Hi Everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my website and for your support in finding a CURE! Please take a moment to read a personal story I would like to share with you.

When I was in 6th grade, I was living the typical life of a child; going to school during the day, swim practice at night, friend’s houses on the weekends, typically “not having a care in the world.” That changed shortly after Christmas when my Mom, Kathy, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia.

Suddenly, I wasn’t your typical 6th grader; I was the girl whose Mom had cancer. Being an eleven year old with a seven year old younger sister, Mary Kate and I didn’t fully understand how serious cancer was or how it would inevitably change our lives forever. After two years of chemotherapy and radiation my Mom was in REMISSION, a word that every cancer patient dreams of hearing. We were elated knowing that she had won; she beat this horrible disease that takes so many lives too soon. My Mom stayed in remission for nine years, until she was diagnosed again in November 2004.

This time we were not as lucky. In May 2005, my Mom lost her battle with Leukemia at the age of 47. Her fight ended too soon but it is the memory of her charisma and determination that inspires me everyday. She is by far the strongest person I have ever come to know. It is because of her courage and hope that someday there will be a cure for this horrendous disease. I have recently joined up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. Team In Training is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) signature volunteer fundraising campaign. Because of the money raised through Team in Training, the LLS is the nation’s leader in funding breakthrough blood cancer research.

For the next five months, I will be fundraising to run in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco with my friends Meghan and Kelly, in memory of my Mom. The LLS is the sole beneficiary of this race and the money raised will go to finding a cure for blood cancers as well as improving the quality of life for patients and their families, who are battling this disease everyday.

Please assist me in reaching my fundraising goal. I hope you will visit my web site often for updates on my training and fundraising progress. Thank you for making a DIFFERENCE in the lives of those battling blood cancers ONE STEP AT A TIME!

Colleen