26.2 for the Cure!

The photo above is me with my friend Greg, who is has been fighting the good fight to kick leukemia's butt since 2004 -- a month and a half before he turned 17. After achieving remission in 2007 after treatment with the drug Gleevec, developed by funds from the Leukemia Society, Greg relapsed a year later. Last year saw Greg having a bone marrow transplant and fighting back to health in the subsequent graft vs. host disease (where the body reacts negatively to the tissue from the donor). In April of this year, the leukemia came back -- but Greg doesn't give up. He has rallied and achieved remission once again.

Well, I don't give up either. The battle for Greg and the other nearly 1 million Americans fighting blood cancers is far from over. In fact, last year my stepmother lost her mother, Lois Jensen, to leukemia. That to me is unacceptable. We need to find the cure NOW, for Greg. For my run teammates and patient Honorees Rodney and Doug, who are currently newly diagnosed with lymphoma and whose courageousness inspires me every single day we're out there training togther. For my teammate Lisa, who is in remission from lymphoma. For Lois. For my friend Lucy's dad, Wojciech Lubieniecki, who passed away last year. And for all the others. Got kids? This disease is the #1 killer of children - and it has to be stopped.

Who are you donating for that has been touched by cancer? I'd love to know their name(s), so I can add them to my training shirt and walk in their honor. Race-walking 26.2 miles is quite a haul, and it's been many months on the trail getting ready -- but these people are the reason why I do what I do. I walk until there's a cure. That's it.

I'll racewalk the Nike Women's Marathon on Oct. 17th, again as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) program. All of us on TNT are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Leukemia Society's mission.

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

Me, my Coaches Haley and Terri, my pacing partner in crime Michelle (L to R), and buddy Rachel, front center

Happy Trails with Patient Honoree Rodney, far left; me, 4th from the left; Honoree in remissionLisa, 2nd from the right. ONE TEAM, ONE CAUSE!

Santa Cruz Summer 2010 Marathon Team - Team in Training

Honorees* Doug, Rodney, and Lisa, front row

*An Honoree is someone that is currently battling or in remission from cancer. They inspire us along our journey and remind us of what we are fighting for!

Honing in on the finish line last year - Inaugural 2009 Kauai Marathon