Racing to Save Lives

Dear friends and family:

In October of this year, I am going to run a half-marathon. For those of you familiar with my history of non-athleticism, this may come as quite a surprise. Out of five children, I was the only one not blessed with the sporting gene. When I was six, I played on a soccer team, but while the other kids raced around me, chasing the ball, I stood in the field and picked flowers. In junior high I tried my hand at basketball, but I was on the “C” team and never got any play. In high school, I utterly dreaded P.E.

But all of that has changed. I began running 6 years ago when I was in Viet Nam. A casual jog around beautiful Huan Kim Lake was a great way to pass the time. Then when I moved back to Austin, I continued to run sporadically. It wasn’t until I graduated college and moved back to Rockport that I became committed to the sport. In 2007, some of friends and I participated in a 5K. Ever since then, I have been dedicated, running anywhere from 2-4 days per week.

And now I am committed to running a half-marathon, but my inspiration for doing this comes from more than the urge to get fit. I am part of a team supporting cancer research by raising funds for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

I heard about this event from one of my best friends from college. She participated in this event last year and she will participate again this year as a way of honoring her cousin who died of leukemia. I also have a personal commitment to this race. I am doing this to support one of the most generous and creative people I know who happens to have a blood cancer called myeloma. His determination and strength of self is an inspiration to me.

I have set my fundraising minimum at $3200. And I am reaching out to you to support me and to support those who are fighting cancer and to honor those who have lost their fight. Please help me to save lives. And don't hesitate to pass this on to people that you know. More people that know means more lives that we can save together!