“Love truly is communicable and fleeting. It's also quite capable of erosion, if it's not tended to and nurtured. What most fail to realize is the fact that love must be tended to and nurtured more than any relationship imaginable. And it doesn't truly exist in the head, but it's a "heart endeavor" that many won't fully comprehend until it's slipped away.”
My personal charge and the background behind it
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I have established this website for two primary reasons. The above quote brings to light the first reason: the undeniable need to nurture love. I excerpted the above text from a letter written to me in October by Colonel Barrye Price, the widower of the woman, Elaine, whose picture you see to the left of this paragraph. His letter was his rejoinder to my letter to him, in which I announced to him that I would run a marathon in honor of Elaine. While my note to him underscored the notion of the communicable property of love – or love’s contagiousness – he emphasized that love’s longevity requires an active, rather than passive, approach. Indeed, the maintenance and transmission of love requires our dedicated action.
This in mind, On Valentine’s Day 2010, I will run the Mercedes Marathon – 26.2 miles – in Birmingham, AL, in honor of Elaine and in order to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Elaine died of Leukemia in June 2001. While I knew Elaine for only four years, her impact on me is life-long. From her, I learned how to love your spouse, trust in those who love you, persevere through challenges, and maintain a sense of humor – even when no compelling reason exists to do so.
LLS exists to bring to an end the types of blood cancers that ended Elaine’s life. Its mission is "to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their Families." Since its funding inception in 1954, LLS has awarded over $600 million in research funding.
My near-term charge to you
Most likely, you know someone whose life has been taken by or significantly affected by blood cancer. (Ironically, as I type these words, ESPN is broadcasting that Kareem Abdul-Jabaar is suffering from a rare, but treatable, form of blood cancer). I ask that you support the drive to extinguish blood cancer by donating to LLS. My goal is raise $3000, and I welcome a donation from you, regardless of the amount. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure, and it is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Furthermore, your donation is 100% tax deductible.
Donating by check. You can also donate by mailing a check to LLS. See the following site for mailing instructions. If you donate by mail, please let me know the amount, so that I can include you in my fundraising total.
My life-long charge to you
I initially stated that I developed the website for two reasons, the first being the nurturing of love, which I will demonstrate by running a marathon. A second, yet perhaps equally important, purpose of this website is to challenge and inspire you to engage in a significant, life-long undertaking of your choice that allows you to demonstrate your love for someone. All of us have said “One day, I’m going to start…” Let that “one day” be today. Commit yourself to it. Many of you know that I am not a runner. Prior to October, I had never run more than 10 miles, and that was a one-time feat. However, this marathon will mark the first of many significant endeavors in which I will push well beyond my comfort zone to display my love for my fellow man. Join me, and we will impact the world.
I sincerely appreciate your support and eagerly anticipate hearing about your ventures to exhibit the communicable and inspirational qualities of love.
Please forward this link to anyone whom you think might want to donate.
Links of interest: