Anyone who has met Dawn Grieves always comes away saying she is the kindest, most giving person they have ever met. During the day, Dawn is a Special Education Parapro, but what she does outside her day job also makes her special. Dawn has volunteered with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Pickerington/Reynoldsburg for 10 years. She has been a team captain and recently chaired the event. Dawn is also the chair for the Vendor and Kid’s Run fundraisers.
Just this past year, Dawn has participated in or fundraised for the MS 5K, Be The Match 5K, Race For The Cure, SIDS Awareness 5K, Making Strides for Breast Cancer 5K, JDRF Walk, Donate Life & Dash for Donation 5K, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Pelotonia, Dreams on Horseback Gala, Autism Speaks, Sam Bish Foundation, NC4K, Parkinson’s Foundation, Psoriasis Foundation, and Colon Cancer Awareness. Dawn does all of these things out of the goodness of her heart and because she feels it is the right thing to do. “I don’t make a huge difference but I believe every little bit counts.”
With all that Dawn is involved with she says her husband Dan is an awesome support system. “He is so good to me and I wouldn’t be able to do near as much without him.” Dawn and Dan were high school sweethearts and have been married for over 30 years. Dawn also says that she is most proud of her 3 boys; Darren, Dustin, and DJ. “They bring me a lot of joy. No matter how busy I am I make sure that my family spends quality time together.”
The quote that Dawn lives by is “life is not measured by the breaths we take, but the moments that take your breath away.” “I think you should always try new things, enjoy life and create wonderful memories with loved ones.”
Dawn’s heroes are the different kids that she has worked with for the past 15 years. “They have many reasons to complain, but they don’t. I see strong children that are for the most part happy all the time. Whenever I feel like grumbling from an ache or a pain or something I can’t do, I think of what they battle every day.”
Dawn hopes to help wherever she is needed and to try to inspire other people to join in and volunteer with her.
For more information about the Relay for Life of Pickerington/Reynoldsburg, please visit www.facebook.com/pickreynrelayforlife.