Racing to Save Lives

8/17/08 Yesterday we were at Kelly Drive and I was able to complete my personal longest distance at 16 miles. The last few miles brought some muscles to my attention that I did not know existed, but I did finish and am very happy with my performance. When the muscles start getting angry with me, I start thinking about how lucky I am to be able to run at all, and that helps me get through and re-focus. The angry muscles just serve as a reminder that I am ALIVE and well enough physically to FEEL things that some simply cannot.

As you can see, I have officially now exceeded my fundraising goal. YAY!!! Every dollar raised now icing on the cake!

Thank you to friends, family and businesses that have stepped up to show their support--financially as well as emotionally--in this worthy cause. I thank each and every one of you.

Stay tuned, and...

GO TEAM!

The miracle is not that she will finish.

The miracle is that she had the courage to start.

Welcome to my web site! I'm training to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC which will take place on October 26, 2008. This will be my very first marathon, in the year that I hit the big 4-0!! My participation in the event will be as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training 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, but in particular for Mary Jo Musselman of Toms River, NJ who is a survivor in remission of myelogenous leukemia. She was diagnosed at age 40. In her honor I will run my first marathon, at age 40. Mary Jo, and others like her, are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

By becoming a participant in TNT, I have agreed to raise a minimum of $2,800, but hope to raise at least $4,000. This money will fund valuable research and patient aid programs in accordance with the Society's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The support I receive from you will directly benefit patient care and research (75% of donated funds go towards the Society's core mission), and help me reach my goal of raising $4,000. It will also help thousands of people suffering from blood cancer. Together we can and will make a difference! Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. Your donation is 100% tax deductible and goes a long way towards research and patient services. If you would like to send a check, please email me at darcissa@hotmail.com for more information. I welcome you to pass this website and my information onto anyone you know who might be able to help in this fight against blood cancers. If your company has a Matching Gifts program, please be sure to request they match your generous donation to The Lukemia and Lymphoma Society, or forward me any paperwork they require be completed.

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