Last Spring, my best friend asked me to run a half marathon with LLS in memory of her father. I can not say that is was without hesitation (I was NOT a runner), but I agreed to do it. Two of our best friends also joined us and in October of last year, we completed our first half marathons (or marathons) in hilly San Francisco.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that with all the training that I received from TNT, I was more than ready for that half marathon... other than a slight cramp in my left thigh that I was quickly mended with lessons I learned from the training, I ended the race really well. I even went shopping and dancing the very same day!

This year I wanted to do something more challenging, so I committed to a full marathon in San Diego - and to keep up with tradition, I'm going to run in support of LLS and in memory of my friend's father.

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Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

As some of you may know, I’ve been training to run a full marathon (26.2 miles) this June in San Diego. There are several reasons why I’m running:

• In memory of my best friend’s father who passed away last spring from acute myeloid leukemia. I didn't know him very well, but I know that the impact of the disease did not just affect him, but his family members as well. My bestie has since become a passionate supporter of LLS and TNT and I try to keep up with her when I can :)

• To raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The money goes towards cancer research and financial assistance to patients that cannot afford treatment.

• To really challenge myself. Running one mile is tough concept. 10 miles is tougher to conceive. 26.2 – ridiculous! But if you think about a cancer patient… they don’t ask for it, but they work through it and fight it daily. No complaints. How can I complain about being physically healthy enough to run?

• To set an example to my two wonderful boys that no matter how challenging something appears to be, they can do it, especially if the hard work results in positive benefits for those in need.

I want to thank those of you who have already donated. In this process, it’s always interesting and enlightening to find out what motivates someone will contribute. There are so many back stories that we don’t know about each other until a subject like this comes up. So, when I run, I’m running for you, and your family and your friends too.

I've been meaning to update my page for a while.

At this time, rather than talk about my training and urge you to donate, I'd like to fill space up with my condolences to the people who were affected by todays tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

Please pray for them.

This last Saturday, the North Cities team wore blue to honor those affected by the bombings in Boston.