Dear Friends,

This year, I am setting two huge goals for myself!  

One is to run the Equinox Marathon this September in its entirety, a task daunting still, but a challenge I am ready to accept.  I will be running many miles this summer to accomplish this, partly because I want to give back to a community that has found a way to support me.  I was diagnosed with a horrific disease, acute myeloid leukemia, on the equinox weekend of 2011.  I persevered, through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, and I am here to tell my story.  For this, I will run to the top of every Ester Dome in my path, down every "chute" on its descent, and through every finish line I can possibly encounter.

My other goal is to publish the book I've written:  "Transplanted:  A Memoir".   It is about Alaska and the challenges and uplifts in life that living in its interior afford.  And it is about my struggle with leukemia, my bone marrow transplant, and the life "transplanted" that I have lived. To fellow patients it may offer a life affirming reflection of what it means to go through a harrowing experience and the resilience we are all capable of.  Unfolding along its northern setting, it speaks not only to outdoor enthusiasts but also to those who find strength and comfort in the natural landscape that surrounds us.  It will resonate with many of us, I believe.

Please consider supporting me in both endeavors.  Perhaps you'd like to donate towards the team in the running?  And in my endeavor to get the word about "Transplanted: A Memoir" out there?  I would cherish both.  Thank you!