Pedaling One Mile at a Time for Mary Elizabeth

Hi Family and Friends!

I am going to put my body to the test. If this is your first introduction to THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY'S TEAM IN TRAINING program, I hope that you will read on and join me to make a difference in the lives of ALL cancer patients and their families.

I'm training to participate in THE FLETCHER FLYER CENTURY 100-MILE BIKE RIDE in Fletcher, NC on June 7, 2009 and have pledged to raise at least $2,500 for the LLS.

I'm sure a lot of you are asking yourself why in the world I or anyone else would want to cycle 100 miles in one day, but the answer is simple. The members of my TEAM and I are all doing something we love while raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

For me, it is more personal since leukemia has touched my life. A little over two years ago, one of my coworkers was diagnosed with this blood cancer. It was and, still is, incomprehensible to me how this could happen; she was only 24 and was apparently healthy until the day of her diagnosis. I am sad to say that only a few months later, leukemia claimed Mary Elizabeth. Her positive outlook on life during her battle with leukemia is a great inspiration to me and many others. I want to see the day when there is a cure so that other families would not have to suffer the same loss as Mary Elizabeth's family experienced.

Therefore, I'm doing this event with TEAM IN TRAINING in memory of Mary Elizabeth to help find the cure for leukemia and, ultimately, all blood cancers. This is so important to me that my fiance, Andrew, a champion cyclist, is donating his time and energy to LLS by serving as our TEAM's coach.

Won't you help, too?

PLEASE consider a donation of $25, $50, $75, $100 or more...and remember that NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL...whatever you can afford will make a difference. Here's how...

* Make a secure on-line donation using your CREDIT CARD. Just click the Donate Now! button on this web page and follow the directions. You will automatically receive a receipt via e-mail for your generosity!

* Or, if you would prefer, make a donation by writing a CHECK made out to the LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY and mail it to:

Jennifer Martin

7512 Brightridge Road

Chesterfield, VA 23832

ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR DONATION NO LATER THAN APRIL 17, that would be great to insure that I can participate on the TEAM.

My training is HARD...I won't lie. Right now, I am cycling up to 30 miles two nights a week after work and cranking out 50, 60 and up to 75 miles on Saturdays...cold weather, frosty fingers, numb toes be damned! The 100 mile ride must be completed in one day on what I am told is a "gently-rolling" course outside of Asheville, NC (Yeah, sure!) It is the hardest thing I have ever done, but is nothing compared to what Mary Elizabeth and others with cancer must endure. They are the true heroes. So, I am committed to pedaling 100 miles and raising the funds if I can save just one life!

We all like happy endings. I hope you can help me to raise the funds to defeat these cancers. Times are tough and the current economic crisis makes LLS researchers even more dependent on the generous contributions of donors like YOU to help them find the cures to save lives.

The stark reality is this: every 5 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies. Your contribution will advance the life-saving efforts made by LLS researchers who are revolutionizing the way cancer and other non-cancer diseases are treated and cured. YOU can offer HOPE with any donation you make, so please give as generously as you can.

Do visit my web site often to see my progress. and kindly forward this website to anyone you think might want to help:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/fletchr09/jcmartin

Thank you for taking the time to read my site and for your support during my training!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Meade