My Fundraising Page

I wish you could have been there with me. Wouldn't that be great- skip the training- runs in the heat, push ups and lots of variations, runs in the rain... and jump to an incredible event weekend? I was blown away by our welcome into Moscone Center where hundreds of TNT honorees, coaches, captains, and mentors decked out in their craziest purple and green (wigs, boas, sequins, face paint, etc) were cheering their heads off. They filled the entry hall and lined the staircase and encircled us in the lobby below. 5000 TNT Nike participants partook of an amazing inspiration dinner including Joan Benoit Samuelson (first woman to win Gold in the first women's Olympic marathon), a very funny runner dude, and an honoree who touched us all with her story of her mother, father, and her own battles with lymphoma and her profound gratitude for every individual's donation. The 2009 event alone raised over 14 million dollars. In six years, this event has raised over 92 million dollars. It is no wonder that we are making progress towards curing blood cancers.

And the next morning at 6 AM, there I was in Union Square ready to go. Thank you David Kahn for the good advice about starting with the corral for my optimistic goal time. It is a treat to run through the usually congested streets of San Francisco and see them come alive in a different way with 5000 runners and walker and cheering friends and family and race day entertainment. I felt strong, positive, and supported by so many. Joe and the kids cheered me on at 3 different locations during the race and met me at the finish afterwards. Ari and Samuel ran alongside briefly and snapped some photos (coming). Carl, in his XS TNT singlet, charmed the crowds shouting "Go Team" and "I run" and he did and Joe took off after him. My coaches ran with me at times which was very helpful. I spoke with brother Rob in Paris on his birthday and sang to him. He was wondering if other folks doing the marathon were talking on their cell phones... Bye Rob. People I didn't know cheered for me by name (written on my shirt). And we runners encouraged each other.

I knew if Steve could gut out 6 rounds of chemotherapy, I could surely rock this 26.2 miles. And that definitely motivated me going around Lake Merced- (a place I had not such fond memories of going around twice in our 20 mile training run). I thought of my personal and team honorees. And I was staying on pace, for my goal time and my optimistic goal time too! Around mile 23, I realized that I was going to finish STRONG. Coach Hau ran a good part of mile 25 with me and Coach Tim ran the last bit before that last bit you run on your own. It is awesome to dig deep when you're bone tired and find a bit more strength and a smile and the presence to savor the moment. I am truly blessed to have had the support of so many people and a great organization to make this day possible . Go TEAM!

ORIGINAL- stop if you've been to the site before

Let me begin with a story. I heard a conversation between a fellow parent and our Rabbi about the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. I could not resist jumping in and encouraging participation in what for me has been a remarkable experience. I asked the Dad in which event he might participate. He replied that he had actually been diagnosed with lymphoma last week and hoped to join the cycle team after his chemo.

Steve Citron-Pousty is father to Fay, who is one of my son Samuel's classmates. He is a mensch to the nth degree and he has large cell lymphoma. And he has three great kids and a lovely wife.

Thanks to all of the generous past donations to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, he knew that he had the support of this organization in his fight against cancer. I told him the story of my experience on the cycle team in 2006 with my amazing coach and honoree Ed . Ed is a below the knee amputee and lymphoma survivor who has completed numerous TNT cycle events. He uncharacterisically missed our last few training rides but was with us and ready to go for our Seattle to Portland double century. He wisely encouraged us at times to hold back, reminding us that this was an endurance event and not a race. After we crossed the finish line in Portland and took our pictures, Ed disclosed that he had relapsed in the last month just shy of his magic 5 years cancer free. He had finished radiation treatments just 10 days before the event. He completed the event because he wanted to be there for us, because it was our event that he had trained us for, and he didn't want his illness to diminish it. An amazing man. I encouraged Steve to be an honoree for summer team and he could participate in an event when he was ready.

I saw Steve more recently and he says to me, "Ed says hi!". It turns out that Steve was chatting at the honoree breakfast with some folks explaining how he got there, "this woman at my synagouge... and this story about this guy with an amputee and lymphoma who did his ride just after treatment...". And Ed says to him, "That's me." And they had a conversation about lymphoma. They have the same kind. They shared discovery stories and more.

Steve is upbeat , twittering and playing iTouch games to pass the time during chemo when he can. He is hoping to getting on his bike and keep doing what he needs to do to beat cancer. He is fortunate that advances have enabled him to have chemo which is a 3/10 on the chemo difficulty scale according to his oncologist. And he has Rituxan , an essential new drug whose development was largely funded by the LLS, to help him.

This is your chance to help him and others beat cancer. When I heard his diagnosis, I knew that I would be participating with the Summer Run Team for the Nike Women's Marathon. If you have not donated to the LLS this year, please give generously. Your funds make a difference in the lives of those you know and those you don't. If your company has matching corporate gifts, please let me know. If you supported me earlier for my first marathon, I am very grateful. If you are in a position to be so generous, this is really a deserving cause and you are welcome to give again:)

Thanks!

Go Steve! Go Team!

Elizabeth