Apr 19, 2015
Today's garage sale and bake sale was a great success!
$304 raised to #beatcancer - and many great conversations had about the important work of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Two people who supported my sale know recently diagnosed children - and it is so good to hear that their prognosis' are good, thanks to the scientists who work to develop therapies for blood cancers. Makes me proud to be raising money for this cause.
Won't you join me today and make a donation?
Special thanks to my husband and kids for schlepping so much stuff and helping to sell today!
Apr 16, 2015
How much would you pay for the world's most delicious cookies or some awesome new-to-you stuff?
Support my Team In Training campaign to benefit the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and stop by my combo garage sale and bake sale on Sunday!
Everything will be "donate what you can" - so don't be shy, bring your cash or a credit card - your donation is 100% tax deductible!
Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Corner of Corte Real & South Eliseo, Greenbrae, CA
Garage sale items include:
like-new bread machine
toys & trains
clothes
arm chair
mirror
luggage
and more!
Apr 06, 2015
Well, half-way to 26.2 miles that is! I ran my first half marathon in a year this weekend - the Marin County Half. Probably the most gorgeous race I've ever run - along the waterfront and over trails in China Camp State Park. Kinda hot and hilly (1500' climb total) but I felt good and was able to finish strong, and at a pace I'm happy with.
Still, the challenge of DOUBLING that distance is not to be taken lightly! But that's why I have you, dear donors, to keep my honest and accountable to my goal. I can't let you down, and I won't. Thank you all for your support, I really appreciate it.
Mar 13, 2015
Within the last two weeks, two friends of friends from Stanford passed away, much much too soon.
One, Susan O'Malley, collapsed during the last week of her pregnancy and died, with her twins living just a brief while - an incomprehensible loss for her family and friends. She was an artist whose work you've almost certainly seen - full of love and presence.
Then, Dr. Paul Kalanithi died of lung cancer at age 37. His article on the nature of time in the NY Times reminded me of Samuel Beckett's words "I can't go on. I'll go on." And in a video by Stanford Medical, he watches his baby daughter and wonders how he can be present.
So, neither of these wonderful individuals died of a blood cancer, and yet, here I am writing for them. To remember to "Be Here Now" - even when the run is intermitable, it's only 1 foot in front of the other. To "pay attention to what has heart and meaning" - to remember to do the good work that I am here for.
And maybe, to raise my $5,000 goal so that patients who might wonder if they can go on, might go on knowing that there are people out there who are working to give them more time.
Feb 17, 2015
If you're going to get cancer as a 12-year-old, stage 1 Hodgkin's Lymphoma is one of the better ones to get, especially if you're treated at Stanford where their protocol has a 98% cure rate. Still, weeks of chemo and radiation isn't something anyone wants to go through. My younger brother Thomas lost his hair, his strength, missed weeks of school, picked up a life threatening infection - all so that he could beat his blood cancer. More than 20 years later, we are all extremely grateful that scientists had figured out the right combination of toxic drugs and radiation to cure him.
He met his wife, Colleen, during Team in Training (affectionately known as Team in Dating) and now they are the parents of my adorable nephew Jackson. I am so grateful to have all of them in my life, and thank the work of all the scientists that did the research to make his survival possible.
Now imagine another family, and what they have to go through when the front-line treatments don't work. Emma Whitehead's parents needed a miracle to save her life. And they found one in a last-ditch clinical trial that used the HIV virus to treat her leukemia. Fire with fire, truly. This 3-minute video explains how:
I am running a marathon and raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so they can keep funding research like this - in fact they just donated another $5 million to T Cell Therapy research to help extend this methodology into other cancers and diseases.
Your financial support helps make a difference. Please give - any amount helps, and $.78 on the dollar goes directly to program support. Give here to make a tax-deductible, secure donation.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please check with your financial advisor if you have more questions.