(A)
Jason stared at the banner across the high school gym wall: “Annual Charity Marathon ― Run for Sam.” The slogan stirred something in him. Sam, a cheerful seven-year-old who loved to draw and dreamed of being an artist, had a rare heart condition. Sam wasn’t just anyone — he was the little boy living next door that Jason had babysat every summer break. (a) He had played in the park and spent summer afternoons chasing ice cream trucks with Sam.
(B)
When the whistle blew, Jason started strong, but since he hadn’t run for so long, his energy faded quickly. Every step was a struggle, but he pushed forward, encouraged by the thought of how happy Sam would be. Finally, he crossed the finish line. As he was sitting to catch (b) his breath, Sam came over and handed him bottled water. He felt pride, relief, and gratitude. He finally finished ― for Sam.
(C)
Jason did everything (c) he could to recover, following his doctor’s advice. A day before registration deadline, his doctor said a 3-mile run would be fine. Jason signed up for the 3-mile beginner route, hoping to run for Sam. On marathon morning, Jason stood among the runners, heart pounding. In the crowd, Sam was holding a sign: “Thank you, Runners!” Jason smiled. (d) He was all the motivation needed.
(D)
Seeing Sam’s name on the banner made everything feel personal. Jason had always been the fastest runner in school, known among his friends as “The Speedster.” But since his knee injury, he hadn’t been able to run for quite a long time. Still, when Jason thought about Sam and the hope this marathon represented, he knew (e) he had to try.