Toni Lynn came to me, as most of my participants did, curious about the project, but eager to help.  At first, she thought that it might be a story involving both she and her husband Dave.  You see Dave also works in the Webster Central School District.  He's the Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources, but after talking together to find out more about her, what makes her tick, her interests, she decided that focusing on her own story and that of her father as her inspiration was the best direction.  A math teacher during school time, her free time is spent caring for the family, but her outlet is running. Her father pushed her to be the best that she could be and she's taken that and soared, with her relationship with her husband and her children, her career and her running.  She's run over 13 marathons including the Boston Marathon in 2017.  It made perfect sense to invite her dad up to Webster to help her tell her story and on a perfect spring day she and her dad, ran.   

In her words:

A Letter to my dad.

Dad,

You are my inspiration, my real life hero, and my biggest fan!  I couldn't have asked for a better role model growing up and throughout adulthood.  You have always been there to save the day or cheer me on.  Running has given us another common thread in the fabric of our family.  When you started running I was there to cheer you on or you would drag me through races!  As time has gone by, those roles have changed.   I know you are so incredibly proud of all that I do with my running and with my life.  I can only hope to be all of this to my own children.  

Love you,

Toni Lynn

Toni Lynn Swinson

Math Teacher

Spry Middle School

To find out more about this diverse photography project Click Here and read other participant's stories prior to this one.  Thanks for visiting and leave a comment!!!

Today begins the first of a bi-weekly blog post featuring an individual who participated in my project We all Have a Story.  I've spoken about the project in previous posts so click here  to find out more about it. 

Sarah Rosenberry is a music teacher at Plank Road North Elementary School in Webster, NY. As with most of my subjects, she responded to my invitation out of curiosity, but also with an interest in trying something new, different and challenging.  This seems to be the norm for this young woman who is passionate and vibrant about so many things in her life.  From her work teaching music to hundreds of children every day to competing in triathalons, sweating it out with Crossfit and volunteering as a Webster Fire Fighter, Sarah pushes herself to do her very best and always tries to improve, something she's learned from her father Jim Mossey. Jim competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid as a Luger.  She admits that his competitive nature as well as the desire to push through a challenge are traits that were passed down from father to daughter and he continues to be one of her biggest supporters and certainly her #1 fan! (man on the bike)

In her own words...

 "He is my inspiration, my coach, my friend, and my dad.  Because of him, I have learned to have the drive and perseverance to set goals, then achieve them.  Whether it's forming my own band, teaching music to 500 students, finishing a triathlon, or becoming a firefighter, I am who I am because of my dad."