Do you BELIEVE?

It is time for a new raffle, and this one is all about BELIEVING (in yourself, and others)!

As you may know from past posts, Inspired Endurance is my favorite athletic inspired jewelry vendor. I own many of their products and wear them proudly daily.  Bracelets (my Pandora-style race bracelet), necklaces, charms, rings… I keep adding to my stock with every race – and I race a lot!

I reached out to the Owner, Marie, for a few items for a raffle to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  As always, she agreed.  Maria at Inspired Endurance has donated three great items to be raffled off for LLS.  And here how it will work…

• All three items will be in the same raffle; buying tickets will qualify you for all three items.
• Tickets are reasonable considering the product values:
  • 2 Tickets for $5;
  • 5 Tickets for $10; or
  • BEST VALUE 15 Tickets for $20.
• All ticket purchases are donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my fundraising page at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/pb/nikewhlf14/triing2findacure
• Winner will be drawn at a fundraiser I am hosting in Fort Lauderdale on (my birthday) December 14th, 2013
• Tickets are available up until December 14th, 2013 at 5pm; Drawing will be at 9pm that evening
• Do not need to be present to win.
• Items will be shipped (where necessary) on Monday, December 16th, 2013 (just in time for the Holidays)

GOOD LUCK!!

Here is what you have a chance to win:

FIRST PRIZE: Sterling Silver BELIEVE Plate Necklace, Value $75

SS, Believe Plate Necklace: 1st Prize (Value $75)

SECOND PRIZE: Sterling Silver Dream, Believe, Achieve Charm on a Leather Necklace, Value $50

2nd Prize: SS Dream, Believe, Achieve Charm and Necklace (Value $50)

THIRD PRIZE: Sterling Silver Believe Bead for any Pandora or Pandora-Style bracelet, Value $35

3rd Prize: SS Believe Bead for Pandora-style Bracelets (Value $35)

Training – Check; Packing – Check; Fundraising…

My hero, my niece, Courtney. 2+ year survivor (ALL)

I’ve made it to the homestretch. I’ve completed my training with TNT and am ready to take on the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco this weekend. Here is what this season has been for me: 16 weeks of training training: 112days; 2,688hours; 161,280mins, 472 miles, and over $3300 raised (The team raised over $116,000).

IN THIS TIME 40,320 people have been diagnosed with blood cancers; 16,128 have passed away. And some people ask me WHY I continue to do what I do.

One goal I have already met was my preliminary fundraising goal of $3200 for TNT and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I’m here to remind you about the wonderful work that LLS is doing in blood cancer research and ask you one last time, if you haven’t yet contributed but are interested in doing so, today is the day. Our event weekend is here and I’d love to help my team reach $120,000! My website is still open.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/pb/nikesf13/triing2findacure

Thanks again for your friendship and your support. Looking forward to the race this weekend in San Francisco!

Almost Time for San Francisco

After completing the Nike Women’s Marathon/Half Marathon last year in San Francisco, even after all those long uphill stretches, I vowed to make my way back to San Fran for the 10th Anniversary of this race.  I also committed to run the race once again for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) with Team in Training.

As I have posted in the past, this is extra special because this year is also the 25th Anniversary Year for Team In Training (TnT).  Over the years, TnT has dedicated itself to training individuals, average individuals, to participate in endurance events while raising money and awareness for LLS.  Click here for the blog I wrote on what has been accomplished by this group in the last 25 years.

All that aside, I officially began this journey back to San Fran in March of this year.  Besides the much needed training, I was also dedicating many hours to fundraising, setting up events, organizing fundraisers, attending said fundraisers, and sending out MANY letters to friends, family, and frankly, anyone who would listen… I always say, the worse that can happen when you ask the question is the answer could be “No”.  Generally, that is not the case.

As of tonight, I have reached my minimum goal of $3200.  Actually, I have reached $3250 which is fantastic.  This does not mean I am done… You see, a small portion of the minimum amount a participant raises is necessary to cover the costs TnT incurs with the event (race entry, insurance, etc…) and the remaining 77% goes toward research, patient services, cures… Once the minimum is reached, 100% of every donation over that amount goes directly to the cure!

So, Yes, I have reached my goal. However, every donation I receive at this time will go 100% toward patient care services, research for cures, etc… Please consider a donation to help inspire me (even more) through my 13.1 miles in the hills of San Fran on October 20th.  You can CLICK HERE to donate.

In just about 10 days from today I will be crawling into bed early for a good nights rest before taking on the Nike Women’s Marathon/Half Marathon once again.  Along the way I will be thinking of each and every one of you who have supported me in the past, donated to this event or other events, and encouraged me to continue this journey with TnT.  It is the generosity of folks like you during this uncertain economy that truly inspires me to keep moving forward.

It is also the courage of our heroes that keeps me moving forward. Specifically, this one angel, my niece.  I posted a few weeks ago about my event in Philly and I described the photo that was captured at the end of the race when I was able to give her my medal… well, after weeks of searching through race photos, Marathon Photo found the picture and sent it to me.  This image will stay with me as I run San Fran in a few days.  I hope you can see the elation on my face, as well as that of my niece, knowing that every step, every mile, and every dollar is getting us closer to a cure.

My Step Brother, my niece Courtney, my Sister In Law, and me

Again, Thank you for all your continued support.  Bring on San Fran!!