Update for January 23, 2011:

My training (and fundraising) is now complete, and I want to thank everyone -- whose names are listed below, or not (I know who you are!!) -- for all of your support and encouragement!!! Together, we raised over $2,000 toward eradicating blood cancers and helping those and their families who contract these diseases.

Please know that each and every contribution, prayer and word of encouragement makes a difference! Just as the lives of cancer patients are forever changed by cancer, I hope that my life - and yours - is also changed going forward as we discover a new-found appreciation of the challenges faced by those who have come face-to-face with cancer.

My life has certainly been changed by the rigors and discipline of training for a marathon. While I consider myself pretty self-disciplined and a natural "goal-setter" in most areas of my life, tackling the physical and mental challenges required to train for my first marathon has caused me to focus as never before on my training goals, and to cross physical barriers I thought were impossible.

My just-completed training experience -- 18 weeks of programmed pain and suffering (!) -- is nothing compared to what cancer patients and their families have to undergo for months or even years, as they fight for their lives against blood cancer. Without trivializing their struggles in the least, I see now how hard it is for them to enter into a regimented treatment program, to know what lies before them, to anticipate the progressive stages of treatment (and it's effects on their bodies), and to look beyond the present and hold fast to their vision of a renewed life free of cancer.

Again, thanks to all of you who contributed to the cause!

Rick Pond

January 23

Update for January 23, 2011:

My training (and fundraising) is now complete, and I want to thank everyone -- whose names are listed below, or not (I know who you are!!) -- for all of your support and encouragement!!! Together, we raised over $2,000 toward eradicating blood cancers and helping those and their families who contract these diseases.

Please know that each and every contribution, prayer and word of encouragement makes a difference! Just as the lives of cancer patients are forever changed by cancer, I hope that my life - and yours - is also changed going forward as we discover a new-found appreciation of the challenges faced by those who have come face-to-face with cancer.

My life has certainly been changed by the rigors and discipline of training for a marathon. While I consider myself pretty self-disciplined and a natural "goal-setter" in most areas of my life, tackling the physical and mental challenges required to train for my first marathon has caused me to focus as never before on my training goals, and to cross physical barriers I thought were impossible.

My just-completed training experience -- 18 weeks of programmed pain and suffering (!) -- is nothing compared to what cancer patients and their families have to undergo for months or even years, as they fight for their lives against blood cancer. Without trivializing their struggles in the least, I see now how hard it is for them to enter into a regimented treatment program, to know what lies before them, to anticipate the progressive stages of treatment (and it's effects on their bodies), and to look beyond the present and hold fast to their vision of a renewed life free of cancer.

Again, thanks to all of you who contributed to the cause!

Rick Pond

January 23

A week from today, on Sunday, January 30th, I will face the challenge of running in my first marathon -- The Chevron Houston Marathon.

Thanks for your support!

Rick Pond

December 10, 2010