Why donate to this old man who should be nowhere near the NYC Marathon? Why donate to the National Kidney Foundation? What sets them apart from every other organization asking for money? For me, that answer is easy, Lockett. 

Lockett’s life has been a series of,  “you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you can’t eat this, you can’t eat that, you can’t swim here, you can’t play this sport, take your medicine at this time, NEVER miss a dose.” That’s not living. That’s simply surviving the day to day grind. 

While necessary at times, that is no way to live your life. Seeing this, I made it my goal to make sure Lockett and Atticus were going to get the chance to LIVE at every opportunity. 

I was going to reach out to anyone and everyone, so my boys knew that yeah, you may not be able to do this, but look at what you can do. 

This has led to some amazing experiences for the boys (and dad)…Meeting Five For Fighting, Phillies NLCS games and meeting Jake Arrieta, Notre Dame games, Zoo visits, Kings games, meeting Tyler Lockett and Sehawks games, Kraken games, throwing out the first pitch for the Nashville Sounds, being the Padres Playball Kid, staying at the OMNI, many more...that is LIVING.

 

There are currently 100,000 people surviving the day to day grind…sitting on the waitlist for a kidney transplant. Out of those, 14 will die each day waiting for a kidney. In 2023, 25,500 started living again when they received a kidney transplant. Tara and I aren’t stupid, we know this isn’t it for Lockett. At some point he’s going to go back to surviving, we are currently having me go through the donor process, and as we found out, that news is one blood draw away. But because of events such as the New York City Marathon, and generous donors to causes like this, those waiting for another opportunity at life, will receive that second, or third chance.

I will share a story that encapsulates Lockett Schwerdt. A Catholic school principal, and school counseling coordinator, needless to say, The Inn at Spanish Bay is not anywhere near our price range. We pulled into the parking lot, Tara and I looked at each other, and both pointed directly at the self park. I needed to check in though. Easy, we will quickly check-in, return to the car, and then self-park. Not a shot. We had bellhops, valets, and someone who wanted to walk us to the room. OK, time to act like we belong, even though I am in sweats and a sweatshirt. We do a good job, we make it to the room, all of the bags are almost delivered, and I look at the bed. There is Lockett jumping on the bed, screaming at the top of his lungs, “This is the greatest hotel room ever!!!!” We could have been the best actors in the world, Lockett had shown our true identity, but more importantly, Lockett was, and is living his best life!

It’s funny though, if I was by myself, that would have been me jumping on the bed, because, he’s right, it is one heck of a hotel room. And I think, deep down, every single person wants to jump on their bed, and scream how great the room is. (If you don’t…you need to start LIVING) Instead, we continue to worry about things that really aren’t that important in the grand scheme of life.

Lockett’s diagnosis taught me how precious life is, and it is something we can’t waste. I look at my family, and am so grateful for my wife, and the kidney she donated. I am biased, but we have one hell of a family, and you better believe we are living our best life every chance we get. By donating to Team Kidney, you all have the opportunity to let other families live their best life. Kidney disease affects young and old, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. My goal is to raise the most money anyone has for the National Kidney Foundation at the New York City Marathon. To do this, I want you to think of this seven year old kid jumping on his hotel bed, without a care in the world, and the 100,000 people who just want the same chance, and help support me, and the rest of Team Kidney at the New York City Marathon!