Stories And Inspiration

In 2004, fifth grader Timmy Hassett joined GO FAR to overcome a bad football experience. “The children were training to run a 5K and were encouraged to ask a parent to run with them. My wife and I drew straws and I got the short one,” said Timmy’s father, Mike.

Mike had quit smoking six years earlier but had gained quite a bit of weight. Training for the 5K with his son was life changing. “Timmy felt great about his endeavor and I found the ingredient that was missing to help me gain a healthier lifestyle,” Mike said at the time.

Mike didn’t stop running and kept setting higher goals. Now, ten years later, the love of running hasn’t worn off.

“Running is something that brought Timmy and I closer together and continues to do that even today, ten years after we started running together,” Mike said.

Timmy, now a sophomore at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte majoring in criminal justice, still runs to keep in shape. He and Mike ran the Charlotte Thunder Road 5K this past November.

Running has been a big part of his life since that first GO FAR season. “The main thing running has taught me is to set goals and always push yourself to achieve those goals,” he said. “Ten years ago I was an overweight kid who couldn’t run a 5K without stopping. I kept pushing myself and setting goals, and at the end of high school I was one of the top runners at my school and in my conference. What I have learned from running I now apply to everything I do in life.”

Timmy said running changed his life. “I thank GO FAR for introducing me to what soon became my passion,” he said.

In fact, it’s something the whole family has in common. Mike and his three sons ran the Greensboro Gobbler on Thanksgiving Day this past November.

Oldest son Michael, a senior at North Carolina State who will graduate in May with a degree in chemical engineering, runs to keep in shape. He just ran the Krispy Kreme challenge at N.C. State.

Son Danny, a sophomore at Northwest High School, just finished his second season on the cross-country team, finishing his last race of the season at 21:06 and is still improving.

Wife Mary Ann, also a runner, ran the Women’s Only 5K Walk and Run last October.

The Hassetts enjoy the healthy lifestyle running has brought them. “We still enjoy picking a race somewhere we have not been and using that as a chance to get away and spend time as a family,” Mike said. “Running definitely changed our lives and has continued to do that ten years after Timmy started GO FAR.”

Below: from left, Michael, Mary Ann, Mike, Danny, and Timmy