Jamie's TNT Homepage

I'm training to participate in the P.F. Chang;'s Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, January 19th, 2009 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers, and winning this fight everyday -they are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

My personal goal is to complete the marathon (26.2 miles… finishing alive is goal #1), and to raise $3500 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.!! Donations in any amount will be greatly appreciated. You may make your tax-deductible donation by completing the enclosed form and returning it to me (via snail mail) or, you my simply donate online here!!! When you donate, please include the name(s) of the people in your life who have been affected by these cancers, as I would like to also run in honor of them (and you).

Please help me join in the fight against blood cancers with the LLS, and help patients, survivors and families in a mission to improve quality of life, raise awareness, and raise funds to FIND A CURE.

If you are unable to donate financially, please take the time to consider registering to become a potential bone marrow donor at http://www.marrow.org. When you become a bone marrow donor, you join the global movement of more than 11 million donors who stand ready to give someone a future.

As I prepare on this long (crazy) journey ahead for the next five months, you are all in my thoughts. I ask you now, to help me alongside in the fight for this very important cause. On a personal note, I have included a white, pre-addressed envelope. Even if you don’t donate, or donate online, I would love to hear from all of you; hear your inspirational stories, advice, and read how you are doing!

Please keep sending positive thoughts my way… I’m gonna need all the positive reinforcement I can get! If you would like to check my fundraising progress via internet, please check back here often . Thank you kindly in advance for all of your support!!

Matt. 19:26-- "With God all things are possible."

All My Love,

Jamie Lynn

~"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, suddenly you are doing the impossible ." ~St. Francis of Assisi

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*****T-MINUS TWO MONTHS- UPDATE!!! *****

A good friend of mine asked me these questions, and they got me thinking - so I wanted to share them here with you.

1. What have I learned from running?

I have learned that despite whether I want to do it or not, I always feel ridiculously amazing afterwards, I have the ability to run, as many don't, so I should take advantage of my God given ability, I have learned that no matter what I do...it will ALWAYS take me a 1/2 hr. to enjoy the adrenaline I get from running and not want to kile over. I have learned that getting up and going is truly harder than the actual task of running. LOL I have learned that as Oprah Winfrey would say, running really is the best metaphor for life: you get out of it EXACTLY what you put into it.

2. On November 11th, I recommitted to TNT. (Meaning, if I can't RAISE $3000, I will single-handedly pay the difference). Yeah, crazy. Why?

I recommitted to TNT for the cause alone. I am reminded of little children like Stevie who are affected by these blood cancers. Stevie never had a say as to whether he wanted this cancer of not, he never had a say in to whether he wanted to go through grueling chemo treatments. So if people of all ages and walks of life like Stevie didn't have a choice of denying the devastation that cancer would bring to their lives, recommitting was a no brainer. I signed up for Team in Training for a purpose, to help out people in need. Even through my pain, and yes tears at time, they are worth every minute. At times I know that this experience has had maybe a bigger impact in my life, then I may make in theirs.

3. HA- Can you belive this?

I am going to run a marathon?! 26.2 MILES. Join a club- 1/10th of 1% of the population has actually done this. My longest run to date has been 17 miles, but in less than 2 months, I will be there.

4. Would I recommend Team-In-Training to a friend?

I would hands down recommend TNT to a friend! This experience has made a profound impact in my life, and has changed the way I view my struggles and daily disappointments. It has been inspiring in too many ways to mention and will be a remarkable experience that I will have with me forever.

5. What am I planning on doing immediately following the race?

I am going to call my family and friends that weren't able to be there to support me on this major mile marker in my life ( I mean who would have ever thought that I, Jamie Meyer, would ever have been capable of running 26.2 miles, let alone have the desire to do so...and let them know that I didn't die. :)

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