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Racing to Save Lives

APRIL 1 UPDATE: Okay, I enjoyed the whole experience so much that I have signed up to be a Team Mentor with TNT for the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2009. So, you'll be hearing more from me about my adventures in marathon training and fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You're thrilled, aren't you?... I knew it.

UPDATE: I AM A MARATHON RUNNER!!!!!

That's right people... I completed the Shamrock Marathon on Sunday in 5:19:51. I had hoped to finish in under 5 hours, but during the long & lonely miles between Mile 18 and Mile 22 I seriously doubted whether or not I would even see the finish line... So I am delighted with my finishing time. Pictures will be posted shortly.

UPDATE: I've done it! Although it does not yet show here, I have reached my fundraising goal... the remaining funds should post here within the next couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone who has supported my efforts.

UPDATE: The link to my blog has been fixed...

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

(please follow my training progress blog here)

I'm training to run the Shamrock Marathon on March 22, 2009, in Virginia Beach VA as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma) from taking more lives.

A minimum of 75% of the funds raised by Team In Training participants will go toward advancing the LLS's mission. The remaining 25% will go toward supporting the Team In Training participants to meet their training, racing and fundraising goals.

Work of the LLS includes: advocacy for government research, funding and public policy to benefit patients and their families; support for researchers; support programs for patients and their families, and assistance to help meet the costs of treatment; community education and information programs; and education for health professions on advances in diagnosis and treatment.

Why Am I Doing This?

If there is progress made in research for any cancer it will help all cancer research.

I am completing this event in honour of all individuals around the globe who are battling leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. I am completing this event in honour of individuals who are battling cancers of any kind.

I am completing this event in honour of my friend Bonnie, who has won her battle with lymphoma.

I am completing this event in honour of my grandmother who continues to suffer the after-effects of the treatments she underwent for cancer years ago. I am completing this event in honour of my mother-in-law who continues, against all odds and to the amazement of her doctors, to fight pancreatic cancer. I am completing this event in honour of my friend Jane who overcame skin cancer. I am completing this event in honour of my fathers best friend Brian who is fighting prostate cancer.

And I am completing this event in memory of my grandmother who died of breast cancer, my cousin Amy who died of brain cancer, and my good friend Grandma Dolly who also died of breast cancer.

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

How Can You Contribute?

Your contributions are 100% tax deductible. Tax ID#13-5644916. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will send you a receipt.

You can donate online by using the donate now button on the top right hand side of this page.

Or if you'd prefer to write a cheque, e-mail me and I will send you my mailing address. Make cheques payable to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

If your company (or employer) has a charity donation matching program, let me know and I'll send you easy instructions on how to have them match your donation.

And if you know anyone who might want to donate, please don't hesitate to send the link to this web page around to family, friends and colleagues.

Platitudes of Gratitudes...

Finally, thank you. Thanks if you contribute == you're making an investment in fighting this heartbreaking disease. And thanks if you follow along == I'm glad to have you with me. Your generosity, support and friendship will not only help get me to the finish line but, more importantly, you will help to accelerate cures for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other cancers, and bring increased hope to the patients and families who are on the front lines of the battle against these diseases.

I hope you will visit my web site often. I will be posting frequent progress reports

Thanks for your support!

Megan

Remember, no donation is too small & for a donation of $100 or more, I will take a picture in my running gear any where you want (in the DC area during training or in Virginia Beach on race day), send it to you and post it here! Think of the possibilities!

How & Why YOUR DONATION Can Help:

$1,000 - The cost on average for a one night stay at the hospital. Many patients visit the hospital numerous times and for extended periods while undergoing treatments

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

$288 - The equivalent to $1 for each person who will be diagnosed with a blood cancer in the next 24 hours

$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 - Will train (6) survivors to make First Connections with a newly diagnosed patient.

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

$88 - Because there is now an 88% chance of survival for children under five years old who are diagnosed

$75 - Average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.

$50 - The cost of a co-payment for a CT scan.

$40 - Will educate (4) school employees on how to ease the transition back to school for a child with cancer.

$35 - Will purchase (12) Charlie Brown DVD's to explain cancer to pediatric patients.

$25 - Covers a single prescription co-payment.

$20 - Because Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer-related death among children under the age of 20

$5 - The cost of sending a newly diagnosed patient a packet which includes information about their specific disease and support.

*UNTIL THERE IS A CURE; THERE IS NO FINISH LINE*.