My Fundraising Page

THANKS FOR DONATING! HOWEVER, IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT US, PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO DONATE TO JERICIA TO HELP US HIT OUR TOTAL DONATION GOALS. Thanks, Brett

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to our Team In Training home page!

To read our updates, please scroll down!

A couple of months ago we got this wild idea to run in the Houston Marathon.

We have always had a soft spot for The Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society. Those of you in Omaha may remember Donavon throwing a pie in Jericia's face in order to help raise money for LLS. Donavon was a 1st grader who was "randomly" picked from the winning class to throw a pie at the sponsor teacher's face - who just happened to be mom.

We decided it only made sense to run with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team In Training. Both of us have lost close people to cancer. We are raising funds as we train to help stop cancer from taking more lives.

We are completing the Houston Marathon in memory of some special people in our lives. These people fought the battle with cancer with grace and courage. These are the people why we are giving up our Friday evenings and Saturday mornings for six months! They are our inspiration.

Paul Peterson: Paul was a family friend, an awesome dad and one heck of a fan of his family. Never at a loss for words, Paul was first stricken with tongue cancer (having never used tobacco products) which required losing 3/4th of his tongue -- it slowed down his speech, but didn't touch his spirit. While battling for over 2 years, his family always came first and his positive attitude was infectious.

Clare Dierking: Brett's Grandma was among many things a great seamstress and quilter. Even as she was battling cancer, she never gave up and never stopped being a positive influence on everyone around her. While the chemo had taken the feeling from her fingers, she quilted the most lovely blanket as a gift to Brett.

Al Kaasch: Jericia's Grandpa was always kind and had a listening ear. Even as he battled lung cancer, he had a smile and a hug. Grandpa never complained even though the road was not easy. He was an inspiration to look at life positively.

Patricia Brinster: Jericia's Mom was given six weeks to live when she first found out she had cancer. She fought to live for her family and turned that six weeks into six months. Mom's smile never faded during this time. Mom was a fighter and we too want to carry on the fight.

These 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 our participation in Team Inraining and help advance

LLS's mission.

We hope you will visit our web site often.

Be sure to check back frequently to see our progress.Brett will be the one running and smiling. Jericia will be the one running wishing she was having a pie thrown in her face.

Thanks for your support!

Brett and Jericia

October 13: words of Jericia

Another friend of ours lost a loved one to cancer this past week. A friend of mine from New Braunfels, Dana, lost her amazing mom to cancer. Bonnie had an amazing spirit. She could take pictures that were breath taking. As anyone who has watched this disease drain the life out of the one you love, you know how helpless you feel...when you are that person's child, you heart breaks as you watch your SuperWoman fade......and you feel like there is nothing you can do to help....so I continue to run....

October 4: words from Jericia

Our Couch Robert emailed the following today:

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Most cancer survivors would tell you that their cancer was a life-changing event. Luckily, most of us will not undergo this experience, but TNT is also a life changing event for you whether or not you ever run/walk another marathon because your decision to recommit to the program is a most unselfish act for which you can be forever proud. Your training is hard and your fundraising is hard, but keep in mind what your honored patients and others have endured and are enduring, and it will make these challenges seem a little less daunting.

I have to agree with him. I would also add is all the words of support and encouragement we get from our friends and relatives. The next three weeks our long runs are one 10 mile run and two 12 mile run. We also have a lot more fundraising to do. Both seem overwhelming! Thank you for your continuous support.

October 3: update from Jericia

We are still running! We found this cool app for my phone that can track our runs called RunKeeper. Check out what we did last Saturday: http://bit.ly/fWdem and http://bit.ly/a28hu

I was still learning how to use the application, so our 10 mile run was cut. The program is a great motivator!

This Wednesday is a big day for us: it is our recommitment day! Yikes! That means we are selling our bodies to LLS that we will indeed raise the goal of $4000. Since we are nearly half way there and have had such overwhelming support, we are going to commit! Please continue to help and support us. We definitely cannot do this without you!

On a different note: Grandma Mayhew is doing better! She was moved to a rehabilitation hospital this past week! Go Team!

September 21:

Thank you! Thank you! The Havekost Hootenanny was successful! Thank you for all of you who showed your support by donating and attending our function. We enjoyed hearing the stories people had shared of their cancer heroes. We have the banner signed with names hanging in our house to inspire us and keep us going! Ten miles is not easy! But our long runs are nothing compared to what the people on our banner have endured.

We do not have our final numbers yet. Currently we are shy of $500! Thank you!

The Hootenanny still continues! There are ways you can still order and help.

We will continue to take Southern Living orders until Wednesday, September 23rd. Below it the link for the catalog:

Call or email us and we can take your order.

If you want Tastefully Simple, You can order online! The link is below:

Also, Creative Memories has a link to help our cause:

please visit http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/lbergeron

and mention Jericia Havekost as the "Host". 30% of the sales will be donated to LLS.

We have commented to each other that we can’t give up now! You have all invested so much into us! The pressure! Now we have to reach our goal in miles and dollars. Thank you for all the words of support. They truly do help us!

Thank you!

Septemeber 15: Words from Jericia

Hope all of you are getting ready to attend our Havekost Hootenanny this weekend! The fundraiser to raise money to help find a cure for cancer hits closer each day.

Remember a few Saturdays back I commented on the cheer of "Go Team" that we say during training and that I would rather say "Go Big Red". That same morning I thought of another hero in my life that has battled cancer with such grace and a constant positive attitude. Great Grandma Mayhew has battled cancer on and off over the last three years. Every phone call and every visit I have with her is with a positive outlook. Grandma's smile and laughter fills my heart. As a HUGE Husker fan, one of her favorite sayings is "Go Big Red!"

This past Saturday was challenging to get up at 5:45 in the morning. It was raining and I was not feeling well due to allergies. Literally the only thing that got me out of bed was thinking how even when Grandma is in pain and discomfort, she continues on. In all honesty, as in the words of our coach, if I had the choice of running seven miles in the rain or going to a chemotherapy session, the choice is easy.

Tonight Grandma is in ICU and things are not looking good. "Go Team Grandma Mayhew!"

September 9: Words from Jericia

Today was a good day from our training and fundraising aspect! First of all I went to the mail box and it was like Christmas! We had four letters with donations! Thank you Jason & Angie, Paula, Kathy, and Grandpa! We also have received two other donations via mail earlier. Thank you Rich and Cate and Helene! We cannot express enough our gratitude for all the donations we are receiving. With these donations we are at 19% of our goal! Thank you!

Also, today our son Donavon clearly has come to the realization we are serious about running this marathon. He is willing to help me train by riding his bike in front of me. He would be my own personal Wii trainer that I follow, so to speak. This evening was going to be our first bike/run together.

Today, when I was eating lunch with Donavon, I told him I needed to go to the grocery store this afternoon. With the rain and dreary day here in Houston, I told Donavon that I rather go home and read a book. Donavon informed me that I had a choice! If I didn't go to the grocery store, then I would have to go tonight. If I went tonight, I couldn't run. So.....I needed to decide if I wanted to run this afternoon or tonight!

Then tonight at dinner Brett and I are debating if we wanted to run 3 or 4 miles tonight. Donavon said, "You will never win the gold if you don't train hard!" He seemed a little disappointed in me when I told him I was just trying to finish the 26.2 miles, not win the gold. Tonight's run was easier with Donavon encouraging me while on his bike.

August 29: Words from Jericia:

Look at what we got! Our cool running caps! We had to meet certain fundraising criteria to earn them. Thank you for helping us achieve them! We appreciate all the donations we have received! They say they are "cool" running caps....I hope that means they will take away the Houston heat and humidity! I know good luck with that!

August 29: Brett announcing:

September 19th: Open House/Havekost Hootinanny

*Vendors from Tastefully Simple, Southern Living, Creative Memories, Mary Kay and Premier Designs Jewelry.

* Opportunity Drawing (not a "raffle", those aren't legal in Texas apparently)

* Donation opportunities

Today's run was a 6 mile run and FINALLY the humidity is starting to drop a little. The run was actually not bad at all and I ran with Tammi the last 2 miles; she runs too fast for me, but she pushed me enough to finish very strong.

August 29: Brett speaking here.

Week # 5 is behind us now with a 6-mile run this Saturday. The miles are progressing but I know that the running is the easy part when compared to our Honored Team Members are either going through or went through in their life's journey. Go Team!

For those that have donated, we say Thank You! For those who're following our progress, we ask that you keep us motivated. And for everyone else, think of giving, supporting or helping out in some way shape or form - you're blessed and pass it on.

Also, save the date: Sept 19th. Open House, Vendors and Opportunity Drawings at our place. More details to follow soon.

August 22: A few words from Jericia

Go Team! We are in our fourth week of training. Go Team! is a new saying I am learning to say. I am more accustomed to saying Go Big Red! Today was a baby milestone for me. I ran six miles today! As I got up at six this morning with all my men still sleeping, I thought, "Why am I doing this?" As we started running, I am hearing, "Go Team!" from people on our team for motivation. (Again hearing Go Big Red! Saturday mornings sounds much more appealing!)

As I ran the miles I noticed more people said to me, "Go Team!" that were not on our "team". It started to go through my thick head that my jersey means a lot to others. OK, not my sweaty jersey itself, but what it stands for. The TEAM in Training has made direct differences in people's lives. One mom told us how The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society paid for her daily parking at MD Anderson. That does not sound like much at first: but if a family is there every day of the month and each day costs $5 for parking, it does not take a math genius to see what a financial help that was for the family.

Thank you again for all of those that have donated to our cause and to all the words of support and encouragement you have sent us. We appreciate it! The road is still long, but I think I may be able to do it! Go Team!