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Racing to Save Lives

(My training journal can be found at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/newmania)

Wow! The support for my fundraising effort has been fantastic, but I want to remind folks that the needs of blood cancer patients exceed any individual goal I could set, so please contribute and push the total further.

Yes, this is deadly serious business. Last year, 15,000 Californians were diagnosed with one of the blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. I'm included in that list. I was diagnosed with stage 3, follicular lymphoma on April 14, 2008; there presently is no cure for this form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

While 15,000 Californians were diagnosed with blood cancer last year and began treatment or observation, 5,000 patients with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma died: grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, friends ...

In the United States last year, 138,000 Americans were diagnosed with one of the blood cancers. 43,000 Americans lost their lives to these tragic illnesses. Across the globe, the blood cancer death toll was approximately one-half million people.

On April 13, 2009, almost exactly one year from my diagnosis, I had my 14th chemotherapy infusion, and have earned a six-month break from additional chemotherapy. I am seizing this opportunity to train with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training (TNT) and run the Kauai Marathon on 9/6/09, and the Nike San Francisco Marathon on 10/18/09.

All of us on Team in Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I've been working with this wonderful organization for almost a year as an honoree, but I am very proud to show my commitment, this time, as a formal, fund-raising participant.

Although running a single half-marathon or marathon is certainly the norm for TNT participants, I'm stepping up my personal challenge so that you'll also step up your contribution. Your donation goes not only to fund blood cancer research, but also to provide educational and counseling support to blood cancer patients and their families.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. The following Tax ID information may be of some help for your records and/or employee gift matching forms:

Tax ID: 135644916

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay Chapter

675 N. First Street, Suite 1100

San Jose, CA 95112

Thank you for your support!