As you may remember, a year ago I took on the task of raising $3,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as I trained for a marathon with Team In Training. I met my fundraising goal and crossed the finish line of the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon as one of 4,000 Team In Training runners, and together we raised a total of over $12 MILLION! That day I swore I'd never run again, but addiction is a dangerous thing.

This year, I'm back at it! Only this time I've recruited my husband Johnny (he couldn't stand to watch me have all the fun). We're raising money together this year and our goal is a not-nearly-as-scary $1,500-- enough to help out a leukemia patient with some medical bills or provide financial assistance to scientists looking for new treatments and a cure. We'll run the Ogden Marathon on May 21 with the rest of our Utah team, and as a group we hope to raise at least $30,000.

Once again, I'm asking for your help. Please make a tax-deductible contribution to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help us meet our goal and to help get us closer to a cure for blood cancers.

Now that I've had experience with this non-profit organization, I have so much respect for them. I spent a few months last year working part-time in the SLC Chapter office, and loved every minute of it. I strongly believe in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission and know that this money goes straight to a worthwhile cause. I saw first-hand how the patient aid programs work-- patients call the office after they receive a blood cancer diagnosis and we hook them up with a mentor, support groups, and arrange for help with medical bills. This happens every day, all over the country. Your donation really makes a difference!

THANK YOU to everyone who donates. As I continue to raise money, I hear stories from those affected by blood cancer, and they touch my heart and validate why I'm doing this.

If you or someone you know is a blood cancer survivor, is fighting blood cancer now, or has lost their battle, please make your donation in honor of them and we will write their name on our purple jerseys on race day.

In honor of:

McKall from Utah

Ian from Utah

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Consider this:

- Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer

- Every 10 minutes someone will die of a blood cancer

- Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer in children

- In 1960, the five-year survival rate for children with the most common form of leukemia was just 4%. Today it's 85%! (Still not high enough)

Johnny and Stephanie after the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon.

Thanks to all who donated last year!