Why I'm doing this, part 1, and some THANKS!

What an exciting start to the week this has been! I've had my first donations for the marathon- all courtesy of some of Ashley's Dad's family. She's a little girl who has a lot of friends and family behind her! So thanks to Carol & Bill Wingo, Lucille, Donna, Dede & Pat Callaway and Steve and Kelly Deman for kicking off the fundraising!

I got to thinking, I should explain why I'm doing this. I'll get to the why I'm RUNNING portion tomorrow, but I'll start with why I'm fundraising for Team In Training (TNT.)

A year ago next week, my Aunt Marsha (my Mom's sister) and her husband Neumie were visiting my parents in Austin for my Mom's birthday. They were having a great visit, tons of fun, when they got the kind of phone call no parents want to get. Marsha's daughter Staci (my Cousin) and her husband Brad have two beautiful daughters of their own- Sarah and Ashley. Ashley had been tired and running a fever for a few days, and Staci took her to the Doctor, who was immediately concerned and did some test. The news was not good- ALL T-Cell Leukemia. She immediately started treatment and fortunately has responded really well- she went into remission and now is in the maintenance phase which will last through October 2009.

Ashley and other kids just like her with Leukemia have to get poked and prodded more than any kids should- the treatment makes them feel terrible before it makes them better. And when something happens like that to someone you care about, you just feel helpless, and I wanted to do SOMETHING. So when I started to contemplate running a 1/2 Marathon (yes, it started as a 1/2- the crazy TNT folks convinced me I could do a full marathon and now I believe it to,) I thought the best way to do it would be with an organization like TNT, to raise money for a cause near and dear to my heart.

Some other facts about Leukemia:

Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are cancers that originate in the bone marrow (in the case of leukemia and myeloma) or in lymphatic tissues (in the case of lymphoma). Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins. The diseases result from an acquired (not inherited) genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body's production of healthy blood cells and makes the body unable to protect itself against infections.

Why should you support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma strike some 102,200 Americans each year and kill 60,340. These totals account for about 8 percent of new cases of, and deaths from, malignant diseases.

Every week, there are 1,900 new cases of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma diagnosed in this country.

Every week, approximately 1,155 Americans die of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsored research has been the catalyst for effective treatments of Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas and other common kinds of cancers, including breast and lung cancer. Now, on the threshold of a new era, the hope is that with accelerated funding for research, all leukemias and related cancers will be curable early in the next century.

The research is working. 25 years ago, only 5% of children diagnosed with leukemia survived. Today, 73% of children with leukemia and 76% of those with Hodgkin's disease will live thanks to the research funded by people involved in projects like Team In Training.

The LA chapter of Team In Training supports 19 research grants locally at institutes such as UCLA, City of Hope, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Cal-Tech, etc. We have 18 researchers locally with grants totaling $5.3 million this year!

Up-to-date educational materials and a quarterly newsletter are sent free of charge to individuals and health care professionals in hospitals, agencies, and libraries. In addition, the Society provides up to $500 annually for outpatient expenses to patients with leukemia and related cancers. Family support groups have been established and are facilitated on a volunteer basis by oncology nurses, social workers and counselors.

What can my donation really do?

• $500 raised allows the Patient Financial Aid program to reimburse 1 patient up to $500 per year to help cover costs of transportation, drugs and various treatments not covered by insurance.
• $1,000 raised makes possible one-on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.
• $2500 raised provides 5 patients with a $500 stipend.
• $5,000 raised allows transportation for 13 out of state bone marrow donors.
• $10,000 raised provides 1 patient with 10 weeks of Kaiser co-pay.
• $25,000 raised equals a 1 year supply Gleevec for 1 patient.

So THANKS for your support! Every dollar really does make a difference in fight against blood cancers. Tomorrow I'll discuss how couch-potato me decided to RUN at all!