Ernie's Fund Raising Page

Racing to Save Lives

6/18/09

Update: Added the Oil Creek 100 Ultra-marathon to my list of things to do along with the Akron marathon for LLS and to support the fight against cancer. Yep, 100 miles straight!

Raising the bar to help those in need including team Honoree 4 year old Nataleigh recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She just finished chemotherapy in December. She is doing well now and if she can tough it out at age 4, I can get through a couple of races... You can find training updates at: http://ernestlewis.wordpress.com/

Please consider a donation in honor of Nataleigh and all our loved ones dealing with cancer. Have a great day!

Welcome,

This year, I am training to participate in the Akron Road Runner Marathon in Akron Ohio on September 26th. As a volunteer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training, I am helping to raise funds to help stop Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin Lymphoma and Myeloma and other cancers from taking more lives. I'm completing this grueling 26.2 mile event with Team In Training to honor all individuals who are battling cancer, the victims, and the survivors because research to prevent Leukemia and Lymphoma has helped spur advances in other cancer research.

Each year in the race, I carry a list of Honorees and it's that list which helps me get to the finish line. This year, I would like to start the list in memory of three special people. First is Judy Evanoff, wife of my good friend George Evanoff, who lost her battle with cancer on December 28, 2008. Judy deeply touched many lives including mine. There is also Clifford Tupper who is the father of my good friend and fellow Team In Training marathoner Shannon Tupper. Clifford passed away January 2, 2009 after losing his battle with cancer. And also our good friend and fellow Team In Training marathoner, Julie Schultz, who passed away unexpectedly on January 26, 2009. Her friendship on the trail and her giving heart will be missed.

I'm also running for my mother, Nga Gnass survivor of breast cancer, my late Grandpa Morgan victim of a brain tumor, my Uncle Jack survivor of colon cancer, my friend Karen Landis survivor of breast cancer, and my late friend Karen Hylan victim of a brain tumor. There is also the sister of my good friend Mary Kern, Pat Schaefer who passed away at the tender age of 20 from Lymphoma and Al Manke III, nephew of my ex-wife Martha, who thankfully is a survivor of Hodgkins Lymphoma.

All of these people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure! If you have a friend or relative that you would like me to run for in their honor, I would be proud to do so. Please send me their name and their story for they are my inspiration to get through the long miles!

I will be training 40-50 miles per week and have a goal of completing the marathon in 3 hours 20 minutes, my Boston qualifying time. I've chosen a large fundraising goal and a difficult marathon to run because all of us have someone in our lives touched by cancer. The need to help is great. Please make a donation to help advance the Society's mission to find a cure.

You can use this website to donate online quickly and securely. You will receive a confirmation by email of your donation.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and all of our Honorees, thank you very much. I appreciate your generosity!

Sincerely,

Ernie

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