Sarah Phelan is 14 years old and a freshman at Harmony Christian School.

She is a straight-A student, often earning high honor roll status and awards, including the President's Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. Sarah is also a member of Harmony's girls' varsity basketball team. As a member of Peoples Regular Baptist Church in Maybrook, Sarah serves others in the nursery ministry, the Junior Church ministry, the Montgomery Nursing Home ministry and as a charter member of the Running With Christ Ministry.

Sarah began running almost two years ago. She has competed in many local races to raise money for many different worthwhile causes, winning trophies from time to time. While all of this is clear evidence that Sarah is a wonderfully well-rounded and amazing person, none of this is what prompted me to nominate her as a super kid. What I believe makes her truly outstanding and a veritable super kid was accomplished March 4.

Last fall, Sarah decided she wanted to run in the Celebrate Life Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile race. The half-marathon is a fundraiser for CROC (Citizens Reunited to Overcome Cancer), a grass-roots organization whose dual mission is to support mechanisms aimed at the treatment and eradication of cancer and to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors. Sarah has known several people in her life who have battled cancer; some have won the battle thus far, while others have lost. As a result, Sarah decided to try to raise money for CROC through having people sponsor her in the race.

Sarah sent sponsorship letters to friends, relatives, neighbors, people at Harmony Christian School as well as Leptondale Christian Academy, where Sarah attended elementary and middle school, and Peoples Regular Baptist Church.

On March 4, Sarah was the youngest runner in the race by far, as all others were 18 or older. She completed the grueling 13.1 miles in frigid temperatures and blowing snow in a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 58 seconds. Doing so, she raised $600.10 for CROC.

Sarah truly is a very special super kid and a blessing to those who know her.

Submitted by: Andrea Phelan

Relationship: Mother