The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to
funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The Society's
mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve
the quality of life of patients and their families.
We raised money over the past few years to support the
research, research we are certain one day will end these terrible diseases. You see, the
Leukemia-Lymphoma Society supports the brightest scientists with the most
promising research. Proof positive of this is in the development of the the
first "targeted cancer therapy" that really works. The LLS supported the
early research of a cancer treatment that attacks only cancer cells.
Read here about Gleevec
and how over the past 6 years it has spared tens of thousands of lives and
how the new drugs look even more promising.
We have championed direct giving campaigns, supported other
fund raisers and held special events all in order to fight Leukemia,
Lymphoma Myeloma and all the blood cancers. We also support the mission by
serving on the Local Chapter Board of Trustees, we are active in patient
advocacy and Coach Marathon Runners who run in honor of patients.
We have not held a direct giving campaign in a few years but
lately people have been asking us "hey how come I did not get a letter from
you this year?" We felt it must be time and and we are confident you will
support us. The patients and their families need your support, their lives
depend upon it. We have set a goal of $10,000 and we actually hope to exceed that amount,
significantly.
You can help us show the patients and their families we care, we all care, and
we will do what it takes to end blood cancers.
Donate when you can, donate
what you can, the patients expect nothing and we are all grateful for anything.
People that have known us over the last few years ask us, why do you
keep doing it, and how do you keep going, and what motivates you to keep
going?
Honestly we saw the miracle cure in our family and that is why we
started. It was kind of a payback thing. There were times when we
thought, we've done enough. Then the day we feared would come, did. We
started meeting and becoming friends with patients and their families.
Families that were and are in crisis. Our answer to those questions is
an easy one. The how and why, are in our friends and families. Listed
below are just a few of them. Take a few moments.
Beverly Blair
Beverly was diagnosed in 1999
with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. She underwent experimental treatment
which has since been FDA approved. The future looks bright for her and
other patients with CML. Literally 10's of thousands have been spared
since trails began in the late 90's. The initial research was funded by
the Leukemia Society.
Here on the right is picture of Beverly and her
husband Bob. They are posing with the developer of Gleevec, Dr.
Brian Druker. Dr Druker was in the Detroit area and training with
the team as a thanks for helping fund his research.
Jessie Gay
Jessie passed in 2005 after
battling her leukemia for several years. She was an honored team member
of Team in Training since we joined the team. She had been
awarded a full ride academic scholarship to the University of Florida.
We
remember talking to her and she would say, next semester I am going to
start. She wanted to be an architect. She loved the team, her last
outing was at the 2005 Walt Disney World marathon, where she got up
early (2:00 am) to see us off, and met us in the finishing area. She
cried because she did not want to leave before everyone came in, but her
body would not cooperate. A few days after the marathon she went into
the hospital for the last time. Her body gave up, but her sprit NEVER
did.
Alex is now thirteen and about
to celebrate his 1 year anniversary of his last chemo treatment. He has
been the Brevard County honorary team captain for the last few years. It
is great to see him grow, and his personality is "well let's just say he
is a character." He went through over two years of treatment and things
are looking good.
We have a saying "You think running a marathon is
tough, try chemotherapy" another reason we do what we do is in hopes of
better more effective, less invasive therapies.
Christian was another Central
Florida honored teammate who lost his battle in 2005. He was nine years
old and a HUGE Star Wars fan.
His father refers to him as the perfect
little boy, the only bad thing he could say about Christian is "He
jumped on the bed, and he was a little rough with the dog"
His dad said after the Dr's gave Christian a less than 3% chance of
survival. Christian could not understand why everyone was so sad and upset and up
until the last few days he said, I can't wait to get better and run with
you daddy.
Kati was at our first marathon,
hovering over the start line in San Diego 2002 (and 2001). Cheering on her team. We
have been cyber friends with her father since the beginning. Then one
day we received an e-mail, Kati had lost her battle. That was March
2004.
This years San Diego marathon is special, because it was Kati's wish
to run it with her father. This year, 2006, she would have been old
enough to enter. Her father is going to run the event with two timing
chips, one for him, one for Kati.
We are going to meet Rick, Kati's father, our cyber friend, for the first time in San
Diego. We are excited about it. We have committed to make this our best
ever marathon performance. For Kati, so there will be more
survivors.
These are
things we have done and continue to do. They are posted here not to lift us up but to show
you we have a serious commitment to
better days.
Together we coach adult onset
athletes to participate in Marathons around the country. In exchange for
our marathon training our "peeps" raise funds for blood cancer research.
The program is called
Team In Training and is
organized by the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society.
We train for full marathons which are 26.2 miles of running, walking or
the method we prefer run/walk. We also train peeps for 1/2 marathons
which is 13.1 miles. Some of the events and locations we have been to
are, San Diego Ca, the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C.,
Anchorage Alaska, Maui Hawaii, Virginia Beach, Va and of course Walt
Disney World.
Barry and Michele recognized
by Florida Sports Magazine as Central Florida's best Coach/Trainers of
2005. This vote came to the magazine from our "peeps." We were so
proud, humbled that they would do this. The greatest thing to us was
that it raised awareness of the Team In Training program to the Running
Community in Central Florida, actually throughout the state. Which
accomplishes one of our goals. Awareness, that this group is focused on
the need to end blood cancers. We hope when others are ready to do
something for themselves and for others they consider the Team In
Training Program. The work matters, and the work, works!
Barry speaks to a group of
sixth graders to thank them for their "Birdhouse Project"
In November 2005, We found out about a community service project where
Surfside Elementary sixth
graders were building Birdhouse in their art class. What was so cool is
that they were auctioning off their finished art work and giving the
money raised to the LLS. When asked if I would speak to them and let
them know where their money was going. I jumped on the chance. I
took a video called "With a Little Help From My Friends" to show the
class. It is about middle school patients returning to school after
treatment. With knowledge comes compassion and power. I hope the sixth
graders will always remember this project with pride.
Click here to see a letter
we sent home with each student.
Michele is recognized as a
Jefferson Award Candidate for outstanding public service in 2006 The
Jefferson Award is giving by to people through the country who were
nominated locally as outstanding public servants.
Run for the Gecko 2005 5k
run event beneficiary - We help the Running-Zone specialty retail
store hold an annual 5k run to benefit the LLS. In 2005 we raised $6,000
Radio Active Team In
Training 2004 - We partnered with the Public Radio Station WFIT in
Brevard County and held a 5k event. The event raised $4,000 which both
non-profits split equally.
Event Coached WDW 2005 -
When we event coach, we are on the course all day helping out people,
TnT people from around the country and anyone else who is need of care.
We usually run/walk in excess of 30 miles that day. Its fun but it is
exhausting, and it is worth it.
Run for the Gecko 2004 5k
run event beneficiary - We help the Running-Zone specialty retail
store hold an annual 5k run to benefit the LLS. In 2004 the first year
the event raised $4,500
We act as phone volunteers WFIT membership drives - while we answer the phones the on air
personalities announce our cause which raises awareness of the
need and the services available by the LLS.
Society's Mission Days 2006
- In March Barry and Michele will go to Washington DC with
volunteers from across the country to meet with our legislators and
discuss the needs for funding and patients issues.
Society's Mission Days 2004
- In 2004 Barry went to Washing DC with volunteers from across the
country to meet with our legislators and discuss the needs for funding
and patients issues.
Event Coached WDW 2004
When we event coach, we are on the course all day helping out people,
TnT people from around the country and anyone else who is need of care.
We usually run/walk in excess of 30 miles that day. Its fun but it is
exhausting, and it is worth it.
Cars for Charity 2003 Event
beneficiary - This was really cool, the Brevard Motor Sports Club
contacted us as the beneficiary and we raised over $6,000. This was a
car show of Hot Cars created by some really cool people
Publix Grocery store Bucket
Drop - In 2003 we spent one weekend at the local grocery store
asking for donations and passing out literature. People are amazing in
their stories of patients they know.
Garage Sales - About
once a year, we clean out the house (and some of the neighbors pitch in
too.) We take the proceeds directly to support the mission
Light the Night Neighborhood walk of
hope In September 2004 we participated in this annual event held by
the Society. We put together a neighborhood team that collected $2,600.
This is a cool event It is a festival atmosphere that ends in a 2 mile
walk with lighted balloons at dusk. Red balloons signify support, white
balloons are carried by patients and survivors. Seeing the kids with the
white balloons drive s home the mission to us.
