Please support our team:

Judy and Alec Farrell

in our Race to Save Lives!

Alec and I would like to thank all of you who so kindly supported us throughout this mission. It was a wonderful experience that allowed us to raise over $9000 for the Leukemia Society. We sincerely appreciate every donation made by all of our

friends and family.

We are also grateful for the generous donation from Lewisboro Physical Therapy and all of their hard work to keep myself and Alec in shape for the event.

In addition, we will always be thankful for the kind heart and generousity of Izi Albanese, owner of Belizzi Restaurant in Mt. Kisco, who gave Lily Restivo a very special day when he opened his restaurant just for Lily and her family so she could enjoy a day of play without fear of getting sick.

We know that the money we raised will be used to help fight blood cancers and we could never have achieved this goal without each and everyone of you.

Thank you!

Judy and Alec

My dad , and Alec's Grandpa, was diagnosed with Lymphatic Leukemia just over a year ago., on Christmas Eve. As a relatively healthy man of 76 who enjoyed playing golf, swimming, riding his bike, and most of all sharing smiles with my mom, his 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and one great grandchild, it was shocking to learn just a few days later that the leukemia had already progressed to Stage 4. With amazing strength and courage, he valiantly attempted to beat this blood cancer with morning kidney dialysis to filter the poison and afternoon chemotherapy to inject yet a different poison. On New Year's Eve, as my mom and I watched fireworks out of the Naples Hospital window, he awoke from his morphine induced peace to tell us, “I don’t want to die.†Two days later, on January 3rd, he passed.

This life altering experience, as well as myself being a cancer survivor, has made me appreciate how fortunate I am to have my health. I am proud to be dedicated to raising awareness and money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, even if it means saving just one life. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services in support of their mission: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

To demonstrate our dedication to this organization, we have joined the Westchester Chapter LLS Team in Training to prepare for an Olympic Triathlon. In addition to training and completing the event this April, we are committed to raising a minimum of $8200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

My Honored Heroes

Our commitment to this event is to honor all those whose lives have been forever affected by these blood diseases. We are dedicating our Olympic Triathlon to the following courageous individuals:

In memory of John O Dell, my dad and Alec's grandpa, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Leukemia the day before Christmas last year. After a valiant and courageous fight, he lost this battle only 10 days later.

In honor of Sue Liberty, my oldest and dearest friend for nearly 40 years, has been actively battling numerous forms of cancer for 4 long years. A single mom of 2 beautiful girls, she has endured countless chemo and radiation treatments, as well as multiple surgeries. However, her spirit and determination continue to amaze me and give me strength to always carry on and train hard- even when feeling defeated.

In honor of John Hurley, a highly respected and dedicated vice-principal at John Jay Middle School. After a couple of weeks of feeling lousy and a prevailing low-grade fever, John was diagnosed with Leukemia. Within days, he underwent grueling chemotherapy treatments which ended just over a year ago.

In honor of Lily Restivo, a very brave and strong 7-year old girl, recently diagnosed with a blood cancer. Like many little girls, Lily enjoys attending school and playing with her friends. However, unlike most, Lily is unable. This past May while Lily was preparing for an ice skating competition in NYC, she began having pains in her legs. After multiple tests, doctors were able to diagnose her condition as Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. After having a permanent port put into her chest, Lily began receiving chemotherapy treatments, which will continue for two years.

How you can help

Our fund raising goal is $8,200. We realize this is a lofty goal, especially in these uncertain economic times, but we are confident that with your assistance and that of other friends and family, we can do it.

To help our honorees and others like them affected by these diseases, we are asking you to make a donation to LLS. Any amount, would be extremely helpful and very much appreciated.

Judy

Update on my training....

12/25 Happy Holidays!!!

• Swim Although this past summer I was unable to swim 6 laps without stopping to rest, I am now swimming a little over 1/2 mile 2 or 3 mornings a week before work.
• Bike I have been attending 2 or 3 spinning classes a week - before work or in the evening. When the roads are not covered with snow and the weather cooperates, I still try to ride 15-20 miles outside on the weekend. However, the recent snow and cold temperatures have put a damper on this lately.
• Run A recent injury has put a halt to my running for a couple of weeks. A tear in my calf muscle needs a little rest time to repair. I am certain that some physical therapy , stretching, and a short break from running will allow it to heal. I look forward to getting back outside to increase my 5 mile runs.
• 2/ 9/10

Alec:

After providing Judy with a lot of support - fund raising as well as training along side her, Alec realized how important this mission is and decided to join the team himself. While he is at least half the age of most of the team, he will also be one of the youngest of the 4000 athletes to participate at the St. Anthony's Triathlon this April.

Upcoming Event....

Thank you to all of you that supported me in the Spin-a-thon Fundraiser at the Saw Mill Club. We raised $1140 that day!!!!

Thank you to Isi Albanese, owner of Bellizzi Restaurant in Mt. Kisco!!!

As a result of Lily's low blood count, contact with others has been limited. Among her wishes which include going to school again so she can see her friends, she had hoped to be able to go to Bellizzi, eat her favorite pizza and play the games. Fortunately for her, and thanks to Isi Albanese, owner of Bellizzi, that wish … and more….came true.

Upon contacting Isi Albanese and explaining Lily’s wish, he couldn’t have been more accommodating. He asked me to let her know that she could bring whomever she wanted and that he would take care of everything. After closing the evening prior to Lily’s arrival, Isi and his staff took great care in sterilizing the restaurant, including the games and tokens. When we arrived early Sunday morning, January 23, his chef was already preparing breakfast pizzas for all of us. (Which by the way, was a huge hit!) The restaurant had opened its doors two hours early for Lily so that she could play without the threat of having contact with other patrons, who may be sick and jeopardize her health as a result.

The experience allowed Lily to smile and laugh more than she has in the past eight months, since chemotherapy treatments began. In attendance were Lily, her mom and dad, her friend, her friend's parents, my friend/ colleague who introduced me to Isi ( he is her brother-in-law), my son and myself. We could not have been more delighted by the kindness and generosity shown by Isi. Lily and her friend, as well as some adults who were children for the day, were given an unlimited amount of tokens.

Lily’s priceless smiles and laughter echoed throughout the restaurant for more than an hour, at which point Isi announced that he had prepared for Lily and her friend to make their own pizzas! After having his chef give them a little pizza tossing show, the girls garnished their own dough with individual delight. As if his generosity wasn’t already enough, Isi then brought out more pizza for the adults to devour! Once other patrons began to arrive at the regular opening time, it was time for Lily to leave.

At that point, the day could not have gotten much better according to Lily, and yet it did. She was directed to the ticket-cash-in counter and told to choose any toy she wanted! Lily was thrilled.

Isi Albanese truly is an angel who made last Sunday a very special day for Lily…one that she has wished for since becoming ill last June. As she bravely perseveres through the next sixteen months of chemotherapy treatments, perhaps she will recall her day at Bellizzi. And maybe, it will make that day just a bit brighter.

I feel honored to have met both Lily and Isi, as these two individuals have inspired me to continue training hard and never give up, despite what ailments or aches I may have to contend with. I am certain that my discomfort doesn’t come close to that of Lily, or of my dear dad before his passing last year.

1/28.... Training...

Well - I can now swim over 3/4 of a mile in under 45 minutes - great for me!!! yahoo!

I began running this week, for the first time in a 5 weeks since I tore my calf.... it has been a slow start as I am being cautious... so far so good!

I continue to spin at least 3 days a week - 2 at 5:45 am before work... It actually feels good to get such intense exercise so early in the morning. I did get outside to ride a bit... however... my fingers were forzen. OUCH! they hurt so bad.....

The good news.... Alec has been joining me at some of the spin classes. he is hoping to participate in the triathlon with me....

email me at jafarrell123@yahoo.com for more information