And I Am BACK!

On March 20, 2011, I completed The LA Marathon (my first) with the Leukemia & Lymphoma's Team in Training and now I am back for more! After a monsoon in Los Angeles we are all still smiling and ready for more. I have decided to head back to California for the Nike Women's Marathon on October 16, 2011 in San Francisco.

Here's is why I am back:

Besides the most phenomenal friends that I experienced and met through this, the early Saturday runs at 6:00am, the sore muscles, the achievement of 26.2 miles, and the list could go on, it is truly the cause of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that drives me to do another. As I began my fundraising for the LA Marathon, I could never have imagined how many people are affected, have been affected, or know someone who has been affected by these blood related cancers. I have heard stories after stories that bring tears to my eyes every time.

This story of Bob is just one that keeps me motivated and dedicated to this cause:

In December, I held a fundraiser at my mom's quilt shop where customers could purchase purple stars to decorate our Christmas Tree for a chance to win various gift certificates. I sold the stars through the website and promoted the fundraiser through our newsletter. Immediately after I raised awareness of my efforts to help LLS, I got into contact with Bob's wife who made a generous donation to my cause and told me all about Bob's struggles with lymphoma. We stayed in contact as Bob's condition worsened. In early February, I recieved this email from her:


Bob was first diagnosed almost 6 years ago, and the chemo followed by the stem cell transplant gave him almost 5 cancer-free years. When the lymphoma showed up in his central nervous system/brain, we knew that was bad news, but the chemo gave him another 6 months. This was the best Christmas our family can remember. So, while he is now dying, the research you're funding helped our family get a lot of years together. That's why you're doing this, and why we'll continue to support anyone who runs for this cause.

Bob passed away on February 27. Just weeks before I was about to run my marathon, his story reinspired me and kept me going through the tough training runs and also throughout the entire 26.2 Miles. I realized at that point that I was making a difference in lives. Bob's family was blessed with 6 more years full of memories and a wonderful last Christmas with him because of the research that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has funded. Just helping to make that difference in one family's life is enough. But the ability to now do it again, is just that much more.

My grandma passed away in August of 2010 of lung cancer, and she was my original inspiration to join Team in Training and run for a cause. I know that if I could have had 5 more years or even just a week longer with her it would have meant the world to me. If I can give that to someone else by helping to pave the road to a cure for all cancers through the research that LLS is doing then my mission will be complete.

So here I go again on the mission to help save lives and fight blood cancers!