Dear Friend: I’ve been dreading the day for eleven years that I write you a fundraising letter in memory of my father instead of in honor of him.  As most of you already know, my father, Ed Sponseller, passed away this April after an eleven year battle with a rare, incurable blood cancer called mantle cell lymphoma.

As you also likely know, my dad was an avid runner, completing nearly forty marathons and hundreds of other road races.  The 1983 Marine Corps Marathon was his first. 

1983 Marine Corps Marathon: Staring into the unknown of his first 26.2 mile race.

He inspired many to take up running and fitness in general, especially as he continued his workouts (mostly at the Chambersburg YMCA) during his eleven year fight. When he was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2006, the life expectancy was 2-5 years.  My family strongly believes that Ed was able to “Live Strong” (physically and emotionally) for those 11 scary years because of his fitness as well as the advances in treatment and support that are funded by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a result, he was able to travel the world with my mother and welcome three more grandchildren.  

I am again joining forces with Team In Training (TNT), who as a group, trains for endurance races across the world while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  To date, they have raised over $1.4B for LLS!  In addition to continually funding research for cures and new treatments, LLS provides informational and emotional support for patients and their loved ones.  The Society also provides financial support for those with no or limited healthcare insurance. I cannot stress enough the great work and value of both these organizations. 

My first fundraising marathon with TNT was The 2006 Maine Marathon – the year my father was diagnosed.  I did Maine again with TNT in 2011 and then The Boston Marathon in 2014, following the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.  In total, I have raised over $30,000 for LLS thanks to the support of friends like you. 

Team Sponseller after the 2006 Maine Marathon. My wife Amy also raised money and ran the Maine Half Marathon. Shortly after a week’s worth of chemotherapy at John Hopkins, Ed was healthy enough to run the last two miles of both our races. 

This time I have “teamed up” to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC, on October 22^nd.  The significance of this marathon isn’t just because it was Ed’s first marathon – it was also my first in 1995 when my brother Todd and I ran the race, along with our dad, as a qualifier for the 100^th anniversary of The Boston Marathon in 1996.

Todd, Steve, and Ed Sponseller after the 1995 Marine Corps Marathon. Ed was such a positive influence on his boys in many ways over the years. Lucky sons...

This TNT experience will surely be my most emotional one.  I want to “blow out” my previous fundraising numbers and am asking you once again for your support. Receiving your donations provides the inspiration for my training, which proves to be ever more challenging with age and parental responsibilities.

To pay via credit card, please select the "Donate Now" button on the right of this webpage.  If you prefer to pay via check, you can send a check to my address below, made out to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  You will receive an electronic receipt either way for tax purposes (please provide your email address if mailing a check).

I humbly thank you in advance for your continued support.

Stephen Sponseller

53 Gunstock Rd

Scarborough, ME 04074

steve_sponseller@yahoo.com

207-838-3688