My Fundraising Page

Hello and Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

My training details are on my blog at:

http://seema-joshi.blogspot.com/

I was first interested in participating in Team in Training as a way to work towards a few of my New Year's Resolutions,

1) Be more active (doing quality things),

2) Get in shape, and

3) in the past few years a few in my friends and family circle were diagnosed with cancer (not leukemia/lymphoma in particular but cancer in general) and I wanted to do something to make cancer research better so that people going through cancer treatment can have a better treatment and a better chance at living their life to the fullest.

This year in particular is more important for us to raise money because cancer does not see recession and these patients need our support more than ever.

I attended the orientation and felt more empowered after learning that I would be helping to find a cure for Leukemia, the #1 deadliest disease for people under the age of 20. Today, 87% of children treated for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia are expected to live normal, healthy lives thanks to the work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The reality is people can get leukemia at any age. In 2009, about 40,440 adults and 3,800 children are expected to develop leukemia. It is most common in people over age 60. The most common types in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CLL). Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of leukemia in children.

I am now training to participate in an endurance event, the Rock and Roll San Diego 1/2 Marathon (yes, that's 13.1 miles!) on May 31 2009. All of us on the Team are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling cancer, but especially for:

My personal honoree:

Jere Carpentier: Diagnosed earlier with Hodgkins Lymphoma, non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and currently diagonosed with carcinoma in January 2009.

Our Team honorees:

Matt Parrott: Diagnosed with B-cell follicular lymphoma in July 2007.

Madison Badger Scherer: Diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in January 2008

Cole Regan: October 22, 2002 - July 28, 2004. Passed away from AML M5 9/11 Chromosome.

South Asian honorees:

http://www.samarinfo.org/patientsmn.asp

(Note: Bone marrow matches in the South Asian community in the US are difficult because not many South Asians are registered in the National Bone Marrow registry. Matches are more likely when donors are of the same race as the recipient.

Please look out for upcoming drives and register with the National Bone Marrow Registry. You could save a life. For more information check out: http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Join_the_Donor_Registry/index.html )

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

As part of my training, I have committed to daily training schedules as well as a change in diet and lifestyle. I know the training is going to test my limits, and I'm willing to make the sacrifice, but knowing that you've donated money to support me is the largest factor that will help motivate me to stay focused and go all the way. After all, I can't let you down!

Please let your family, friends, and coworkers know about my goal and ask them to make a tax-deductible donation by going to my website here.

Even the smallest donation can help make a difference in the lives of those battling cancer.

The Power of your Donation:

$500 : Provides a patient with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma financial aid to support medical treatment and travel to medical appointments for one year.

$500 : Provides 10 patients the opportunity to logon to a webcast and hear the latest information on treatment for their disease.

$200 : Provides funding for a Family Support Group Program for one year where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members mediated by a trained facilitator.

$150 : Provides for 5 patients to make a First Connection with a trained peer volunteer patient/survivor.

$100 : Provides 3 patients access to an informational teleconference.

$100 : Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures

$75 : Covers the cost of one tissue typing test that is used to become a bone marrow donor.

$50 : Covers the cost of one CT scan.

$40 : Covers the cost of sending a comprehensive support and informational packet to the family of a child with cancer.

$35 : Provides transportation expenses for a patient living in the DC metropolitan area to a comprehensive cancer center for treatment.

$25 : Covers the cost of one prescription co-payment.

Or any other amount. Every dollar makes a difference.

The Tax ID number for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is 13-5644916. (Select the Northern California - San Francisco Chapter if that's an option.)

Don't forget to check with your employer to see if they will match your donation! That will immediately double your donation. Check here to see if your employer matches donation:

http://www.matchinggifts.com/lls/

There is usually a form or site that you can submit to the HR department.

Be happy to know that your donations are spent very wisely by LLS. 75% of your donations are used as follows: 27% goes to Patient Services, 26% goes back into research, 17% is used for Public Health Education, another 17% gets applied to Fundraising, 8% is Administrative costs, and 5% is for Professional Education. LLS makes every effort to keep expenses below 25% of their budget, unlike many other non-profit organizations.

If you're making a donation in honor of someone, let me know. I will write their name(s) on my shirt for the race.

I hope you'll visit my site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks so much for your support!

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Thanks for all your donations!!! Keep them coming :)