Kathya's Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page. All the hard work with training paid off! I crossed the finish line at The SunTrust National Half Marathon in Washington, DC (21 March 2009) and received my 13.1 Finisher medal as a proud member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training! Please take a look at photos and words about my experience here.

***I just want to thank EVERYONE who helped me reach the $1,500 minimum goal!! I'm going to continue to try to raise funds for this great cause and I know that everyone has their own problems and things to take care of and in these shaky economic times it's hard to give. But even $5, $10, $15, or $20 helps a lot. No donation is too small!***

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. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Even before I left the first meeting, I knew I would sign up for this. There are various reasons why I chose to do this. First, I want to do something positive for myself and overcome the fear of training for and completing an endurance event. But most importantly, I want to do it to help people. I want to do this to try and make a difference in all of our lives.

When I went to bed the night that I signed up (02 Dec 2008) I was anxious and scared, but excited and ready to do this. I'm mostly anxious and scared because of the fund raising part... and of course the physical and mental aspect of this undertaking. I've only ever done little bake sale type fund raising. But I've never done it on this scale... with participation minimum and a personal fund raising goals to reach. I'm not very good with asking people for money, but what I have to remember is that I'm not asking for me... but for leuekmia and lymphoma (and other blood cancer) research to continue. Not only will I be working to reach those fund raising goals, but also training to meet the qualifying times to be a part of the marathon. I've always been physically active, but 13.1 miles will be the most I've ever run at one time and that will definitely test me.

One thing that I do remember well from the meeting is what one of the experienced team captains said. She said that it will be physically and mentally difficult and yes everyone will be sore and in pain after wards, but it will eventually go away. The pain that people afflicted with blood cancers does not go away. That really got me. I think that is what is going to keep me going.

As I write this I have a lump in my throat because I know this one of those things in life that I will forever cherish. I'm going to have very good and very bad days, but I know the important thing is to stay positive and to keep reminding myself why I'm doing this. I thank you all in advance for giving your support. In any way that you can. A very special thank you to my husband, David, for being my biggest cheerleader. He's one of my heroes as he is serving our country as an officer in the US Army.

The Power of your Donation:

$500 - Provides a patient with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma financial aid to support medical treatment and travel to medical appointments for one year.

$200 - Provides funding for a Family Support Group Program for one year where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members mediated by a trained facilitator.

$150 - Provides for 5 patients to make a First Connection with a trained peer volunteer patient/survivor.

$100 - Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures

$75 - Covers the cost of one tissue typing test that is used to become a bone marrow donor.

$50 - Covers the cost of one CT scan.

$40 - Covers the cost of sending a comprehensive support and informational packet to the family of a child with cancer.

$35 - Provides transportation expenses for a patient living in the DC metropolitan area to a comprehensive cancer center for treatment.

$25 - Covers the cost of one prescription co-payment.

But remember, no donation is too small! Every little bit helps!

Your donation is 100% tax deductible and about 75% of the funds raised go directly to research, education and patient support.

For International donations if you have problems with entering a valid phone number, just remove the hyphens while entering the numbers and it should work!

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thank you for your support!