Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 30, 2013

3

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 30, 2013 


2013 Mount Wilson Trail Race - Youth 
Opportunities

Kids’ Fun Run 

Join the Sierra Madre Community Foundation and CATZ Sports for the 2013 Mount Wilson Trail 
Race Kids’ Fun Run. The Kid’s Fun Run is an absolutely free event for youth ages 3-12 years of age. 
The Kid’s Fun Run will begin at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2013. Youth will have the opportunity 
to run up and down Baldwin Ave. and finish under the same banner as MWTR runners! Youth 3-6 
years of age will run a ½ mile course, while youth 7-12 will run the full mile. All participants must 
sign up with a parent or guardian beginning at 7:00 a.m. in Kersting Court. The first 250 youth to 
sign up will receive a free T-shirt, compliments of Sierra Madre Community Foundation and will 
receive a ribbon for their participation. 

Kids’ Fun Run Training Days 

Join past MWTR Women’s Race Winners Sharon Pevsner and Jill Liston as they prepare you for the 
MWTR Kids’ Fun Run. Training days will be held on Saturday April 27, 2013 and Saturday May 11, 
2013 beginning at 9:00 am at Sierra Vista Park – Westside, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Participation in 
the training days is free for all and participants should bring running shoes and water. Participants 
will learn basic running technique, complete running drills, and take part in a question and answer 
session with Sharon Pevsner and Jill Liston. 

Kids’ Fun Run T-Shirt Design Contest

Your artwork can be featured on the 2013 Mount Wilson Trail Race Kids’ Fun Run T-Shirt! Youths in 
Kindergarten – 8th grade are encouraged to submit their artwork for this contest. The winning entry 
will have their artwork displayed on the back of the Kids’ Fun Run t-shirt, be recognized at the Mount 
Wilson Trail Race and receive a t-shirt with their design. Participation in the contest is absolutely 
free. Contest application and guidelines are available on the City’s website, www.cityofiserramadre.
com, on the Community Services Department page or at the Community Services office located at 
611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Applications are due by Friday, April 26, 2013 at 5:00 pm. 

For more information on any of the 2013 Mount Wilson Trail Race Youth Opportunities please 
contact the Community Services Department at 626.355.5278.


A SONG IN HER 
HEART

Sierra Madrean Deborah Smith has 
been given a second chance at life. Eternally 
grateful, she has but one thing she 
wishes others would do.

 On March 10, 62-year-old Sierra Madre 
resident Deborah Smith will celebrate the 
10-year anniversary of her heart transplant. 
To honor the occasion, Debbie, a 
sixth-grade teacher in the LAUSD and an 
ordained minister, will be speaking at her 
church (Hermon Community Church in 
Highland Park) about her story and the 
importance of becoming an organ donor. 
Later that day, she will be hosting a special 
tea at the Rose Tea Cottage for three 
special friends who have been invaluable 
to her during her transplant and recovery 
journey. Special heart-shaped scones will 
be served.

 Debbie, whose mother died of breast 
cancer, was diagnosed in 1994. She underwent 
chemotherapy, but had to stop 
the course early when her kidneys began 
to fail. The next step was radiation. That 
summer in 1995, her body suddenly became 
weak and swollen – her heart had 
been damaged as the result of a rare allergy 
to the chemo drugs. Debbie did return 
to the classroom that fall, where she 
managed, with difficulty, to walk up and 
down the two flights of stairs to her classroom. 
She continued teaching for the next 
seven years through sheer determination 
and the aid of special heart drugs.

 But, during spring vacation 2002, Debbie 
contracted pneumonia and was told that 
she could not live without a heart transplant. 

 Usually, one of the numerous qualifications of being put 
on the transplant waiting list is to be 10-15 years cancer-
free (if applicable), but additional circumstances led her 
doctors to believe that she would be ok. She was put on 
the list in July 2002. Finally, on March 10, 2003, Debbie 
received “The Call.” She had had her packed suitcase sitting 
next to her front door for nine months – now it was 
time to get to the hospital, pronto.

 Debbie spent the next 1-1/2 years recuperating before 
returning to teaching fifth and sixth grades. 

Since her transplant, Debbie has become a very active 
advocate of organ donation and a trained Donate Life 
Ambassador, speaking at church groups, school groups 
– even while she was waiting in line a couple years to renew 
her driver’s license at the DMV – she recruited four 
people to sign the organ donor list while they were there. 
“I do all I can to get people registered,” says Debbie.

 When she retires from teaching in a couple years, Debbie 
plans on focusing more on her organ donor advocacy, 
as well as become a full-time minister. 

 Debbie has very much wanted to meet the family of her 
organ donor and has written several letters to them over 
the years. She is hoping that one day they will be ready 
to meet her.

 “Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God, my donor 
and her family. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for their 
generosity,” says Bea. “The gift of life is something you 
feel deep down – you can’t really thank the donors, so 
I try to give back some of the blessings that have been 
given to me by being a Donate Life Ambassador.

 "I wish that everyone would sign up to be an organ donor. You can't use these organs when you’re 
dead, it doesn't cost you anything and your family will be so proud of you."

Story by Lisa Berfeld and Susan Henderson

Deborah Smith giving her testimonial yesterday 
at the Hermon Free Methodist Church of her 10th 
Anniversary Heart Transplant. 


From Deborah:

“Here are the words to a song I wrote to 
honor my donor, on my fifth anniversary. 
I have sent it to my donor family with a 
thank you note this past week. . I have yet 
to meet them. My donor is still unknown 
to me.”

Heart of My Heart By Deborah Smith (C) 
2008 

Heart of my heart, living inside of me Beating 
so silently, giving new life.

Where are the words, how can I thank you 
for such a sacrifice? 

Long ago, a plan was made of two journeys 
leading to one. No one knew then, 
while one life would end, Another would 
soon start again. My hopes were gone, 
and my future unsure, Bright promises 
filled all your days. Your life was vibrant 
and full of dreams, While mine was fading 
away. Then came the news I was praying 
for, Tears of joy flooded my eyes, When 
my friends and family embraced me with 
hope, Your loved ones were saying, “Goodbye”. 
I’ll never forget, as long as I live, The 
gift of a perfect heart. I’ll live my days, 
filled wih praise, For the chance of a brand 
new start. Heart of my heart,living inside 
of me Beating so silently, giving new life 
Where are the words, how can I thank you 
For such a sacrifice.

FRIENDS OF THE SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY 
ANNUAL ART FAIR

The 51st annual Friends of the Sierra Madre Library’s Art Fair will be held in Memorial Park, 222 
West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, on Saturday, May 4, from 9:30AM to 6:00PM and Sunday, 
May 5, from 9:30AM to 5:00PM. More than 90 artists will be displaying and selling their fine arts 
throughout the weekend. Mediums include oil painting, jewelry, water colors, glass, wood, metal, 
photography, pottery, ceramics, mixed media, and weaving. The Art Fair will be the place to be to 
find that perfect Mother’s Day, graduation, or wedding gift and to find pieces that you will be proud 
to wear or to display in your home.

Live music will be featured throughout the weekend in the band shell and on the south lawn. Guests 
will enjoy an eclectic selection of music ranging from country jazz to Latin to classical flute and 
guitar. A food court will offer a variety of food and drinks provided by local non-profit groups as well 
as food vendors. And, of course, the Friends of the Library will have a booth selling their famous 
sweet breads and quick breads. For the children, the Creative Arts Group has planned a Chinese kite 
making activity on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm.

This year we will again have a silent auction. So far, forty of the artists who are displaying and selling 
their creations at this year’s fair have donated lovely, one-of-a-kind pieces for the auction which 
means that you’ll have a chance to bid on some really beautiful artwork. 

So come early and stay all day. Browse through the wonderful displays of artwork, sit on the lawn 
and listen to music, have a little lunch, check on your silent auction bids, and then go back and 
purchase those lovely pieces of art that have been calling your name ever since you spotted them. 
Proceeds from the Art Fair benefit the Sierra Madre Library. For more information, visit our website 
at sierramadrelibraryfriends.org or call 626 355-7186.