I’ve never been a runner – at all! Even used to walk those mandatory laps in high school. When a friend proposed that I run in the America’s Finest City ½ Marathon, my first thought was “I can’t do that!” My second was “Why can’t I?” How can I know so many people who run 1/2 Marathons, compete in Triathalons and even full Marathons, but I can't?  So I figured I'd give it a try and have been training since March.  I'm happy to report that I feel confident that I’ll be able to complete the race without passing out! I have to say though, I was a little disappointed to be spending so much of my time and energy working on something that didn’t have a charitable aspect attached to it.

Enter, the worst news I’ve ever received in my life: My completely awesome mom, the most health conscious person I know was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, Stage IV, which means incurable. There have been great strides made in recent years and she will start on a treatment with great promise in the coming weeks, but still my mom has an incurable disease. I am devastated, to say the least.

She attended a symposium put on by the Jimmy V Foundation and was really impressed with the work they are doing in cancer research. While I was looking around their website, I found out that anyone can turn any event into a fundraiser for the organization, so that is what I’ve done and I’m hoping to raise some funds to help the cause.

I'd love your support in my fundraising efforts in honor of my mom as she begins her quest toward our new favorite acronym - NED - No Evidence of Disease!

Thank you!

A note about the Fundraising Goal: The dollar amount chosen was an arbitrary number that felt do-able.  We've been overwhelmed with the love and support of family and friends and have raised the goal twice.  I don't think I'll raise it again, but will remind everyone that the real goal is a cure, so please keep giving as every penny helps!  Plus it would be awfully cool to see the amount raised far surpass the goal :-)