Diego has decided to shave his head to help me fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Team in Training!!! Diego has been growing his curls for a while now, in the hopes of growing an “afro”, and as you can see in the pic, he almost got it…however; he offered to shave it once I reach my fundraising goal of $3,000, and I took his offer right away!

Diego is not foreign to the idea of being bald. He had to shave his head when he was having chemotherapy for about 8 months, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009. Since then, this is the longest he’s had his hair! As you might know, he is my hero and inspiration to reach out and do our part in this long battle against blood cancers.

Please help me reach my goal by March 17th, the sooner I get there, the sooner we will see him without his charming curls!

I am really counting on your support to accomplish this challenge; together we can all do it!!

On the day I reach my goal, Diego will shave his head and I will post the recording on my website and Facebook for all of you to see and celebrate one more challenge done!!

I cannot thank you enough for your enthusiasm and support!

"The fight against cancer isn't up to somebody else.

It's up to me. It's up to you. It's up to every single one of us.

Every time you give, you have the power to accelerate collaborative cancer research to save lives now. We can't waste another minute.

We can't lose another life. This is where the end of cancer begins..."

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The above reflects the opinion of the author and may not represent the views of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. www.lls.org

"Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team"...

And I need YOU on my team!

Dear friends, family, all,

Believe it or not, it has been a year already since the last time I asked for your support to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)...and true to my word, I am back, asking for your help again and ready to start training and add to my bike odometer another 1,500 miles in about 4 months! This time I am back in the Team as a mentor. A mentor in the TNT riding team is a support staff that helps the coaches and the other team members during rides, fundraising efforts, etc. So, I will be passing along the knowledge, enthusiasm and support I acquired last year as a participant. That means too harder work on the road and more time commitment. This way, my mission this year becomes a little bit more challenging!

It was 2008 when I first became involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)

when I signed up to run a half marathon. Since then I have ran a few more races including a marathon. Also, since then our lives have changed. Diego, my son, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2009 when he was 13. He is now 16, a healthy junior in high school taking the SAT and planning for his senior year!

Our family feels very fortunate and know for a fact that all the research and efforts made by the LLS have played a part in Diego's recovery.

This year I have signed up again to complete a cycling event, it is a century ride around Lake Tahoe in California (100 miles). Needless to say, I NEED YOUR SUPPORT both to help me reach my fundraising goal and your encouragement to get to the finish line!

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help STOP leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. This is possible with your help!

I am completing this event in honor of my son Diego Gomes and of Diego Perez, our friends' son, also in memory of Regina Johson, my co-worker Yashakia's aunt and all individuals who are battling blood cancers.

These people are my real heroes, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. I cannot THANK YOU enough for your support!

YOUR DONATION IS 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Take a moment to read The FACTS...

1. Every 60 seconds someone in America dies from cancer. www.standup2cancer.org.

2. 1 out of every 3 people will have cancer at some point during their lifetime, and 1 in 4 will lose their life to the disease. www.ghchealth.com.

3. Within five years, cancer will surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death, according to the American Hospital Association.

4. An estimated 80 million people have health insurance insufficient to cover the costs of a catastrophic illness such as cancer. www.ghchealth.com.

5. Some 75 percent of all cancers develop in those over 55, but notable exceptions include childhood leukemia, testicular and brain cancers - which mainly strike young people and have been increasing at an alarming rate. www.ghchealth.com.

6. Recent National Cancer Institute studies have linked: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and exposure to solvents, oils, and greases; elevated risks for multiple myeloma among men and women employed in the textile and plastic industries; and lymphoma among laboratory workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. www.ghchealth.com.

7. Since 1950, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44 percent; the incidence of breast cancer and male colon cancer by about 60 percent; testicular, prostate and kidney by 100 percent; and other cancers, such as malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma and some lymphomas, by over 100 percent. www.ghchealth.com .

8. In the time it took you to read this fact sheet, another two people in the United States have died of cancer

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL:

Querida familia, amigos y todos,

Aunque parezca mentira, ya pasó un año desde la última vez que les pedí su apoyo para recaudar fondos para la Sociedad de Leucemia y Linfoma (LLS)! Y, si no me equivoco, como les dije cuando terminé la carrera el año pasado, este 2012 lo haré nuevamente. Ya estoy lista para comenzar a entrenar e iniciar mi campaña de recaudación de fondos. Esta vez me he inscrito en el equipo como “líder”. Un líder en el TNT es una persona de apoyo a los entrenadores y al resto del equipo para lo que puedan necesitar durante los entrenamientos y fuera, o sea, estaré dedicando más tiempo y esfuerzos a la causa. Este año ya tengo experiencia acumulada y casi 2.000kms recorridos en mi bici, decidí que vale la pena compartirla si puedo ser útil a más personas.

Comencé a participar en la sociedad de LLS en 2008 cuando me inscribí para correr una media maratón y con la ayuda de muchos de uds lo logre! Desde entonces he corrido muchas otras carreras y encontrado otro tipo de desafios...

En marzo del 2009 mi hijo Diego fue diagnosticado a los 13 años con linfoma de Hodgkin, un tipo de cáncer que ataca el sistema linfático. Hoy en día Diego tiene 16 años y está en el penúltimo año de secundaria. Nos sentimos muy afortunados y sabemos que las investigaciones y esfuerzos de la Sociedad de Leucemia y Linfoma jugaron un rol importante en el tratamiento y cura de Diego.

Esta vez, me he inscrito nuevamente para participar en una carrera de bicicleta de ciento y sesenta kilómetros alrededor del lago Tahoe en California. Cuento con tu ayuda para llegar a la meta que me he propuesto! La locura de entrenar y montar los 160 kms corre de mi parte!

Todos en el equipo estamos entrenando para encontrar una cura y terminar con la leucemia, linfoma, linfoma de Hodgkin y mieloma; créeme que es posible con TU AYUDA!

Voy a participar en esta carrera en honor a mi hijo Diego, Diego Perez y todas las personas que están luchando contra el cáncer. Todos ellos son mis héroes e inspiración, y necesitamos tu ayuda para alcanzar la meta final: una cura.

Por favor haz una donación para apoyarme en Team In Training y contribuir a la causa de la Sociedad de Leucemia y Linfoma.

Visita mi página web a menudo para enterarte de mi progreso en el entrenamiento.

MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS por tu contribución!

Con todo mi agradecimiento, Pinky

Take a moment to read The FACTS...

1. Every 60 seconds someone in America dies from cancer. www.standup2cancer.org.

2. 1 out of every 3 people will have cancer at some point during their lifetime, and 1 in 4 will lose their life to the disease. www.ghchealth.com.

3. Within five years, cancer will surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death, according to the American Hospital Association.

4. An estimated 80 million people have health insurance insufficient to cover the costs of a catastrophic illness such as cancer. www.ghchealth.com.

5. Some 75 percent of all cancers develop in those over 55, but notable exceptions include childhood leukemia, testicular and brain cancers - which mainly strike young people and have been increasing at an alarming rate. www.ghchealth.com.

6. Recent National Cancer Institute studies have linked: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and exposure to solvents, oils, and greases; elevated risks for multiple myeloma among men and women employed in the textile and plastic industries; and lymphoma among laboratory workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. www.ghchealth.com.

7. Since 1950, the overall cancer incidence has increased by 44 percent; the incidence of breast cancer and male colon cancer by about 60 percent; testicular, prostate and kidney by 100 percent; and other cancers, such as malignant melanoma, multiple myeloma and some lymphomas, by over 100 percent. www.ghchealth.com .

8. In the time it took you to read this fact sheet, another two people in the United States have died of cancer