It's finally here!!! MARATHON WEEKEND is upon us. This last week of prep has involved a lot of reflection on the last year and after honoring those we lost and who were injured, Boston is ready to take back the marathon on Monday!

I'm only $1700 away from hitting my goal of $10,000. When I made this goal back in October I thought it would be too lofty but wanted to push all my efforts to try and hit it. Thank you all for your generous donations, encouragement and support.

Thanks to months of training and fundraising. I know that I'm mentally, emotionally and physically ready for this special race. I owe that to all of you. Thank you for wanting to see an end to cancer. Thank you for wanting to make the lifes of cancer patients and their families eaiser. Thank you for knowing that every little bit makes a huge difference.

My little sister, Vanessa, is now cancer free and will be there cheering me on Marathon Monday. Knowing that she is still around and able to watch me run is so special and I am inspired by her willingness to fight.

I run because it's how I take a stand for what I believe in. I believe we WILL find a cure to cancer someday. With your donation dollars, that someday will be today before we know it.

Stay tuned for photos and lots of updates from TEAM V during Marathon Weekend!

Love,

Amanda

In less than 2 weeks I will be running the 2014 Boston Marathon. I couldn't be more proud and humbled to run in honor of my little sister Vanessa who is a Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, in memory of Alex's Uncle Jim who lost his battle with blood cancer and in support and remembrance of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing, their families and my city.

For every $5 donated from today til Marathon Monday I will make and mail you a Boston Marathon ribbon pin.

Last year at my first race after the Boston Marathon Bombing, I made these ribbon pins to wear and people kept asking where to buy them to show support. You can wear it on your running singlet while you race. Wear it as your cheer people on. Or wear it supporting from far away. Your donation means so much.

Thank you for making this Boston Marathon journey so much more memorable.

Miles to go,

Amanda

Having a family member go through cancer treatment leaves you feeling powerless. Almost 10 years since my youngest sister, Vanessa, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, she's now a survivor and still my hero. I want take my fundraising to the next level, but donating more than just money to the cause- MY HAIR!

For anyone who knows me, knows that I could talk for a while about hair. Growing up my sisters and I all had long hair. My mom would braid our hair for every dance recital, track meet and soccer game.Vanessa had the longest hair of all 3 girls and people would stop us in the street to comment on her beautiful long hair. So when Vanessa was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in the summer of 2004, losing her hair was scary. We decided as a family to all make the chop together. My mom, sister and I all went with Vanessa a few weeks into chemo treatmeant to cut our hair together and donate it. All 3 sisters were sporting short bobs for the first time since we were little. Vanessa was adament about donating her hair because she knew she's be receiving a wig made from hair someone else had donated.

As I prepare for the last 4 weeks of training leading up to the Boston Marathon, I want to give another little girl an opportunity to have a wig. Supporting little girls, like Vanessa, who had to loose their hair due to a medical condition, is something that is very close to my heart. The week of April 7th I will donate my hair to Children with Hairloss- a non-profit that gives free wigs to children who have medically relatated hair loss as a result from cancer or alopecia.

THE CHALLENGE

I will donate 1 inch for every $100 I can raise between now and April 13th (Vanessa's 21st birthday). I NEED TO DONATE AT LEAST 8 INCHES so I must hit $800 to be able to donate. I have very long hair so I will donate up to 10 inches (totalling $1000).

(Vanessa when she lost her hair right after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004)

(Vanessa now- almost 21 years old. Cancer free with long beautiful curly hair!)

Please donate any amount and know that not only will your money be helping to find a cure for cancer, but you will also help support a child who is currently going through cancer treatment and in need of a wig.

In Long Loving Locks,

Amanda

I truly believe in the power of giving back and while I am not a trained doctor who will be able to find a cure for cancer, I know I can be part of helping raise funds and awareness for research. Along with my team, I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, we are participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. This April we are running our first ever Boston Mararthon with LLS.

I am running on behalf of Team V, a fundraising team the Kelly family started when my youngest sister Vanessa was diagnosed at age 11 with Hodgkin's Lymphoma back in 2004. Throught the grace of God and the expertise of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Children's Hospital of Boston and the Jimmy Fund, Vanessa is an active 20 year old junior in college and cancer free! Alex and I have been running with LLS because we believe in raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma- so that more stories can end like Vanessa's.

I am inspired by Vanessa's courage and spirit! She battle cancer with a positive attitude and will to get better and survive. She is now able to act as a voice for children with cancer and cancer survivors. I am running to honor Vanessa's fight and victory against cancer and to honor our family and friends who have beat cancer, are continuing to fight the battle and those who lost their battle. Cancer touches everyone. It is such a blessing to have a healthy and active Vanessa in our family and I want to see other families receive the same blessing. I know through my team's fundraising effort we can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

I hope you consider making a donation in support of our efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. Thank you so much for all of your support and encouragement!

Lots of hugs!

Amanda

Alex and I with Vanessa!