Thank you So much for everyone who has donated! I have reached my fundraising minimum with 2 days to spare!

Through this entire process, I have been so touched by the generosity of my friends, co-workers and sometimes, complete strangers. People have come out to all sorts of events, like Menchie's Spirit Night, a bowl-a-thon, a scavenger hunt, Tijuana's Spirit lunch, and a poker tournament. I have received encouragement from people in all walks of life and feel blessed to have this opportunity to push my mind, body and spirit while raising funds for an organization like LLS, an organization that has helped so many families and seeks to find cures for cancer to help so many more.

We have the next 27 days to continue preparing for our marathon, a full 26.2 miles. I am very excited! Thank you for being a part of my journey!

This past Saturday we ran 7.5 miles! A few months ago, I struggled through 1 mile, I can't believe how much progress we've made! Where running 3 miles used to be an annual event, it is now a daily occurence. The encouragement and support of my friends, family and sometimes, complete strangers has been invaluable to this process.

In two weeks, we reach our recommitment, with the hopes that we will have reached 50% of our fundraising minimum by then. Please consider donating and help me successfully cross the halfway point!

Why I run:

The LLS mission, to cure blood cancers, touched home recently when a close friend’s dad was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. She asked me to run with her in honor of her dad and to raise money to help find a cure for his cancer. He is currently in New York City taking part in a clinical trial program, a program that, I am certain, has been made possible by the efforts of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am motivated to run knowing that this program is directly helping my friend, in addition to millions of other families affected by blood cancers.

Thanks to everyone who has donated thus far - I reached my 50% goal on time for my recommitment!! yay! Our final deadline for fundraising is September 21st, so if you haven't contributed, please consider doing so. Every little bit counts and no amount is too small!

Saturday, my boyfriend and I were in Jacksonville for a wedding. One of the great things about TNT is that there are chapters everywhere! We were able to meet up with the Jacksonville team to run 10 miles! My wonderful boyfriend stuck with me the whole way.

Justin and I after our 10 mile run:

On April 29th, a friend asked me to run the Nike Women’s Marathon with her to

support cancer research through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). My initial thought was, “only crazy people run marathons”. During the next week, I continued to think about it and the millions of people who are affected by cancer. I realized what an amazing opportunity I have – to push body, mind and spirit, while raising money to help other people. Who hasn’t been affected by cancer? We all have friends, co-workers, or family who have suffered from this illness and I’m tired of feeling helpless on the sidelines, it’s time for me to help do something about it.

On Monday, May 7, 20012, I signed up to run the Nike Women’s Marathon with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) program and I am very excited about this new challenge! What I once called crazy, I now realize is passion, drive and purpose. Thinking of all the families who have been and will be helped by LLS gives me motivation – on the hot days, the rainy ones, the 6am Saturday mornings when I’d rather stay in bed - to get up and go run.

Over the next 5 months I will be raising money to fund the mission of LLS: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. I have committed myself to run and have agreed to raise a minimum of $3,200 to help in the fight against blood cancers.

I ask that you please join me in this fight against cancer- be a part of this journey. I need your support and encouragement, as well as your assistance in helping me reach my fundraising goal. Together, we can reach the finish line. Together, we can be crazy for a cause.

Danielle

Donations are tax-deductible. 75% of every dollar we raise will go directly to support research and financial assistance to the families in our country struggling with the financial burden of treatment.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Tax ID# 13-5644916

I've started a blog!!! Check out my posts at http://crazyforacause.blogspot.com/