Team Wombat completes the 2008 Disney Marathon

You can help find the cure!!

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, I have been involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma society and their Team in Training program in various capacities since my first season beginning back in 2007.

I'll admit that when I originally participated in Team in Training, I was motivated primarily by a desire to get in shape and to challenge myself. It certainly did that! When I first signed up, I didn't (think) that I knew anyone whose life had been impacted blood cancer....

However, as I began the fundraising process, and running with my new teammates, I began to hear all kinds of stories -- awful stories -- from friends and teammates alike. Stories about what it's like to live day-to-day knowing that you have cancer, or that it might return at any time. About children suffering horribly through multiple rounds of aggresive chemotherapy. And about the lives of cherished friends and family members cruelly cut short. Suddenly, blood cancers seemed to be everywhere.

When I successfuly completed my first marathon on January 18, 2008, I ran that day with a shirt with no fewer than ten names on it.. individuals that I ran in honour or in memory of. Sadly, six of those ten are no longer with us. I cried like a baby at the finish line. This had became personal.

Since that first race I've come back for multiple seasons as a fundraising participant, as a fundraising mentor, and, most recently, for three seasons as an assistant coach. Since 2008, I've run four actual marathons and a half-marathon, and more than 100 marathons worth of miles in training, all in support of Team in Training.

However, about a year ago, I burnt out. My feet were beat up, and it was time to hang up the shoes and get fat for awhile - a task I accomplished with gusto. I've still been active, in a way, since the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has become my primary charity, and I've continued to support them through my own giving. It's sure easier to write a cheque than to train for a marathon!

Many of you will also know, that since 2010, I have been the Associate Director for Shared Resources for the VCU Massey Cancer Center, and so have had an opportunity to see first hand how your donations to the LLS directly supports critical cancer research. I am not myself a cancer researcher, but I am familiar through my association with Massey with the work of several outstanding cancer researchers. To single out just one scientist, VCU is very fortunate to employ Dr. Steven Grant, who is renowned worldwide for his leadership in developing new strategies to combat leukemia and other hematologic malignancies. Dr. Grant's work is supported, in part, by a grant from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

So now it's time to get back on the road! It's time to participate once again as a fundraiser, so that my own efforts and donations can be multiplied by your own generosity. I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well. And, holy cow, maybe get in shape a bit again! I'm fat fat fat, and this race will be hard, make no mistake about it.

Please make a donation today in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures!

Please note that I pledge that I will in 2012 make personal contributions to the LLS sufficient to offset the entire cost of my participation in the San Diego Marathon and the adminstrative overhead of the TnT program. I'm not trying to get a free vacation! I've kicked things off with a personal donation of $500. So please, rest assured that *your* donation will go entirely towards the research and patient support mission of the LLS!

Thank you very much for your generous donation,

Paul

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This year I will be running in honour or in memory of the following individuals.

In Honour:

• Nancy Oleske
• Raymond Sauer

In Memory:

• Keith Keller
• Dolores Staschak
• Asa Keller
• Gene Keller
• Tom Patterson
• Steve Hanberg

Please let me know if you have a loved one affected by cancer that you would like me to run in honour or memory of. I will be honoured to include their name on my jersey on race day.