$800 and Counting....

Thank you so much to everyone who has kindly donated to date! I am proud to announce that I'm already over the $800 mark thanks to you! It will truly be my pleasure to walk and run with all of you in mind.

On that note, please let me know if you have any loved ones that have been affected by a blood cancer (or really cancer in general) as I plan to walk/run in honor of and in memory of each of those folks - and will most likely add ribbons to my singlet to recognize them on race day!

Thanks again....and don't forget to pass my email and website information on to anyone who might be interested in supporting me and/or this amazing cause!

Go TEAM!

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Relentless For A Cure

As a TNT Campaign Manager, I consider it my privilege to relentlessly work on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Our mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. This year, I am honored to be fundraising and training for The Nike Women’s Marathon, A Race to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on top of my regular staff responsibilities.

Just how serious is blood cancer you might be wondering? Did you know that every four minutes someone in the United Sates learns that he/she has a blood cancer and that every ten minutes someone dies of a blood cancer? Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that leukemia is the number one disease that kills children, yet it affects 10 times as many adults.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. These treatments have helped patients live better, longer lives. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life. However, with decreased public funding, private donations are becoming more and more important…and that is where you come in!

On October 17, 2010, I will be doing 26.2 miles in the Nike Women’s Marathon, a Race to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On that day and throughout my training season, I will be participating in memory of my grandfather, Edward Barnett, Kyle Lindgren and Baby Melina…and in honor of Leanne Weinshenker (who will be training alongside me!), all of the other Rocky Mountain Chapter TNT Team Heroes and for the countless people who will one day learn they have a blood cancer.

According to LLS, nearly 140,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma this year, joining the over 912,000 people currently living with a blood cancer. That is why I am taking on this challenge!

I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me -- by supporting me in my fundraising efforts. Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. There are two ways to make a donation:

• Make a secure, online donation by clicking HERE
• Send a check directly to me. Please make checks payable to 'The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society' and return them to me at 1525 Hudson St, #5 Denver, CO 80220

I need 100 friends/family to donate just $40 each in order to reach my personal goal of raising $4000 for this amazing cause. My goal is to have this money in the bank by May 1, 2010, before my training even begins, so that I can concentrate on getting this body ready for 26.2 miles! Will you be one of my $40 donor angels????

Be sure to check back here as well for updates on my fundraising and my training!

Thank you, in advance, for your kindness, support and generosity!

Together, we are saving lives...one mile at a time!!

26.2 miles...Seriously, What Am I Thinking!?!?!

So I'm actually doing this...I've officially registered for the Nike Women's Marathon, a Race to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the Team In Training program - the worlds largest sports training program. On October 17, 2010 I will be running and walking 26.2 miles, but between now and then, it is my goal to raise $4,000 for this amazing cause!

Please check back here frequently as I will be posting as often as possible sharing pictures, my training and fundraising milestones, stories of the amazing people I am sure I will meet along the way and just my overall TNT marathon experience.

Until next time.... :)