In 2012, Kim Stemple was a special education teacher and a solid performer in her age group in marathons. And then she got sick. After three years of tests and treatments, the doctors figured out she has a rare mitochondrial disease that is causing progressive mental and physical health to go worse. They told her there was no cure and that this disease would take her life.
Yet Stemple kept running and competing in marathons. One day she was training for the Rock “n” Roll Marathon in Las Vegas when she became too sick to travel. The usually outgoing Stemple sunk into disappointment. But then she received a gift — it was a marathon medal given to her by a friend.
Stemple hung the medal near her hospital bed and it was an instant conversation starter with doctors, nurses and anyone who came to visit. That medal pulled Stemple out of her disappointment. And that gave Stemple the idea to start We Finish Together, an organization devoted to connecting runners who wish to donate medals with those who might appreciate them. Stemple pens a handwritten note of encouragement on each of the medals she gives away. Recipients have included hospital patients, residents of homeless shelters and even doctors and nurses who care for the very ill. “This gives them a connection to someone,” says Stemple. “If they receive a medal, they know someone cares.”
Can a simple medal really make a difference? Joan Musarra said yes, who suffered from a serious disease. “I opened my package containing my new medal and the notes of positive, warm thoughts. I was really excited,” she wrote to Stemple. “It means so much to me to feel that I am not alone.”
【小题1】What can we infer about Stemple before she got too sick to exercise?| A．She was doubtful. | B．She was courageous. |
| C．She was down-hearted. | D．She was optimistic. |
| A．The patients’ request. | B．The medals she won. |
| C．Her friend’s gift. | D．The encouragement from doctors. |
| A．By having chats. | B．By giving out recycled medals. |
| C．By contributing money. | D．By connecting their relatives. |
| A．To show the medal’s positive effect on her. |
| B．To discuss about their illnesses. |
| C．To relieve the symptoms of her illness. |
| D．To ask for another medal. |
