If this is your first visit to my site, WELCOME! Please see my letter telling why I'm doing this marathon below!

It takes a little while for donations to get recorded, so my actual total as NOvember 5 is 2,100! YAY!

I am also adding this THANK YOU LIST on top because I'm not sure how it's showing up otherwise..and I want to be sure to give a BIG HUG AND GRATEFUL THANKS to all these wonderful people who have donated.....

Arlene Oroszko (In memory of Steve Sardelis)

Flora Kunst

Mike Brown

Patty Fallom

Linda Amidon

Jason Kunst

Marion Catacchio

Noadine Lonstein

Jill Connors

Cindy Walker

Glenn & Becky Kunst (Heart to Heart)

Jeanne Gonyea

Greg Worrall

Rose McCluskey

Ann Sullivan

Edie & Bob Ramaska

Fran Judycki-Foley & family (In memory of "Bobcie", Stasia Judycki!)

Maeve Becker

Mass Auto Recycling

Lenita & Mark Schafer

Diane Smollin

Shoshanah Zarritt (In honor of niece, Addie Zarritt, recovering from Hodgkins!)

Patty Watters

Tony & Gingy Holway (Quaboag Tree)

Christine & Norman Caron

Mary Waytina (In memory of Mom, Alice Waytina)

Maureen Baker

Norma & Brian Foley

Paul Leary

Don & Donna Archibald

Madelyn Sheahan

Franklin Sheahan

Kathy & Dan Rivard

Pam Woodbury

Mari Shabani-Storm

Joe Ballotte, II

Charlie and Aileen Buchannan

Mari Shabani-Storm

Susan Provost

Jane Whearley

Deborah Sjogren

Irene Kountouris

Pat Hackett

Kathleen Tattan

Theresa Bolduc

Martha Grace

the Baldassarre Family- (In loving memory of Gloria Lombardi)

Gary & Mary Lachapelle (In memory of Nancy Lorusso and Claire)

Ann & Leo Digregorio

Cheryl & Rick Gosselin

Catherine & Phil Zaldatte

Lillian Albro

Linda and Mark Kimball

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Dear Friends,

OK, this is not a joke….really, no kidding, in all seriousness…on November 9 I am going to walk a half marathon in Portsmouth, NH! Can you believe it? There are two good reasons for doing this event—first and foremost, I am doing this to make a positive difference in the lives of people who suffer from blood cancers. As a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's “Team In Training” (TNT) funds raised will benefit research for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma. Over the years I have come to know a number of people who have suffered with blood cancers… some are survivors, but sadly, some are not.

Our Family Connection to Blood Cancer

My beautiful niece, Nikki, was diagnosed with leukemia at 3 years of age. It was devastating news and the beginning of a long, intense battle, which for many years took over the lives of Nikki, her new baby brother Ryan, her mom, Mary, and dad (my brother Joe). There were many sleepless nights, countless hospital stays, endless treatments, office visits, and urgent prayers that Nikki would one day be pronounced cancer free. I have memories of Nikki and I playing “head-bumping-Barbies” (don’t ask, LOL!) and watching the Wizard of Oz…over…and over…and over….to help take her mind off how sick she was. But with the grace of God and extraordinary medical teams at UMass Nikki has been cancer free for over 12 years! Soon turning 19, she just graduated from N.Brookfield H.S. and is starting college! Her dream is to be a nurse in the pediatric oncology unit. Knowing that I can help other families who are currently walking through the same difficult times with their loved one who suffers from cancer, is worth walking 13.1 miles for!

Second: It's a Personal Physical Challenge

Just getting up one flight of stairs used to be a "marathon of sorts" for me, and slowly trudging about 1 mph around the park was painful and difficult! I never thought I’d one day be looking forward to walking 13.1 miles and plan to do it in under 4 hours! But, I am going for it! Weight has been an issue all my life, and I’m grateful for God’s grace in helping me lose 160 pounds over the last 2 1/2 years. He lined me up with the right tools…my Lap-band, which helped discipline my eating habits, a fun job at Curves to keep me exercising, an excellent medical team, and awesome friends and family who’ve prayed and encouraged me all along the way!

"Running the Race" Dreams

The Lord also gave me a series of marathon-like dreams since starting my weight-loss journey—in the first dream I was huffing and puffing while lugging a big 'ol turkey along the way… (There were other "runners" sitting by the wayside, having given up, with their turkeys in their laps, but I trudged past them determined to get to the finish line!) Doesn’t God have a great sense of humor? That's just how I felt while walking that first year! LOL! After my two-year mark, I dreamed that I was jogging easily to the finish line and joyfully yelled to my brother Joe, “I feel so good I’m going around again!” I sure hope I feel that way at the end of the Seacoast Marathon! LOL!

Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and support me in this cause? There are two ways to donate: You can send a check directly to me using the address below, or make a donation on this Web site.

All contributions, regardless of size, are very much appreciated!

My goal is to raise $2,100 by November 1 (although donations can still be made after that date). Please feel free to share this letter with anyone else you feel may like to donate.

I pray all is well with you and your families. Please call if you have any questions … and thank you in advance for your support, whether through a donation, or with your prayers...BOTH are so appreciated.

**Oh, by the way, EVERYONE who makes ANY size donation will go into a raffle drawing for a tray of “The Fluffy Kitchen’s” Famous Baklava or Yummy Cookie Assortment! Three winning trays will be delivered (or mailed) to the winners before Christmas! (I know…it’s a shameless food bribe, but it IS a good cause! LOL!) God bless you dear friends!

Love, Mary

"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." --Isaiah 40:31

Sponsorship Information

Please act soon. My goal is to raise $2,100. If your company matches charitable gifts, please submit a matching gift form.

The Power of your Donation to LLS

Over the past decade:

•Nearly half a million patients, family members, and healthcare professionals have called the LLS Information Resource Center and received critical information about blood cancers, therapy options, and issues surrounding treatment and survival.

•Nearly $40 million was distributed to patients through the LLS Patient Assistance program, for transportation lodging, and other expenses to help them get the treatment they need to fight their cancer.

•Over 100,000 patients and family members found comfort and hope through LLS First Connection and Family Support Groups.

•LLS granted $425 million to more than 400 scientists searching for cures and improved treatments for patients, 20% of them here in New England in facilities including: Beth Israel Deaconess, Brigham & Women’s, Dana Farber, Dartmouth Medical, Harvard Medical, Mass General, MIT, NE Medical, The Center for Blood Research, Tufts University School of Medicine, and University of Massachusetts.

•LLS funding contributed to the development of new drugs that are affecting patient survival and quality of life. Examples include:

o Velcade for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma

oDracogan for myelodysplastic syndrome

o Rituxan for follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell non Hodgkin lymphoma

oGleevec for chronic myelogenous leukemia

The fastest way to donate is directly using a credit card on this web site,

OR checks should be made payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and sent to:

Mary Ballotte, 20 Velander Street, Worcester, MA 01605

To learn more about the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, please visit www.lls.org. To learn more about Team In Training, please visit www.teamintraining.org. Thanks for your support!