Where does the Money go?

As you know, the money The Leukemia & Lyphoma Society raises helps blood cancer patients and their families by funding research to find cures and better therapies, and provide information and support so that they have the best possible outcomes throughout their cancer experience.

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for heir health care team.

Till next time...run on!

Kelley

Murray in Africa!

One of the reasons I am running is for Murray. Murray is the father of one of my angels in life, Marcia Wieder. Marcia is a true gift to this world. Her brilliance is a testimony to Murray's character. Murray was diagnosed with Lymphoma several years ago and it almost got the best of him. Many of us are just beginning to experience our parents becoming "Old" and it's shocking. Marcia talks about seeing her strong, life-loving Dad begin to shuffle and stoop as the news and treatment of his lymphoma took its toll. Marcia knew that Murray needed a dream. Marcia is the leader and Chief Dreamer for Dream University...the place where you find everything you need to create your dream come true life. Marcia knows the power of having a dream, a mission, a goal, a desire and passion so strong that every fiber of your being will come alive to make it happen. Well, Murray always wanted to go on an African Safari.

Murray's treatment was working. Doctor's began to tell him that he would outlive the progression of his tumors. He will likely never be 'cured' because we haven't found a cure for his type of cancer...YET. But they were telling Murray that he could live a full life if he fought to become strong, physically AND mentally.

Marcia pounced!

She took this as an opportunity to make Murray's dream come true. IF, and that was a big IF, Murray would work hard in physical therapy and get his body strong, and if his Doctors gave their blessing, and if he would agree not to complain (*smile*), Marcia would take him on his African Safari.

On November 1, 2009, Murray and Marcia flew to Africa to begin Murray's dream come true! He is winning his battle. At 80+ years of age, Murray is fighting. He is seizing life and is an inspiration to me as I struggle to get my physical and mental strength and stamina back. Thank you Murray for the gift you've given the world in Marcia and for proving that it's never too late to follow your heart and dream big because DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

I have a dream to complete this marathon in 5 hours and 30 minutes with my amazing husband and 2 awesome girls cheering me across the finish line in Paris. Then I picture myself in this amazing dress (that's about 4 sizes too small right now!) with my arms around my family, at twilight in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing my race medal around my neck...I want to hang that picture in my home. (I get teary-eyed just writing these words!)

I have the dress hanging out in the open on my closet door where I see it every day. I can't wait to take that picture!

I am following my training schedule and it's becoming easier and easier to run farther and farther.

I am learning about better nutrition and fueling my body so that it has the ooomph to go the distance.

I am working hard to raise the money I need to honor my fundraising commitment so that Murray (and that one person every 5 minutes that is told they have the fight of their life ahead of them) can get access to the care they need to beat these killers.

I am saving every penny I can so I can afford the travel costs to get my family there with me.

I believe that with your support, spiritually, financially, energetically, prayerfully, and continuously...I WILL ACHIEVE MY DREAM.

What is YOUR dream? What action(s) are you taking TODAY to move closer to your dream simply because it matters to you?

Dream BIG and then take action...just put one foot in front of the other and...

Run on!

Kelley

P.S. That's a picture of Murray in Africa...doesn't he look alive and AMAZING?!!?

I'm almost up to 2 miles!!

Well, I'm technically 14 days into training and can almost run a full 2 miles...sort of! It's such an interesting experience to get reaquainted with my body. I am feeling muscles that I thought were long dead and buried under jiggly stuff! Every day it does get easier and easier and I am actually beginning to look forward to my run time. I am almost at a point where I can actually relax into my stride and not be so focused on how much it hurts and how my lungs are screaming for air! How and when did I get this out of shape?!? The interesting thing to me is that the beginning of my runs are so hard, but tonight, I was able to really FINISH STRONG.

There is a Native American saying that says, "We can only be what we give ourselves the power to be." I am giving myself the power to be a Marathon runner and to save lives one mile at a time.

What will you give yourself the power to be this week?

Consider the power that your financial support will give to me and to the one person every 4 minutes that is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Together, we can find a cure and WIN!

Till next time...run on!

Kelley

Kick Off = Kick in the Rear!!

Well, today was the kick off meeting for my adventure in Paris!! I really can't believe that I am literally going from 0 miles (trust me...I've tested this...I BARELY made .5 miles running this last week!) to 26.2 in a mere 161 days! That's:

* 13,910,400 seconds

* 231,840 minutes

* 3864 hours

* 23 weeks

WOW!

Vicki went with me to the meeting. She's the real reason I am doing this. She saw the mail piece from LLS and saw Paris and just had to learn more. She is all about Paris!! She wanted so badly to be on the team, but at the informational meeting we found out that the minimum age is 16. She looked at me with those big, beautiful, brown eyes and said, "Mom, I KNOW you can do this...will you do it for me?"

COME ON!! Of course I was in. What an opportunity for me to:

1. Honor her.

2. Show her how to set a goal and then work a plan to achieve it.

3. Do my part in the fight against blood cancers...some of you know our family history with a blood disorder in the family of Leukemia and the reason I had to have my spleen removed 7 years ago...scary time in our lives...I lived with a diagnosis of Leukemia for almost 2 weeks...I am so grateful it turned out differently!

4. Get healthy again...I so want to be "HOT" at 40...not frumpy!! :-)

Tomorrow training starts in earnest. I am excited and admittedly a bit scared. It's been a long time since I've pushed myself physically. More importantly, it's been a long time since I've pushed myself mentally. I know this will be as much (if not more!) a mental test than a physical one. I know how badly this is going to HURT!

Patients don't have a choice...I do! I choose to do this! I choose to fully experience every step of this adventure and I choose to raise every dollar I can to put an end to these killer diseases.

Thank you for being with me! Your support gives me the courage and strength I need!

Peace!

Kelley

P.S. Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. And please share this page with all your family and friends because we can only succeed if we all join together!

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event 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 leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

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