In memory of my beautiful baby sister, Elizabeth Danielle, I continue...

Nothing I do, no amount of money, will bring my sister back, so you may ask, "why do this"? I do it for the future. For the next Liz, the next family; to give them more time, and hopefully, a cure. Research 15-20 years ago gave us nearly 10 years.

I am not only fund-raising, I am part of Team G.A.I.L. (Giving Across International Lines) in honor of an amazing woman, Gail Munzing, with whom Liz and I had the pleasure of meeting when we did the Alaska marathon in 2008. It was so wonderful to reconnect with Gail because she knew and loved Liz; connecting with someone else who has memories of her is such a treat. Gail has CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) and is alive today thanks to the LLS-funded drug, Gleevec®.

The short version… Team G.A.I.L. is “this” close to raising the $100,000 needed to fund another research grant! That means 100% of our donations go directly to research! I hope you’ll take a moment to read the longer version from Gail & her husband, Tim (below) and then make a donation to my fund-raising page, just click on the "Donate" button

We have until June 30th overall to fund the grant because the Team is comprised of so many events, but my event (just over three weeks away ~ YIKES!) has a final funds deadline of April 30th.

I have had the most amazing support system during my journey with LLS (YOU!) and I cannot put into words, my gratitude.

Thank you * Thank you * Thank you!

Shellee

The long story, but very much worth reading…

One year ago LLS presented Gail with the concept for an international alumni marathon team.  This team would be open to seasoned TNT marathon endurance athletes who would train to race in an international destination marathon, with a goal of raising $100,000 to invest in a study for blood cancer research lead by internationally recognized physician researchers from Yale, UC San Francisco, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University, National University of Singapore, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Perugia, D.H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, or arGEN-X of San Francisco.

The study would be named after our team

and

dedicated to the personal honored heroes & angels

of our individual teammates. (like LIZ )

The team would be called TEAM G.A.I.L.  and together we would dedicate our time, our training miles, our fundraising efforts for this endeavor.  Together, we would make a difference in the lives and futures of blood cancer patients all over the world.

We are very proud to tell you what this team has accomplished so far, and the impact it will have on cancer patients.

For the first time in a year we are absolutely certain we will achieve our $100,000 goal, fund and name that research grant!!!

Until now it has seemed more like a great idea and a grand possibility.  This small but mighty group of TNT athletes worked hard and have been dedicated to training and fundraising.  Along the way we have forged friendships and had more fun than should be allowed!!  Our spouses and families and friends have joined us in our quest with fabulous events like the wine tasting, cork pull, opportunity drawings, football and Academy Award pools, garage sale, pizza fundraiser, "100 donors in 100 hours" programs - and on and on and on.   Almost all of us have completed our races:  The LA Marathon, The Puerto Rico Marathon, and a couple of our teammates will be running in the Alaska Marathon, the Mountains to Beach Half-Marathon and the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon!!  Several of us have decided to also run the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon on May 31st.

All of our teammates have a direct connection to blood cancer. Teammates Gail Munzing and Vicki Varela are leukemia patients.  We all have loved ones who are fighting these diseases or are resting in peace. As of this writing our team total is $87,695.00 and inching upward every day.

You may be surprised to know that the LLS research that led to the discovery of the drug that keeps Gail's leukemia in check has also been used to develop life-saving treatments for gastric tumors, renal cell carcinoma, lung cancer and others.  New applications are being studied every day.

Our amazing, hardworking dedicated teammates thank you for your donation.

Thank you for coming along side of us.

Thank you for caring enough to step up and be a part of this grand scheme to find a cure for this nasty disease and many others.

We are SO close……

Please visit my website (www.lovemylife4liz.org) to learn more about her diagnosis and journey; our journey. Get a glimpse of the inspirational young woman she was, how she continues to inspire, and why/how Love My Life came to be her motto. That's how we've managed to continue living, because she fought SO hard to live, and even through treatment and illness, she embraced life; she loved every day she was blessed with. She lives through me, through all of us, so I try to live with the same zeal that she did.

Team in Training has been a lifesaver for me over the years. The people involved, my teammates, are some of the most caring, compassionate, and giving people I know. Each one of them has their own story and inspiration for doing this, and they are passionate about finding a cure, not someday, but TODAY.

Your donation will help fund treatments that save lives every day, like immnuotherapies that use a person’s own immune system to kill cancer. Every single donation helps save a life with breakthrough therapies such as these.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help get us all closer to a world without blood cancers.

Thank you,

Shellee/a.k.a. Sissy

#LML #LoveMyLife #LoveMyLife4Liz #AWorldWithoutBloodCancer #LLS #TNT #TeamInTraining #Sisters #SistersConnectedForever  #BeBadAssEveryDay