Mark at our annual "Spring Fling" event at Valley Children's Hospital with 7-year old Brenna, currently undergoing treatment

We Run for Hope . . .

As much as we enjoy being a part of Team in Training and running marathons, we look forward to the day when we don't have to ask for donations. The day when these terrible blood-related diseases are irraticated.

Some of you may remember our honoree from two years ago, Jaymun Kaat - born July 2006 with Acute Myloid Leukemia. After spending the first 6 months fighting for his precious life in Wisconsin Children's Hospital, he finally got to go home in February 2007 with his mom, dad and 4 siblings.

On May 13, 2008 we received an email from his mom that his Leukemia has come back. It was one of the most heart breaking emails we would ever read. Jaymun's mom, Jennifer, documented their struggles the first time around on a special website that his dad designed - www.jaymun.com - we can only hope that this round of treatment is less severe. If you haven't visited his website, we urge you to do so. There are some very real entries in the month of December 2006 that would make even the hardest-hearted person want to run 100 miles to save this little guy.

And all we can do to help is continue our journey with Team in Training. This year we will run two events - the Nike Women's 1/2 marathon in San Francisco and the DisneyWorld marathon in Florida and we've committed to raise $10,000. Only this year Jill has committed to being the Mentor Captain for the team and Mark will be the assistant run coach. This means that we get to motivate the motivators! A lofty job, but we think that with the luxury we've had of watching our family excel in this area, we can share even more to help with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission - to stamp out blood related cancers, like the one little Jaymun has. We've not had the struggles that the Kaat family has had to face - and we hope we never do. To sit back and do nothing is not in our nature - and if we know most of you like we think we do, we don't think you can do it either.

So donate. It's that simple. Just a couple clicks of your mouse and you've done something worthwhile - your donation might be the one that helps researchers find a cure to save someone like Jaymun, or help a family in need of financial assistance because they have to travel miles to a specialist to help save their child, or miss work to care for them. The funds you give help - they truly do. 75% of them go directly to the cause - that's not something many charities can report.

We hope you will visit our web site often. Check back frequently to see our progress. We know that we can complete these events - a few years ago we didn't think we'd be able to say that. And we know with your help, we can raise the much needed funds.

And if you still don't want to donate, that's ok - just visit your local children's hospital cancer ward and tell them your woes - we're sure your perspective will change before long.

We Run for Life . . .

~ Mark Dorman & Jill Holstein