallways, finding ways to distract his brothers from their pain and knowing just what to say when they are feeling bad.

In addition to supporting his brothers, Connor has also spent a great deal of time volunteering for Cure JM Foundation, which is also a member of the Charities in Motion Foundation. Connor has helped organize lemonade stands, bake sales, spare change collections and a jog-a-thon at his school. Connor does everything he can to help find a cure for his brother. Parker. In fact, Connor said he would give his heart to his brother to save his life.

Last year, Connor was an active volunteer for the Carlsbad Marathon. He helped organize and recruit volunteers for Cure JM, and also stuffed goodie bags for the Cure JM Team. He served as a course guide and made signs to cheer on the runners.

This year, Connor recruited a group of friends to walk the first few miles of the half-marathon with Parker to show their support of Parker and Cure JM. Shari continued her battle to raise funds for JM research by running the half marathon.

2006 Carlsbad Marathon Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Merle Manganiello
In 2005 104 people died in San Diego waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Nationally 18 people die each day because the need for organs is far greater than the number of organs donated. Awareness is critical to save the lives of the 90,000 people currently listed on the national waiting list.

Merle Manganiello (shown in photo on left side with Jill) wants to help because she shouldn't be alive. She should not have been able to compete in the 2006 Carlsbad Half Marathon. At age 45, cystic fibrosis usually would have killed the El Cajon resident years ago. And it very nearly did. Most CF patients are lucky to survive into their early thirties.

Merle received a double lung transplant just weeks before the difficult illness nearly suffocated her. And on Jan. 15, she walked in the Carlsbad Half Marathon with Arizona resident Barbara Womack, her lung donor's mother. Both women walked the 13.1 miles to honor the lives Chad Womack saved through organ donation following his unexpected death.

We cannot honor Merle, without honoring her life saver and donor Chad Womack.

In 2002, Chad and a few friends rented a small house on an ocean cliff south of Rosarito, Baja, Mexico.
Some of the best surf spots in Baja were within a stones throw and this to Chad, was heaven on earth! He got a dirt bike and would sometimes bring it down with him to ride the sand dunes. It was on this bike one morning while riding down the road about a mile to check out the surf conditions, that he was struck by a hit and run driver. He never regained consciousness. Then began a miraculous journey back to UCSD Trauma Center. Miraculous because he had no ID on him at the time. It was through the grace of God, the Mexican Red Cross and the quiet work behind the scenes of the Bi-national Emergency Medical Care Committee in Chula Vista, CA they got this John Doe back to the states. The miracles continued, leading the Trauma Center to finally be able to identify Chad and contact family. All of theses miracles led to the opportunity for Chad to share a final good bye with his family and friends. They also gave Chad the ability to serve his final “life’s purpose”: to share what he could with others through donating his organs and tissues through Lifesharing.

Chad left this earth at the young age of 22 in a place he loved, with people he loved and doing what he loved; true to his philosophy of life.

Merle, Barbara and Chad, all embody the spirit of Joshua. And, though Chad is no longer with us physically, he lives on in people like Merle, who get a second chance at life.

Merle, we are proud of you and what you overcame to not only get to the starting line, but more importantly, the finish line of the half marathon. Your purposeful life has inspired many.

Marathon note: Jill Birnbaum - Mann (Joshua's sister and the true spirit of Joshua) completed the Carlsbad Half Marathon this year while raising funds for Merle and her cause Life Sharing. We are very proud of her too!

2005 Carlsbad Marathon Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Deanna Brix & her assistance dog Malachi

Deanna was an energetic and vivacious nurse executive specializing in gerontology and physical rehabilitation when her health began to mysteriously deteriorate. Over a ten year period, she was consumed by a barrage of unexplained symptoms ranging from fatigue, sinusitis and hives, to major gland failure and trouble swallowing, to name just a few.

Soon her smile stopped responding, her grip strength degraded to two pounds and she became forgetful and easily confused. She had digressed from a women who could easily run up six flights of stairs responding to a "code red," to barely being able to crawl from room to room in her own home. Emotional turmoil and physical pain robbed Deanna of any sense of independence or normalcy. Finally a diagnosis, or rather three. Deanna was told she had Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, and a growth hormone deficiency. Though any one alone would be devastating, imagine learning you have three major illnesses, and the realization that your life will never go back to what it was before.

After the diagnosis, while spending most of her days in bed, instead of dwelling on her situation, Deanna found herself thinking. She visualized how she could again participate in the activities she once enjoyed, and of ways she could get back to doing basic daily tasks that needed to be done. She soon learned to depend on a wheelchair for mobility.

Ironically Deanna and her family had been foster sitters for assistance dogs in the past. They were familiar with them, and what these special animals provided their human partners. The idea of obtaining an assistance dog became a goal for Deanna. Deanna applied and was accepted to be the recipient of an assistance dog, however, the waiting list for a dog was over two years. Unable and unwilling to wait, Deanna pursued an alternative path offered by Train Rite, a "train your own service dog program."

In January of 2001, through the help of a breed rescue program, Deanna and her family had a new addition -- an energetic, 75 pound, seven month old, Newfoundland/Golden Retriever mutt. They quickly named him Malachi, and though he had few house manners, he had an excellent attitude and seemed to respect Deanna from day one.

The training of Malachi began immediately, but was slowed somewhat by Deanna's constant fatigue. Malachi however, was a quick learner, trained easily and early on convinced Deanna that he was a genius. The team seemed to work intuitively together and training progressed very well and very fast. In fact, before long, Malachi was pulling her wheelchair with great ease and purpose.

Today, Malachi has grown and matured into the perfect service dog and companion to Deanna. With Malachi by her side, Deanna now has mobility but more importantly, Deanna has hope. In mid 2004, Deanna set a goal -- the goal: to complete the Carlsbad Half Marathon in January 2005. We are proud to say Deanna and Malachi achieved their goal and completed the Carlsbad Half Marathon.

Deanna and Malachi embody everything that the Spirit of Joshua stands for and in 2005 were the rightful recipients of the Spirit of Joshua Award.

2004 Carlsbad Marathon Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Chick Osgood

2003 Carlsbad Marathon Spirit of Joshua Award Recipient
Van Ballew
Van Ballew, Ph.D., former professor at UCSD, black belt in martial arts, and accomplished climber among other things, in January 2003 was now unable to walk or even speak in recognizable fashion. Van had been recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), an incurable, progressive neuro-degenerative disease that attacks the neurons making even the simplest of movements nearly impossible. On average most people with ALS die within three years of diagnosis. Van touched and inspired all at the 2003 event when after being pushed the entire route of the marathon in his wheelchair by family and friends stopped short of the finish line, and with the help of his mother, wife, young daughter, and friends successfully took the last steps crossing the finish line. Van Ballew was recognized and honored that day for his heroism and strength. Without words, he showed everyone that in spite of the tragic hand he had been dealt, he was not willing to give up.