Mark Robinson's Fundraising Page

Run the Race

Hello Everyone,

Last December, as I was training for the Walt Disney World marathon as a member of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, my I.T. band became inflamed and sore. With only one month before race day, I could hardly run 3 miles without the pain reducing me to a walk. This created a significant problem for me! I had trained for five months to finish the 26.2 mile course, and now I was afraid I might not even be able to start it. Not knowing for sure what to do, I contacted a friend of mine who was a physical therapist, and he wrapped my left knee in a special tape that allowed me to run pain free, and start the race I so desperately wanted to finish. With this medical help I was able to hit the road running, and one month (and 5 hours later) I crossed the finish line and received my Mickey Mouse medal.

As I worked my way toward the finish line in the later stages of last year's race, I began to think about three people -- the same three people who were my inspiration for running last year's race. The first person I thought of was Brandy McCarty. Brandy is a friend of mine whose wife passed away last summer after a valiant struggle with lymphoma. Second, I thought of Abby Riggs. Abby is a beautiful four year old little girl who attends our church who was struggling through the middle stages of her aggressive chemotherapy treatment as she battled leukemia. Third, I thought of Doris Moorman. Doris and her husband are the parents of two high school children and members of our church. Doris is also receiving treatment for leukemia. I thought of these three people as I worked my way toward the finish line, because last year I was running for them . . . raising money for blood cancer research as a part of the Team in Training program with the LLS of America.

As I thought about them and as I reflected on my experience in training for the marathon, I saw a distant parallel. All three women had more of the "race" of life left to run. All three had a physical ailment that threatened to take them out of the race they so desperately wanted to run. Because of this, all three were receiving medical treatment so they could get back on the course and finish the race. My involvement with Team in Training was simply an attempt to make sure that the doctors treating these women (and millions more like them) would have the resources necessary to offer the best care possible through the advances of modern research. The hope of my Team in Training teammates was all the same . . . help our friends run the race.

As I sit here today, some seven months later, I am reminded that each of these three ladies have done just that. Abby Riggs (just four years old) made it through the most difficult stages of chemotherapy and (though she is not out of the woods yet) is still in the race. Doris has continued to progress through treatment and saw her son graduate from high school this spring. And Brandy's wife Hayley? She finished her race last year. Jesus Christ received her home and placed around her neck the medal of eternal life.

My experience last year was very positive with Team in Training. They are an organization that truly exists to help people overcome the obstacle of blood cancer by raising funds for research and patient care. The truth is that 105,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Leukemia this year alone, and nearly 60,000 Americans will die from the disease this year. Survival rates for this disease have improved dramatically since 1960, but there is still more that can be done, and contributions to research are some of the best ways to pursue long term solutions to this disease.

This year, I am once again serving with Team in Training . . . this time both as a mentor and a runner. I will be training for the 2010 Disney World Marathon in January, but also helping coach 10 other participants in their fundraising goal. As I prepare for this run, I want to once again give you all the opportunity to partner with me in this noble cause.

My fundraising goal (set by Team in Training) is $2,800 and all gifts are Tax Deductible. I would like to ask you each to consider giving financially on my behalf to this program. You can do so by giving online here via this website, or by mailing me a check made out to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and mail to:

Mark Robinson

500 Terrace Place

Norman, OK 73069

I really appreciate you taking the time to consider supporting me in this adventure. Together we can make a significant difference in the fight against blood cancer. Please feel free to contact me at mark.wildwood@gmail.com if you have questions. Thanks again for your interest!

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

Sincerely,

Mark Robinson