Welcome!!
For those of you that know me already, you are probably asking yourself, “What crazy race is Jennifer doing now?!?”--- well I am back at it again training for TWO marathons and trying to raise funds to help fight leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood related cancers from taking more lives. This time around is a little different however. I am training for the Quad Cities Marathon on September 24th AND the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October 22nd. Why am I doing two marathons only a month apart? Attempting to do two marathons in a short period of time only shows how committed and determined I am to raise funds towards finding a cure!! Once again I am fortunate enough to be training with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training (TNT) program. The mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has become a very important part of my life as I have met many families who have lost loved ones to these diseases and many survivors who are still here today as a result of people like me fundraising and people like you showing your support with a donation. This time around I am training to complete my two marathons in Honor of Brigitte Powidzki, a 2 time Hodgkins Lymphoma Survivor.
I was fortunate enough to meet Brigitte back in November when I signed on as a Mentor with Team In Training to do the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville. Brigitte and her sister Grace trained together for 5 months and just recently walked the Half Marathon in Nashville this past April. Brigitte also just recently celebrated her 5-year anniversary of being in remission!! This was made possible by people like me and you fundraising and donating towards this important cause!! Getting to know Brigitte through Team in Training has made this program all the more meaningful to me and what I am trying to do in my fundraising and increasing awareness about Leukemia and other blood related cancers.
Please make a donation if you are able, to support me in my fundraising campaign with Team In Training and to help advance the Society's mission. You may be asking yourself, Does the research help? You bet it does. In 1960, a child diagnosed with ALL had a 5% chance of surviving for 5 years. In 1980, the percentage was 10%. Today the percentage is 80%. But this is not good enough. Leukemia still takes the lives of more children than any other disease in the United States.
With the donor dollars the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society receives, researchers have been able to develop a new drug called Gleevec. Gleevec has been responsible for normalizing white blood cell counts in cancer patients with CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia), thus creating a huge advancement in the fight against cancer. With our combined efforts, we can personally be responsible for finding a cure for these blood cancers and making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.
I realize that you are asked very frequently to contribute to various cancer related causes. Researchers believe that leukemia is the most basic of all cancers and finding a cure for it could serve as a foundation for establishing a cure for all cancers. Coupled with the strides that have been made over last several years, your donation will only bring us closer to a cure. Where does the money go? Unlike many other charities, 75% of the funds raised go towards research, education and patient support. The other 25% goes towards administrative expenses.
My training has been going well and in order for me to reach the finish line, I need your financial support. My personal goal was to raise $4,000 for leukemia research and patient aid - and with the wonderfully generous support of friends and family I have been able to surpass $5,000!! Although I have reached my personal goal, there is still time to raise even more funds to support this very valuable research. If you are interested in making a donation, please visit my donation webpage at www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilJwright and simply click on the DONATE button on the right of your screen to make a secure donation via your credit card. If you would prefer to pay by check, please email me at runnergirl613@yahoo.com
If you would like to double or even triple your donation, please check to see if your employer/company has a matching gifts program and be sure to email me and let me know so I can get some info from you.
Remember that all donations are 100% tax deductible and that any donation is greatly appreciated!! I realize how busy life can get, but please understand how valuable your donation & a few minutes of your time are to those fighting these diseases and their families. If you have any questions or would like more information, please email me at the above email address.
Please feel free to visit my web site often. I will be including updates to my diary and some pictures as I progress forward in my training.
Thank you again for taking the time to visit and read through this page and for your support - I could not do this without you!!
Jennifer