Racing to Save Lives

Hi! I'm Rachel. (You probably already know that.)

Let's be honest. I don't really "run." Or do that "working out" thing. I'd like to, but, you know. I've got "Jersey Shore" on DVR, and those episodes just get better with re-watching...

This year, I decided I'd like to be healthier, and I'd like to do it in a way where I can help other people at the same time. I've also come to terms with the fact that, in order to do both those things, I'll need to put Snooki, J-Wow and The Situation aside for a little while.

That's why I'm training to run in the 2010 adidas Dublin Marathon on October 25th with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. My boyfriend of five years, Jeff Scherer, will be running it with me. (He is a much, much better runner than I am. For realsies.)

I've never run more than a few miles at a time, but I'm planning to run 26.2 bad boys the day before my birthday. I'm also trying to raise $5,400 to make it all happen. I, too, am excitedly and nervously wondering how this is going to happen. But I know it's definitely going to happen.

I chose Team In Training and the LLS because of their amazing ties to cancer research, a cause that's pretty personal for me. The disease runs in my family, and 13 years ago, I lost my Grandma Harriet--my idol--to multiple forms of the illness. She battled it like a warrior to the end, and I'd like to do something legitimate to honor her fight and help carry on her memory. Hence, the marathon. The scary, scary marathon.

If you'd like to help out, take a second make a donation. Even a little means a lot.

As an added incentive, Jeff and I are starting up a blog. Not only will it track our progress, but you can dare us to do things for sponsorship money. (Note: the less illegal, naked or costly the dare, the more likely we are to do it. We do something dumb, you get to donate to a great cause, and everyone wins.

To check out the blog, click here.

Love to you all, and thanks for your help!

Rachel