Hello Family & Friends,

Yes, I've decided to run The Chicago Marathon which will be held on Sunday October 12, 2008. With the help of my wife, JoAnne, I’ve been training for the past couple of years & I’m hoping to reach a goal time of sub-4-hours.

With the encouragement from my family I've also decided to run for a charity called The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of my late brother Frank Saenz. The AFSP ironically started in 1987 the same year of Frankie’s passing. Their mission is exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide. www.afsp.org

Knowing our contribution can possibly help alter someones decision on contemplating suicide is gratifying. If Frank knew what his family & friends have had to endure the past 21 years, I’m positive he would still be with us today. It’s been a long time since his passing, but he’ll never be forgotten. This is one-way to make sure that happens.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support 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!

Thank You,

Jesse Saenz Jr.

 My son, Frank, committed suicide on July 6, 1987. I can remember that day as if it were yesterday. I now know what is meant when someone says, a person "died of a broken heart". On that day my heart physically hurt and I thought if I died it would be ok. I then thought again of my other 2 sons who were still alive and how much I needed them and wanted them to be near me and the physical pain subsided.

We learn to cope with the pain as it never goes away, and we never forget.

I will never know why, but if research and education can help prevent suicides, then I support The American Foundation for  Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I hope all of Frank's family and friends will also support this Foundation.

I thank you and hope you never forget Frank.

- Irene Ruler (Mom)

OFFLINE SPONSORS

Dan Keith       $40                                                                       

Uncle Angelo & Aunt June Galanos    $50

Frankie was such a wonderful fun loving person. He had a great personality.