Racing to Save Lives

Hello!

On October 19th, 2008 I will run The Nike Women's marathon as a mentor and member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. This will be my third endurance event for Team In Training.

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, myeloma and other blood related cancers from taking our children and loved ones. In return Team coaches train us to complete endurance events that we would have never believed we could complete.

Most of you know that last summer a tragic event occurred that forever changed me and caused me to join Team In Training.

Last May, I went to a Bone Marrow drive that was to help find a donor for our friends nephew Christopher, who was 9 years old at the time. A bone marrow transplant was the only thing that would give Christopher a chance at life. He had cancer. I was not Christopher's match, and sadly, despite finding an 8 point match for him, Christopher was too sick to receive his transplant and passed way last July.

I will never forget when we pulled up to the Firehouse in Glen Rock where they were holding the Bone Marrow Drive, there was a huge sign with children's handprints painted all over. It read...."Thank you for helping our friend". It is heartbreaking to think that a bunch of Fourth Graders were spending their days worrying about whether or not their friend would die.

Since that day I have commited myself to raising funds and supporting others in their fundraising and training efforts so that one day there will not be any cancer.

Some call us heroes, me, not so much.The real heroes are kids like Christopher and all who suffer through the life-changing treatments they endure day after day. Some say that running a marathon is hard....well, try chemotherapy.

My fundraising goal for this event is 12,000.00. I know this seems like a lofty goal, however, I am confident that with hard work, dedication and your help I will achieve my fundraising goal. My target date to reach my fundraising goal is September 15th, 2008.

I truly hope you can make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission. No matter how large or small, all are greatly appreciated and take us one step closer to a cure! If you donate $100.00 or more, I will write your name/or any name in Honor/Memory of, that you choose on my race shirt and wear it proudly on race day.

Thank You all for your unconditional love and support. Although Christopher inspired me to run my first mile, all of you who have shared with me your experiences in dealing with this horrific disease, and are living, motivate me and give me more resolve to continue on....I am also honoring all of you with each and every step I run.

Keep running and Keep raising,