NOVEMBER 17, 2013 PHILADELPHIA HALF-MARATHON:

I did it!!! I did it!!!! I did it!!!!!! 2 hours and 37 Minutes!!!!

Not the fastest girl out of the gate, but a finisher!!! That's all that matter, is never quitting, no matter what!! It will not kill you!! At least that was my AHA!!! lesson.

My eager, excited, half crazy TNT team at 5:00 AM!!!!                                                              SO GLAD TO SEE THE FINISH LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AUGUST 20, 2013

I’m participating in a sports endurance event (1/2 marathon) as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training.

The event is ThePhiladelphia Marathon ( www.philadelphiamarathon.com ) on Sunday November 17, 2013.

Why would I being doing such a crazy thing?

I love 'FIRSTS"! First smiles, first birthdays, actually ALL birthdays, first kiss, first job, first prom...... What I NEVER want for myself, my family, friends, coworkers, children or any other human being is, first diagnosis of cancer, first biopsy, first chemo session, first bone marrow transplant.

Life should be full of Firsts that bring a sense of love, potential, accomplishment and fulfillment-not fear, anger, anguish, pain, heartache or a life not lived.

I have always been told that to extend myself to the greater good, I can donate my TIME, TALENT or RESOURCES. These days I seem to be short on all three!!

What I am blessed with is a healthy body that moves and I choose to use my body to move in ways it has never been challenged and run a half marathon and raise money for leukemia and lymphoma research and patient/family support services.

I am asking a large army to give a little so we can ALL provide a future of "Firsts" that will enrich lives!!!!

Will you please be part of my "Army of Hope" and support my efforts to ensure none of our families will face what others have????

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team!!

This past year I have had the pleasure of meeting Fabien Navidi-Kasmai and his family. Fabien was diagnosed with stage 3 hodgkin's lymphoma when he was 11 years old. ( as a mother I cannot even comprehend that news).

Today, thanks to research, treatment and a mother's love Fabien is 20 years old and in his last year at Temple University in Philadelphia.

I have his mother's blessing to have Fabien as my Honoured Team Member. I will be running for ALL of the "Fabien's" that have survived the fight and those that we can help have a life of many, many "Firsts" ahead of them!

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/26/helping-the-littlest-patients-fight-cancer/

As Mother Teresa said, "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love".

I am going to run beyond the hurt, to reach our goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Anita