Smith runs for Peter
COMMENTARY
When you're out running you usually have nothing but time to think. Did I turn off the coffee pot? What's the Twins' magic number? Can I get 18 holes in today?
But one day last winter, when Baxter resident Josh Smith was out training for the June 16 Grandma's Marathon, he came across something that made him think.
What gave Smith's training more meaning was the sign "Keep fighting Peter" over the Brainerd Area Civic Center.
The sign was in reference to Peter Eigner, the five-year old son of Brainerd boys' hockey coach Ty Eigner, and his wife Erika. Peter has been battling neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects infants and children, for almost a year now.
Josh Smith, Baxter, is running Grandma's Marathon June 16 to raise money for 5-year old Peter Eigner, who is battling cancer. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist
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"I've been aware of Peter's story from articles in the Dispatch and I follow the hockey team a lot," Smith said. "When I saw that sign that day it really got me thinking."
Smith went home after his run, talked it over with his wife, Alisha, and decided he would run Grandma's to raise money for the Peter Eigner Benefit Fund.
Smith's reasons for raising the money are simple. As the father of two daughters, Kenna, 4, and Meghan, 3, he put himself in the shoes of the Eigners and felt compelled to act. And as a former Warrior hockey player, he felt he needed to give something back.
"I have two young daughters and that alone tugs at me," said Smith. "I've also benefited from Brainerd hockey growing up and this is a way for me to pay if forward."
Smith hasn't actually met the Eigners. His only contact with the family has been through a couple of e-mails to run his idea by the family.
"Ty's response was that I didn't have to do it but they left it up to me," Smith said. "Ty just didn't want anything to get in my way for training. But I just felt this was something I could do and fit into my schedule.
"We're all busy with things in our lives and we can't always volunteer for things. I was just hoping that somebody would step up and help me out with this and so far a lot of people have."
Josh Smith's run for Peter
What: Josh Smith will run Grandma's Marathon to raise money for 5-year old Peter Eigner, who is battling cancer.
When: Grandma's Marathon is June 16.
Donation information: E-mail donations and pledges to twins706@hotmail.com or mail checks to Smith's home address at 14701 Lynwood Dr., Baxter, MN 56425. Make all checks payable to the Peter Eigner Benefit Fund.
A teacher in Pillager, Smith brought some fliers to work, as did Alisha, who works at Baxter Elementary. To date Smith has raised $1,000 in cash donations and has another $400 in pledges.
Last year Smith finished Grandma's in 4:05. This year he said if he doesn't finish the race in under four hours he will chip in an extra 10 percent of the total pledges and donations.
"I really didn't know what to expect from people when I started this and I didn't really have a goal," Smith said. "I thought raising $1,000 would be great. But when we raised that much I thought we could get more. People's response has been great."
Peter recently wrapped up his latest rounds of radiation and chemotherapy and all tests have come back negative. Needless to say the Eigner's have been touched by Smith's generosity.
"It's overwhelming when someone you only know casually would do what Josh is doing for us," Ty Eigner said. "When someone is willing to give up that kind of time and effort, it's hard to put into words.
"All the benefits and things that have been done for us, you just can't put into words how much it makes you feel like a part a community and Josh is a living example of this. He's done this all on his own and we wish him nothing but the best when he runs."
To make a donation or pledge for Smith's Grandma's run for Peter, e-mail him at twins706@hotmail.com or mail checks to his home address at 14701 Lynwood Dr., Baxter, MN 56425. Make all checks payable to the Peter Eigner Benefit Fund.
TROY GUNDERSON may be reached at troy.gunderson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5865.