Fighting Blood Cancers -One Dollar and One Mile at a Time
On December 21, 2008, I’ll be running the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
THEN, less than a month later…
On January 11, 2009, I’ll be running the Walt Disney World Full Marathon (26.2 miles)
WHY?!?! Because I enjoy rolling out of bed for a leisurely run at 5am? Because I love every muscle in my body from my ear lobes down to my toes being sore? Because the thought of running 526 miles over the next 6 months makes me giddy? (Yes, you read that right five hundred and twenty six miles is what I will run while training for this event!!) Because I’ve gone completely mental? Not entirely – Shockingly, my commitment to run is for none of the reasons above. I am embarking on this remarkable journey because it gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone with cancer. As a member of Team in Training I am running to raise awareness and to raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.
I have said YES to training, working hard, and running this marathon in honor of those who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line – finding a cure!
Now I need you to say YES. This is a chance for you to participate in this program, too, without having to get up at 5am or run 26.2 miles. All you have to do is give money to help fund cancer research.
Please join me in raising money for this wonderful and worthy cause. I ask you to contribute whatever you can. No amount is too small or too large. I have a website where you can DONATE NOW via the web, or you can mail me a check payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (email me for a mailing address). Either way it is tax deductible. Ice packs, ibuprofen, and gifts are also accepted;) My motivation is simple – every dollars gets us closer to a cure.
How much do I need? Well, I’ve committed to raising $2500 by December! So here are some suggested donations:
- $483 – The cost to fill a tank of gas these days (this could perhaps be slightly exaggerated)
- $239 – A dollar for every mile I will run during Saturday group runs (this doesn’t even include the miles I will log the rest of the week!)
- $52.40 – Two dollars for every mile of the marathon
- $33- My age at the time of the marathon
- $5.99 – Extra value meal (give up one fast food lunch and donate that to my training instead!)
- $2.37 – Change in your car’s ash tray
Check to see if your company has a matching program to double the impact of your donation! MatchingGifts.com
For more info on Team in Training, or to huff and puff along with me in spirit, check out my blog Warrior Wimp for updates on my fundraising and training progress…
*Please * Please * Please * pass the link to this site to ALL of your friends and check back often for updates!
Thanks for your support!
Michelle Starrett
