Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to my fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

To let you know why I'm running my very FIRST marathon with the Red Cross of Greater Chicago's team, I can first say that from my work with United Way, I know all too well how much of a hit they have taken (and how much of a hit United Way has taken, too!).  Ever since I found out in high school that I couldn't donate blood, I've tried various other means of supporting blood donation, usually through helping coordinate blood drives.  Nothing ever comes close to the feeling of giving part of yourself, though.  

I've given the Red Cross my blood (which they had to reject), my tears (when I received the letter saying they couldn't take my blood), and they're now going to get a whole lot of my sweat - 26.2 miles of it, plus four months of training.  

We can't all donate blood, but we CAN all donate a little money.  That's why I'm asking you to donate what you can - $5, $10, $26.20, $50, etc.  

I also invite you to follow my training blog - See Esther Run Red (http://estherrunsred.blogspot.com/) - to keep informed of how my training is going, and also read more about the Red Cross, United Way, social services in the Chicago area, and the human services field in general.