Mission(s) accomplished with an ELATED outcome!

With my 1st event completed at the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in San Francisco on October 19, I was able to move forward and complete the ING New York City Marathon on November 2, along with 38,000 other runners with a time of 4:12:51.

This was, by far, the greatest accomplishment and undertaking of my life and I couldn't have done it without all the support of family, friends and, hands down, THE most amazing 2 million NYC spectators who came out for the race!

I find myself at a loss of words for the entire marathon and Team In Training experience. The course itself was phenomenal but learning and feeling the many emotions a person goes through when running a marathon was an unparalleled experience. I ran next to so many inspiring athletes, and, watching them as we ran really put things into perspective and made me realize even more how rewarding, fulfilling and important this fundraising and Team organization is.

I completed this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers and those surrounding me who have dealt with or are dealing with this as we speak. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

My original fundraising goal was $4,100 and with the support of so many great friends and family, I was able to reach that goal. Now that I’ve transferred events, all original donations remain and go towards my new events and fundraising efforts. While I have already surpassed my goal, I’m still putting forth all efforts in continuing to raise more towards this great cause and support for the honored teammates I have met while training with my Team. All donations are greatly appreciated…every dollar counts! Please use my personal fundraising secured website to donate online.

If the online option is not available or convenient for you, you may also send a check or money order to me (please contact for my address) made out to:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

***Please include in the memo line: JESSICA REED 2008 Fundraising

Anyone you can forward this on to is greatly appreciated and will encourage more to contribute to this amazing life-saving cause and effort!

Please e-mail with any questions.

Jessica Reed

jreed43@gmail.com

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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Since 1988, more than 300,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $700 million.

2007 Leukemia and Lymphoma statistics:

• An estimated 135,520 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma in 2007.

• New cases of leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma will account for nearly 9.4 percent of the 1,444,920 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States this year.

• Every FIVE MINUTES, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer.

I'm inviting you to help me raise money for this important cause. By becoming a fundraiser, you can make a difference! Use the secure link in this website/email to create your own fundraiser (pledge) page online.

***Where Does Your Donation Go?

• $25 could pay for the cost of a patient’s chemotherapy drug prescription co-payment.

• $50 could register one person to be a bone marrow donor.

• $75 could provide HLA (bone marrow) typing for a family member of a patient with leukemia.

• $150 provides 10 patients access to a web-conference to learn about their specific blood cancer.

• $300 will train 25 peer volunteers who can provide emotional support to newly diagnosed patients.

• $500 allows the Patient Financial Aid program to reimburse up to $500 per year to help cover the costs of transportation, drugs and various treatments not covered by insurance.

• $1000 allows patients to meet with health care specialists to design and discuss their disease, treatment plan and prepare them with the information they will need during the treatment process.

• $2000 provides patients with a one-month supply of Gleevac.

Please visit my web site often and anyone in the Tri-State area that is around on November 2, please come out and support me and the team!

Many thanks for your support and generosity!

Jess