This is my third season with Team in Training!!!! Make a difference with me. Become part of my team. Change someone else's life! Make a dontation today!

I’m excited to let you know I will be completing another half marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team and Training. My honored hero this season is my cousin Jakob and of course my grandpa, Norval and all of the other individuals I have met within the last few months, I run for you to!!! Nathaniel, Dakota, Annalise! I have a little bit of an extra incetive for those who donate at least $50 you will get two tickets to a raffle, if you donate $100 you will get 5 tickets. Email me at meljes9@yahoo.com or call me if you have questions.

Jakob’s story.  Just a month before Jakob's 7th birthday he got sick at school.  We thought it was his appendix, and took him to the hospital.  By God's grace, there was a pediatric surgeon and pediatric oncologist that had just arrived at the hospital in Scottsdale and within a week they had the diagnosis of Burkitt's Lymphoma, a very rare and fast growing cancer that mostly hits young males.  Jakob had surgery and treatment all that summer and had wonderful care from the Doctors and hospital staff.  Miracle of miracles he is now a very handsome and healthy  young man.

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for more children and adults that have blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

 Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

Together we can work together to ensure we improve and save lives! Please feel free to share this with your friends and family. If you have questions or just want to catch up, please call me! I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

GO TEAM!!!!!

I borrowed this poem from my Coach. This sums up how I have been spending my Saturday mornings. Please help me raise funds to find a cure.  Its because of our fundraising efforts my cousin has been cancer free for 10 years!

~~Alone But Not Lonely
 
The long distance runner on a practice run is alone,
but not lonely as he runs for himself and for others.
Accompanied by the sound of his breathing
and his feet crunching on the gravel path.
A puff of dust rises as each foot meets the dirt.
A fish in the canal senses his presence
and dives towards the bottom.
 
And he runs on.
 
A hummingbird suddenly appears overhead and,
just as suddenly, zooms off in search of sweet nectar.
 
And he thinks about all the reasons he runs,
for all those who can’t.
 
Like his Dad, and
Cathy’s Dad, and
Joy’s Grandmother, and
Little Ronan who didn’t see his fourth birthday.
 
Fifteen minutes into the run.
Forty-five minutes to go.
 
He focuses on his breathing and pace
and determines that no adjustment is necessary,
and his mind wanders.
 
Random thoughts flit in like the hummingbird
and bring clarity and solution to pending projects and vexing questions.
 
And he thinks about all the reasons he runs,
for all those who can’t.
 
Like his Dad, and
Cathy’s Dad, and
Joy’s Grandmother, and
Little Ronan.
And countless others, young and old.
He remembers them when the run seems long and hard
and reminds himself that this is nothing compared to their battles.
And he sucks it up and runs on.
Now at the half way point,
thirty minutes to go.
His hair damp and running shorts and top wet.
He does a mental status check,
Breathing and pace, ok,
glutes and calves, tight and sore but
ok.
Check up complete the mind wanders again
and he remembers those he runs for.
 
Dad.
And Cathy’s Dad,
and Joy’s Grandmother, and
Ronan.
 
Now fifteen minutes to go.
He is hot, sweaty, tired and sore.
 
Nothing compared
to what they had to endure.
 
And he runs on.
The sun reflects off the canal into his eyes.
His sweat runs down his brow and stings his eyes.
Just a few more minutes to go.
And he remembers why; for Dad
and Cathy’s Dad,
and Joy’s Grandmother, and
for Little Ronan.
 
And he pushes on to the end.
 
His heart rate begins to decrease
and his breathing returns to normal.
He does a cool down walk back home.
And he senses the presence of Dad saying “Thanks son.”
And Cathy’s Dad saying “Good Job.”
And senses little Ronan running around him,
laughing and yelling “That was fun.”
And he wonders if it was the sun in his eyes or Joy’s
Grandmother smiling down upon him.
He smiles and no longer feels so tired or sore.