The Reason...

Help Me!
I am about to embark on what is probably going to be one of the most significant challenges in my life thus far… I am going to run a marathon. Not only that, but I am going to do this in conjunction with a goal of raising over $4,000.00 towards research to find a cure for cancer! I know… a marathon – 26.2 miles (42.2km) through the streets of downtown Seattle at the end of June. Really? Why?

Well, actually I am doing this for a couple of reasons. First of all, my life “to-do list”… you know, those things you have always told yourself that you are going to accomplish in this lifetime. Secondly, and much more importantly I am running this marathon in memory of my Aunt Anne Marie.

In October of 2005, I was on a solo trek in the Andes Mountains in Peru with only my guide, Francisco. The first few days were `normal`... we walked about 5 hours every day and we camped every night. The real test came on day 5. It started out like every other day... I ate a breakfast of hot porridge and spaghetti and we were off at a little before 7 in the morning. After about 20 minutes it started to rain… light at first, but progressively stronger. At this point, we were nearing a mountain pass at 16,000 ft. which meant that the rain was turning to snow. It’s freezing and within minutes everything I am wearing is soaked through and I am starting to lose feeling in my fingers and toes. My guide covers me with a plastic tarp and offers to carry my pack, but I stubbornly refuse. Two hours later, the snow is still coming and we are still climbing. My body has started to lose all feeling and my muscles are going into spasms. Steps were small and extremely weak. At this point Francisco demands to take my bag and seeing as how I didn’t have the energy to fight, I gave in and removed my pack. Then the fog rolls in. We can barely make out the pass. At this point the snow has built up on the ground, meaning that we were unable to actually see our path… and it’s icy. Francisco takes my frozen hand and together we feel our way up the mountain, our feet occasionally slipping out from under us and causing a temporary sense of panic. I honestly felt like I was going to die. I was hallucinating and literally had no feeling left in my extremities. The wind was strong and my plastic cape was flapping around in the breeze. So my mind started to wander.

I started thinking about my Aunt Anne Marie. She was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2004. The doctors all told her she had less than 6 months to live. She didn’t listen. Just thinking about her and her strength and her courage began to make me feel stronger. The feeling started coming back into my fingers and my legs started to move with more determination. We hiked for over 10 hours that day. Finally, we reached the top and like a cruel joke, the sun burst through the clouds illuminating the amazing landscape around us. It was at this moment that I made a promise to myself that I would do something big for my aunt. Her strength is what gave ME strength. I had previously heard of Team in Training and decided then and there… that was what I was going to do... Challenge myself in a way I have never done before… and do it in honor of her. Well, I got back from my trek and went to the internet café and opened up my email only to find some very shocking and saddening news. My Aunt Anne Marie had passed away. Her last moments were on that very day that thoughts of her were giving me courage and determination.
It’s taken me a few years to get into a place where I feel like I am ready to train and make good on my promise. But the place is here and the time is now.

Okay, so now you are maybe wondering how does running a marathon coincide with cancer research? Easily… through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization started in 1949 (60 years ago!) by a family struck hard by the death of their 16 year old son after his battle with leukemia, which was then considered a hopeless and 100% fatal diagnosis. But I won’t drone on about the details here. (You can check out their website www.lls.org to find out more) The Team in Training (TNT) is a program started much more recently in 1988. In the last 20 years, the TNT has helped prepare over 380,000 volunteer participants who have helped raise over $900 MILLION towards research to find a cure for various types of blood cancer.

By training (and completing) this marathon, I am becoming one of the thousands of participants nationwide to raise money for this unbelievably worthy cause… and YOU can help!! There are two ways to donate:

1. Check out my webpage (http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnrseatl09/jschanbacher) Here, you can view some of my progress as well as make a donation! You will receive a confirmation of your donation via email and I will be notified of your contribution as well.

2. Write a check payable to “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society” and send it to me at:
Johanna Schanbacher
3118 Eagle Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(be sure to include your name and address)

I will gladly take donations after March 31st; however the sooner I meet my fundraising goal, the more energy I can put into preparing for the marathon!

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure!

On behalf of myself and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I would like to thank you in advance for your donation and moral support!

~Johanna Schanbacher~


(Keep in mind, many businesses offer a “matching program” and will match a charity donation- see if yours is one- it’s an easy way to double your contribution… And PLEASE pass along my website to your friends and family. The more people involved the better!!)

Tax ID Number: 135644916