Annapolis resident Nicole Weaver recently donated her hard earned half marathon and triathlon metals to Medals4Mettle and they are now the proud possessions of several sick children treated at Anne Arundel Medical Center.
Until recently, Weavers medals were just sitting in a drawer.
“I couldn’t think of anything cool to do with them, yet they meant too much to just throw away,” Weaver says. “This seemed like a great solution.”
Weaver donated her medals to the Baltimore/Annapolis Chapter of Medals4Mettle that was recently formed through Charm City Run, according to Kelly Maurer, who does training and marketing for Charm City.
“Our goal is to inspire everyone to move, and this was a perfect fit with what we do,” Maurer says.
A nonprofit formed in 2005, Medals4Mettle collects marathon, half marathon and triathlon medals that have been earned and donates them to those who are battling serious and debilitating illnesses. These individuals have demonstrated similar courage and mettle in fighting the illnesses, according to the website.
Weaver has not only run numerous half marathons and completed several triathlons, she is also a breast cancer survivor. Toward the end of her chemotherapy treatment in 2008, she completed the Columbia Triathlon, which she says is the hardest thing she has ever done. It is one of the 26 medals she donated to Medals4Mettle.
Several of Weaver’s medals were donated last month to children at Anne Arundel Medical Center who are fighting various illnesses — a 5-year-old having 
heart surgery, a 10-year-old with migraines and asthma, a 3-year-old in remission from leukemia, and a 14-year-old with Bloom syndrome among others.
Bowie High School freshman Vette Tippett was thankful for the medal he received following his nearly four-year battle with chronic illness.
“It has been hard, and it’s nice to be acknowledged for what I’ve been through,” he says.
“Pediatrics and AAMC is thrilled to partner with M4M on this project,” says Meghan Siegal, a child life specialist at AAMC. “It is a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and honor the courageous patients and families we see every day.”
To donate medals contact Kelly Maurer at [email protected]. For information on Medals4Mettle visit medals4mettle.org.
Top photo: Cape St. Claire Elementary fifth grader Makenzie Barrett selects her medal as little sister Ashlyn and Meghan Siegel, AAMC certified child life specialist, watch. Mackenzie selected a medal featuring a guitar because she said, “I love music. I love to sing. This makes me feel so special.”
Bottom photo: Bowie High School freshman, Vette Tippett, with his parents Tamera and John Tippett, shows off his medal.
