June 17, 2010

As you know the race is over! Less than two weeks ago I ran 26.2 miles in the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon with Team in Training. The run itself was awesome! The whole weekend was great, with people from all over the continent there to support LLS and blood cancer research. In addition to the 4,000 Team in Training Full and Half Marathoners, all entry fees for the race were donated to LLS. It was an amazing experience and I'm already looking forward to my next one!

Thanks so much to all the people who have supported my journey and my cause! It's been awesome to have you all behind me, and I can't imagine having done it without you. I am happy to have met some amazing people during this experience and learn how blood cancers have changed their lives. It's an overwhelming feeling to know that you and I have been able to contribute to a foundation which works daily to make their lives easier and to create a world where blood cancers are manageable if not completely erased.

I do have just a little way to go on my fundraising. I have until July 4th to finish raising the money. I know my friends have given so generously, I would rather that instead of giving more you pass my story along to people you know and ask them to give, whatever they can. The $10 you spend on lunch one day could go instead toward finding a cure. I put my whole entire being behind this cause, it's amazing and worth every moment of our time, money and energy.

Thanks to everyone for reading and being a part of this amazing experience for me!

All my Love and Gratitude, Cathi

Racing to Save Lives

May 2010

First thing- a HUGE thanks to those of you who have already contributed to my fundraising! Your support means so much and inspires me to work harder! I wanted to let you know that if you are interested in donating but do not want to use the online donation system you are welcome to mail me a contribution.

My address is: 1920 Oak Ave., Niceville, FL 32578

I also want to take this time to convey how important this cause is to me. Leukemia, Lymphoma and other blood related cancers have affected so many people, a lot of them children. From family to friends to members of my community who have struggled with this life changing infliction, I feel overwhelmed with desire to help to heal & support them and their families. It can feel overwhelming to try and tackle all the world's problems so it is nice to have this one way to try and fix just one of those things. I do this by running and by asking you to support not only my run, but my cause & my friends, by donating anything you can to help. It feels good, believe me :) My commitment is just that, a commitment. The $2900 I have committed to raise will come out of my pocket if necessary, and I hope to raise more than the minimum if possible!

What I'm doing:

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. On June 6, 2010 I will be participating in the San Diego Marathon. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. My commitment is to train for and run 26.2 miles and to raise $2,900 to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its battle against leukemia. Leukemia is the number one cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 14 and takes the lives of 50,000 each year. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

As you may know, I ran the Disney Marathon in January of 2010 with Team in Training. It was such an amazing accomplishment and I know I was able to make a difference just by running, so I decided to do it again!! Team in Training is such an awesome organization supporting a VERY important cause, I am humbled to once again be a part of that. And all I have to do is run 26 miles... :)

When I ran the Disney Marathon one of my Honored Teammates was Jason Thompson. At 27 he was diagnosed with aggressive Cancer. He passed away a few weeks after that run so I am running this marathon and raising funds & awareness in Honor of his life and in his Memory.

I am asking you to support me in my project by contributing as generously as you can to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on my behalf. Your contribution will fund the research being done to find a cure. Leukemia research is considered to be the window to the treatment and cure for ALL cancers. Significant progress has been made in the treatment of the disease and researchers are now optimistic that they will find a cure within ten years! INCREASED FUNDING IS THE KEY!!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

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

With Love & Appreciation, Cathi