Sister Pam, daughter Devan (12), Tam and dear friend Sam

Over 22,000 runners and walkers took to the streets of San Francisco for the 8th Nike Women's Marathon & Half Marathon to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: the largest women's marathon in the world. Since the partnership with LLS, Nike and Tiffany & Co., over $118 million dollars has been raisedin eight years for LLS to give people better, longer lives. In the two years Team Nancy has been involved, our support group has raised over $93,000! Losing a loved one hurts but channeling our grief into something positive feels great!

THANK YOU ALL!

Ribbons in white represent those we have lost to cancer; Ribbons in Pink are Survivors

Six months of training and fundraising are coming to a close. Sister's Pam and Tam will board planes bound for San Francisco; one from the east coast and one from the west on Friday, October 14. This day also happens to be Nancy's birthday. Once we reunite, we will take on all the preparations of race weekend, feeling the excitement but also feeling the loss of why we have gathered. We have been supported by hundreds through donations, registering support for what we do. It's more than a foot race, it's a race for quality of life, for better, longer lives and doing what we can to see that a cure can happen in our life time.

Read more on Team Nancy in this story published in the Oregonian.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is giving cancer patients better, longer lives. Hopefully, your loved ones will never need their services.

Each step we take together, gets us closer to a cure!

Losing my beautiful sister Nancy to cancer has broken my heart - our hearts - but it didn't break my spirit as I know a cure is within our reach. Nancy lost her life to this insidious disease on June 22, 2009. Her death (oh how that hurts to even write those words) has increased my resolve to end the pain of those affected by cancer and to fund that cure. This is why I continue to race for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a member of true grit: Team In Training. I have signed up for my 14th race to benefit LLS and my 6th Nike Women's Half-Marathon happening on Sunday, October 16. Nancy joined me across the finish line in 2008. In 2009, I crossed without my Nancy but in 2010, "Team Nancy: Six Sisters Striding for a Cure" made her debut and crossed the finish line with conviction and buckets of tears. The memories are as sweet as they are bitter but hope for a cure and Nancy, push me onward. And we are getting closer to a cure...

In 1960, the survival rate for a child diagnosed with leukemia was a mere 4%. Today, the survival rate is 86% and climbing for the better! While leukemia has the dubious distinction of being the #1 cancer killer of children 0-15, we are closing the gap and saving lives daily!

Please join me and Team Nancy in keeping hope alive for all those affected by blood cancer until that cure is found. Your donation help LLS continue with ground breaking research and making lives better for those undergoing treatment. One day our job will be done but until then, we must continue our work together. Please give what you can as every dollar makes a difference in this game of life.“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Anatole France... And I do believe with your help, we will find that cure!

With heartfelt thanks,

Tam

If you have 4 minutes, please listen to this video. Thank you Sean Cook!

In memory of Nancy - Love you!