Inaugural Warrior Run benefits JT Mestdagh Foundation

Competitors supporting one another through shouts of encouragement was one of the highlights of the first Warrior Run and Endurance Challenge, which took place Sunday, Oct. 12, in Grosse Pointe Shores.

Hosted by the JT Mestdagh Foundation, in partnership with Fusion Integrated Training, the event welcomed 100 participants to race against the clock to complete as many laps around Vernier Hill as possible in one hour.
“So basically, it’s the perimeter of the park,” Grosse Pointe Farms resident JT Mestdagh said. “There were two ascents and two descents per lap, all within a 0.65-mile loop.”
In planning the event, Mestdagh — an author, philanthropist and thrill-seeker — enlisted the help of his friends, PJ and Nick Vlahantones, owners of Fusion Integrated Training. The trio came up with the idea after brainstorming about locally hosting something different than a 5K run or walk.

“PJ and I, and Nick, too, have done different things across the country,” Mestdagh said. “We did the 29,029 climb and the Broken Arrow Skyrace, which are running and hiking events. We learned a lot from them.”

Though there are no mountains to scale in Grosse Pointe, the organizers thought they could create a challenging event at Vernier Hill. Participants could manage the route however they wanted — “running, walking, skipping, jumping,” Mestdagh laughed.
“Some people were discouraged; it sounds hard,” he added. “Some people did one or two laps. The most someone did was 13 laps.
“We capped it at 100 participants,” he continued. “We felt comfortable with that number. From the start, people with different paces spread out, so it was manageable.”
From left, Brett Bear, Marzena Tomasik and Danielly Noecker take a lap.

Enthusiastic participants, sunny weather and community support worked together to make the event a success.
“Grosse Pointe Shores was so helpful,” Mestdagh said. “(City Manager) Steve Poloni was a huge advocate for this. The staff was receptive, too, and provided cones and handled parking. It went off perfectly.”
Another measure of success was the way competitors cheered for each other.
“People were supporting each other,” Mestdagh said. “There’d be people going up one side of the hill where other people were coming down, and they’d be encouraging them to keep going. There were a lot of familiar faces out there, too.”
While participation was capped, plenty of spectators milled around “Basecamp,” which featured music and a series of vendors.
“Basecamp was where people came to hang out and cheer on the people at the start line,” Mestdagh said. “Our vendors were Lululemon Grosse Pointe, Hansons Running Shop, Subway Grosse Pointe and Rhythm & Blue, so there were things for people to do on the sidelines.”
From left, Beth Cunnane, Danielly Noecker and JT Mestdagh are all smiles after the event.

Mestdagh said funds raised for the inaugural event, which still were being tallied at press time, surpassed his expectations.
Proceeds benefitted the JT Mestdagh Foundation, which stands on two pillars: medical and educational.
“We help with medical supplies for children with colorectal issues,” said Mestdagh, who was born with VACTERL syndrome, for which he had 16 major surgeries before age 16. “We provide supplies to patients and their families through my doctors. We also support Ronald McDonald House Detroit and other Ronald McDonald Houses, through the night-stay program, where families and children stay as they undergo medical treatment.”
Under the educational pillar, the foundation works with Beyond Basics tutors, training them in the Tattum program, which helped Mestdagh tremendously after his severe dyslexia diagnosis as a child.
“And altogether through my life, the good Lord has blessed me in a lot of ways,” he added, noting his strong faith in God, “so the foundation also supports Young Life Grosse Pointe.”
Having endured challenges his entire life, Mestdagh values the motivation he feels when someone tells him he can’t do something.
“One thing I love, with the different things in my life, medically and educationally, individuals were saying, ‘JT won’t be able to do that or accomplish that,’” he said. “Some of those things could be true, but I love to push myself, to challenge myself to overcome those obstacles. At a young age … I learned how to put my best foot forward to accomplish things. This was not just a fundraiser. It was for people to push themselves and challenge themselves physically.”
From left, William Malouf, Nick Vlahantones and Jessica Vlahantones.

The Warrior Run wasn’t the first fundraiser for the foundation this year. Mestdagh put himself to the test during the Benedict 100, which involved “skinning,” or uphill skiing, from Aspen to Vail, Colo., 100 miles over seven days.
“We reached our goal of $100,000 for the foundation,” he said.
He was joined on that challenge by childhood friends and Grosse Pointers, John Herbert and Greg Nelson, both of whom supported him at the Warrior Run, which he hopes to host again next year.
“I would love to do it again and would love to see if other vendors will participate,” he said. “It’s a great addition to the foundation and, working with PJ and Nick, I’m thankful Fusion is a partner in this. And thanks to Grosse Pointe Shores and the vendors.”
Up next for the foundation is next month’s donor thank-you event at Ford House. Those who’ve shown support will hear from patients who have benefitted from the foundation, organizations who have been impacted by donations and others.
“As for fundraising, there’s more on the horizon for next year,” Mestdagh said. “Next year hopefully we’ll do another run and also some other fun challenges, too.”

First seen in the Grosse Pointe News- by Jody McVeigh