My Fundraising Page

Feb 28, 2013

When I first started running with Team in Training three years ago, I would feel a little bit awkward on those first few long runs when everyone who I was running with would inevitably ask what my connection to the cause was...and I didn't have one.


Then, this past September, my father went into the hospital for what seemed like a run-of-the-mill case of cellulitis. And never left. As it turned out, he had metastatic liver cancer. His liver was failing, which in turn spurred his kidneys to fail, and within two weeks he was gone.


We had no idea he even had cancer at all, and even if we had, there is no guarantee that rounds of chemo and surgery would have meant a cure for him because, especially for liver cancer, we are just not there yet. Which is why I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the NYC Marathon 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 cancer.


Even though I signed up for this marathon before any of this happened, a large part of me did it because I wanted my dad to be able to see me run a marathon. He hadn't been able to come to my previous two because of distance, but I knew that if I ran New York, he would have no excuses. Unfortunately, now he won't be there to see it and to tell me how proud he is of me. But I'll be thinking of him through all 26.2 miles. Of how strong he was, of what an amazing man he was, and of how much I don't want other people to have to feel this pain of having lost someone they love so dearly to such a terrible disease ever again.


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

Make a Donation

We are no longer accepting donations for this event, however you can still make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Supporter Comments

"I love your blog! Keep running and cooking!"
Stephanie Haly
Fri Mar 1 08:00:41 EST 2013
"Joanne, I know it was a tough year for you!! I am so proud of you!! I wish you the best of luck on your race!!"
Jennifer @Peanut Butter and Peppers
Fri Mar 1 09:49:38 EST 2013
"Good luck!"
Sally Newton
Fri Mar 1 12:02:06 EST 2013
"So good that you are getting this out there. Your dad would be so proud of you! Keep it up, girl!! (((hugs)))"
Ashley C.
Fri Mar 1 01:33:10 EST 2013
"Go Joanne!"
Lora
Fri Mar 1 04:00:58 EST 2013
"I'm so proud of you for fighting the cause!"
Kim Tracy
Sat Mar 2 08:13:58 EST 2013
"My mom passed away in the mid eighties (she was a smoker), so I know what it's like to lose a parent. I admire what you are going to be doing and wish you the best!"
June K
Sat Mar 2 04:07:50 EST 2013
"Go Joanne! I know your father is looking down with so much love and pride for you! Xoxo, Deb"
Deb in Hawaii
Mon Mar 4 02:02:22 EST 2013
"Good luck Joanne - am sure your father would be proud - wish he could be cheering you on the sidelines"
Anonymous user
Sat Mar 9 05:42:22 EST 2013

My Fundraising Total

101%
101 %

Make a Donation

We are no longer accepting donations for this event, however you can still make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

My Thanks To

Joanne Bruno $155.00
Daniel Bruno Jr. $100.00
Joanne H Bruno $100.00
Stephanie Haly $50.00
Deb in Hawaii $25.00
Reeni Pisano $25.00
Megan (Delicious Dis... $25.00
June K $25.00
Martha@SeasideSimpli... $25.00
Lora $25.00
Jennifer @Peanut But... $25.00
Brittany $25.00
Anonymous $10.00
alicooks $10.00
Stephanie Barton $10.00
Kim Tracy $10.00
Elizabeth S $10.00
Ashley C.
Shannon
Sally Newton

Supporter Comments

"I love your blog! Keep running and cooking!"
Stephanie Haly
Fri Mar 1 08:00:41 EST 2013
"Joanne, I know it was a tough year for you!! I am so proud of you!! I wish you the best of luck on your race!!"
Jennifer @Peanut Butter and Peppers
Fri Mar 1 09:49:38 EST 2013
"Good luck!"
Sally Newton
Fri Mar 1 12:02:06 EST 2013
"So good that you are getting this out there. Your dad would be so proud of you! Keep it up, girl!! (((hugs)))"
Ashley C.
Fri Mar 1 01:33:10 EST 2013
"Go Joanne!"
Lora
Fri Mar 1 04:00:58 EST 2013
"I'm so proud of you for fighting the cause!"
Kim Tracy
Sat Mar 2 08:13:58 EST 2013
"My mom passed away in the mid eighties (she was a smoker), so I know what it's like to lose a parent. I admire what you are going to be doing and wish you the best!"
June K
Sat Mar 2 04:07:50 EST 2013
"Go Joanne! I know your father is looking down with so much love and pride for you! Xoxo, Deb"
Deb in Hawaii
Mon Mar 4 02:02:22 EST 2013
"Good luck Joanne - am sure your father would be proud - wish he could be cheering you on the sidelines"
Anonymous user
Sat Mar 9 05:42:22 EST 2013