Blog: Inspired to Run… in honor of Amir Teymouri

Last week was an ordinary week in many ways; full of work, exercise, taking my kids to school, picking them up from their youth group activities… and then it became extraordinary. On Thursday morning, another dad began an ordinary day, but tragedy struck on his way to work, and Amir Teymouri was killed in an auto accident.  Amir volunteered in several capacities at our church, but our paths crossed because he was a faithful volunteer leader in the Jr. High Youth Group, where my son is involved.  Amir and his wife Johanna were always present, living out their love for God by pouring into the lives of our kids – my kid.  Amir said he wanted the kids to know that they were loved, and have real hope.  His life made it easy for them to believe in love and hope – and it ended far too soon.

The night before, and in previous conversations, we had been comparing notes about physical training.  We were both working toward events that were quickly approaching – he was going to run in the LA Marathon on March 17, and I am going to run in a sprint triathlon later in the month.  He was so excited about the Marathon!  He has been training faithfully, encouraged others to join him, and had almost met his fundraising goal for cancer research.  We made plans for him to join me in training for a triathlon this summer, once he recovered from the Marathon.  That night, I told him that I had wanted to run the LA Marathon before my 50^th birthday, but that I had given that up when a knee injury made it seem unlikely.  The cross training involved in preparing for triathlons was easier on my knee following surgery, so I had adjusted my goals and set that dream aside.

After learning of Amir’s death, I was moved to respond in a tangible way.  He had given so much to others, and I wanted to honor him and keep the hope he brought to others alive for his own daughters, and for the kids in our community who are now grieving his loss.  I thought it would be amazing to run that marathon in his place, if only it were not just a week away, and already sold out.  As the saying goes, “where there’s a will there’s a way” – and on Sunday, a team of six of Amir’s friends and relatives will be running in the LA Marathon in his honor! Inspired to run by a man who lived to make hope real for kids, we run to raise money to support his family, and we run to raise hope!  Please join us.

The financial need for Amir’s wife and daughters will be great in his absence.  If you’d like to sponsor our run to raise hope, make donations by check payable to Montrose Church, with “Teymouri Family Fund” in the memo line, and mail to Montrose Church, 2678 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020.  Or send a donation electronically through this link: http://montrosechurch.org/teymouri.