Taking a Leap of Faith

There's magic waiting to happen two weeks from Saturday when my dear friends Paula Romero-Dunbar and Walter Dunbar host an Extraordinary Book Launch Party at Paper Fiesta.



Here's what I wrote to local media encouraging them to share our story:
Two Brookline women are joining forces to share a message of healing, hope, possibility, perseverance, resilience, strength, and inspiration on April 6th from 3-5pm at Paper Fiesta in Natick Center Cultural District.

Paula Romero-Dunbar’s parents moved here from Guatamela 41 years ago. Paula was born in Brookline, grew up in Brookline Public Housing and watched her parents work incredibly hard to provide their family with opportunity. She worked at Party Favors for 21 years. She left 3 times to pursue other interests but always returned to her passion. Twelve years ago she knew she wanted a shop to call her own. Eight years ago she started on a path to pursue her dream. They opened their doors with a Grand Opening Celebration on 11/10/2018 and Paula’s dream became a reality! Paula’s husband, Walter is a Boston EMS who responded to the events of 4/15/13. Their store, located on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon route incorporates the themes of Hope, Spirit, History and Strength.

Mary McManus has been called an “unlikely runner” by Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray. In December of 2006, Mary was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease and told to prepare to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. She refused to take the diagnosis sitting down. During the dark night of her mind, body and soul, a light shined as she asked for Divine Guidance. Her pen became her Divining rod for healing and she feverishly wrote poetry imagining herself healthy, and whole, even running a race free from the shackles of her youth! Her first poem, “Running the Race” foreshadowed her 2009 Boston Marathon run. Mary tapped into the powerful connection she experienced to the Divine from an early age and harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body. She took a leap of faith leaving her almost 20 year award winning career as a VA social worker to heal her life in May 2007.

Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running. Through the redemptive power of running, Mary transformed from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience.

On 4/15/13, Mary was at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel across the street from the second bomb celebrating her 2009 Boston Marathon run with her Spaulding Race for Rehab Teammates. Mary met Paula and Walter through the Boston Strong community on One Boston Day 4/15/15.

Paula was inspired to invite Mary to have the book launch party for her latest book, “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” at Paper Fiesta. Ten years later on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon route, Mary will share her inspirational journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the Boston Marathon and beyond and sign copies of her book.

Two women who hail from Brookline embody the meaning of perseverance, faith, inspiration, determination and resilience. They look forward to sharing their stories with your audience this Boston Marathon season.

What a Divine tapestry of events that brought Paula and me together. We share a common bond in our faith and a fire in our souls to follow our dreams despite what "reason" may dictate.

We are a beacon of light for other women to be bold, to take risks and to trust the direction from the promptings of their heart and soul.

If you are having doubts about whether or not to take that leap of faith in YOUR life, my response is:


To your health and wellness,
From my heart to yours
Mary

Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.



“The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance tapping into the powerful connection she experienced to the Divine from an early age. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running. Her story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog, discovering the meaning of different ability and experiencing the stunning view from the back of the pack of a race. You will have the privilege of bearing witness to how Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her. The sport of running provides the backdrop for her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary that tested her mettle while forging friendships to last a lifetime. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life.

Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):


My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available on Amazon.