Since I was here last, I ran the (unofficial) Thames Bridge Trek in London. Fourteen miles over 16 bridges along the River Thames in the pouring rain. Awesome. The following weekend I ran the Paris Marathon. On my birthday. In Paris. France. Also Awesome. Then I got pneumonia and have done nothing more strenuous than walk my dogs for the last three weeks. Not Awesome.

In other not awesome news... there is a fairly extensive history of cancer in my family. Breast cancer, lymphoma, brain cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, ocular melanoma, basal cell carcinoma...

I run with Team in Training (and now also cycle and tri) for my family. To celebrate their lives and support their struggles, to honour their memories and to raise funds in a effort to try in my own small way to help find a cure for cancers of all kinds.

A few weeks ago I learned that it was time to add another family member to the list of loved ones for whom I will continue to train and fund raise. My cousin Liz was just diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer, at the age of 25. Very Not Awesome. Read more about that here.

I truly believe that advances made in the field of one type of cancer research and the in development of new cancer treatments benefits people with all types of cancer. With our support, LLS has funded (and continues to fund) research into new treatments that have historically proved beneficial for multiple kinds of cancer.

Why wouldn't I want to be a part of that?!! Why wouldn't you??

If you are able, please make a donation now... so that one day young parents like Liz won't have to fear that their children will grow up without a mother. Together we CAN find a cure.

My personal honoured teammate Jenn started chemotherapy 3 weeks ago, and last week her hair began falling out. Her company hosted a head-shaving party on Friday, turning what could have been a painful experience into a celebration. It was a beautiful sunny day, so chairs were set up outside... clippers were fired up... and hair started flying! 

bald is beautiful

 The lack of hair is surprisingly enjoyable. Can't stop rubbing my own fuzzy head. No bed-head in the morning. No wild hair after my ride with the Team yesterday. Though truth be told, it certainly highlighted the cold temperatures when it started to rain (and then snow!) during our ride. Went to bed in a hat on Friday night!!

Jenn's run/walking the Shamrock half marathon in Virginia Beach this morning... because she's strong and determined, and because lymphoma's not going to stop her from doing the things she loves. Tomorrow morning, she starts her next round of chemotherapy.

If you would like to show your support of Jenn and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society... please make a donation. 

As you can see, we made it to my "$1000 in donations by noon on Leap Day" fundraising goal with time to spare.

To up our game, I have convinced my husband (who HATES the cold), to jump in the lake with me. Current lake temperature is an estimated 38 degrees F (3.5 degrees C)!! He has agreed to do so if we reach $1600 by 16:00   (aka 4pm).

We have some friends who REALLY want to see him go in! And we're almost there....

Thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly generous. We will be posting video and photos here later this evening.

Here is the link to our Leap in the Lake video...

And another...with a  slightly different perspective 

My personal honoured teammate Jenn starts chemotherapy on Monday. Her oncologist assures her she will lose her hair. We'll be having a head-shaving party in solidarity on March 18th. Stay tuned for bald girl photos!

In the meantime, here she is with her glorious mane of red curls... getting ready to tackle the Marine Corps Marathon. Jenn has all the strength, fortitude and determination of any endurance athlete... and she taking that with her into this fight against cancer.

If any friends in the Northern Virginia/DC area are looking for a sweet little Valentine's Day gifts for their family and friends, I am once again selling homemade jams in exchange for a donation to LLS.

The list of available jams will be updated as they go...

JAMS: Peach & Ginger, Peach & Lavender, Peach & Habanero, Plum & Habanero, Plum, Strawberry, Blueberry,  Rhubarb & Ginger, Rhubarb & Strawberry, Rhubarb & Peach, Carrot Cake

MARMALADE:  Lemon, Grapefruit

FRUIT BUTTERS: Apple Butter, Pear Butter

CHUTNEYS, RELISHES, SAUCES: Fig & Apple Chutney, Smokey Tomato Jam, Cranberry Sauce, Pickled Cranberries, Salsa Verde, Ground Cherry Sweet Relish, Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Unsweetend Pear Sauce, Pickled Eggplant

Requested Donation

8 oz jars - $5.50

4 oz jars - $3.50

All were made by me, with produce sourced as locally as I could get them (some from as close as my backyard vegetable garden, most from local farmers market).

All made in my kitchen, so definitely not USDA inspected...

Ingredient lists available by request.