Hello All!

Thanks for taking the time out to visit my pledge page.

I’ll be competing in a triathlon in April as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. Through this program, I am assigned a hero in whose honor I compete. I have committed to raise $3,900 in donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The donations I receive will go toward finding a cure for leukemia and other blood related cancers.

Since its founding in 1949, the Society has funded more than $358 million in leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma research. Society funded research has led to key advances in understanding blood cancer and lifesaving drugs and treatments to fight them. In addition to research, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society funds patient and community services, public health education, and professional education.

My hero for this triathlon is Katie Holman. Katie is nine years old, and the daughter of one of my fellow teammates. Katie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in July of 1999. As of September 2001, Katie completed all of her treatments, and her immune system was declared healthy in September 2002. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society benefited Katie and her family directly during Katie’s struggle for her health, thus inspiring her father to participate in several Team in Training sponsored events such as this.

Katie has given me a reason and the inspiration to take on this challenge right now. I am completely committed to meeting my donation goal of $3,900, and to finishing this triathlon on April 25, 2004 in honor of Katie and others like her. So, although life offers many ways to sidetrack us, to bog us down and make us forget what is really important, please stop and remember how lucky each of us is to be healthy – and just how precious the gift of life is.

I am asking everyone to please join me in this effort to raise the money that I need for this challenge. Give and give generously if you can. Don’t hesitate to tell anyone and everyone about this effort. Your love, enthusiasm, care, and donation will help find a cure for leukemia. Thank you in advance for your support. I will keep you posted as to how this all turns out for me as well as the Team!