BROKE $4,000.00!!!! I am so thrilled with all the support (both financially and mentally) that I have been receiving. This whole experience has just been awesome! I would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far in helping me reach my original goal. I'm not stopping there though- now I'm aiming for $5,000.00!! (So if you are planning to donate, but haven't had a chance yet... help me get there!)
Training is going well- I love getting out for my morning run- and sometimes I want to run on the days I don't have to-- is this what they were talking about- addiction?? It helps that the weather has been cooperating for the most part here... and I love living in the foothills- trails everywhere! Running with the team on the Saturday long runs has been really encouraging. Some of us really started from scratch and it's great to see how far everyone is coming. We have started mid-week practices on Thursday evenings to work on speed and hills. I don't like hills. Unfortunately, downtown Seattle IS hills, so I suppose I'd better get used to it....
This coming weekend, I am entering my first race ever- the Platte River Half Marathon. It's through Littleton, Colorado, on the trails along the river and then comes out in Denver. I would like you to keep in mind I have NEVER entered a race in my life... not even a 5k... unless you count the mini-marathon, which was (I think) a 3 mile run back in middle school. eek.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
$276.50 and a box of chocolates
Yesterday and today, I sat in front of JAX, a big-time local sport shop, and I set up a stand to raise money. I sold my crochet hats and a bunch of pins/magnets/keychains courtesy of Gramma's Kitchen Stitchen (thanks mom!) What an incredible impact it had on me. First of all, I raised $276.50!! I also received a box of chocolates. Let me elaborate...
Yesterday, a man came up and donated money and explained that his mother had passed away a few years back from leukemia. He sat there with me for quite some time as we talked about the impact of blood cancers and the way one person CAN help change the world- his quote was "it only takes an acorn to grow a mighty oak tree". He told me how amazing it was what I was doing and blah blah blah. It was great. Well, today.. he came back. He handed me a box of Lindor Truffles. He said that when his mother was alive and someone did something kind for her, she would give them a swiss chocolate. Her personal way of saying thank you. He felt I deserved a whole box.
Then... a little girl of probably about age 6 or 7 came up to my table clutching a 5 dollar bill in her hand. She dropped it in my donation box and said "thank you so much for doing this". I was touched... So I handed her an Easter bunny magnet. Then her father walked up behind her and said "She has leukemia. She is in her final treatments. What you are doing means so much to us".
Needless to say, it was a great day. Those are just 2 of the stories, but all day long, I heard positive comments and fantastic stories. So... I will be doing this again. I'm going to call the JAX in the next town over and there are also plenty of other shops in town. Although it's getting a bit warm for selling my crochet winter hats, people get the idea and they are for the most part, willing to help out!
Oh... and I ran over 10 miles on Saturday's run!! details... details.... :)
Yesterday, a man came up and donated money and explained that his mother had passed away a few years back from leukemia. He sat there with me for quite some time as we talked about the impact of blood cancers and the way one person CAN help change the world- his quote was "it only takes an acorn to grow a mighty oak tree". He told me how amazing it was what I was doing and blah blah blah. It was great. Well, today.. he came back. He handed me a box of Lindor Truffles. He said that when his mother was alive and someone did something kind for her, she would give them a swiss chocolate. Her personal way of saying thank you. He felt I deserved a whole box.
Then... a little girl of probably about age 6 or 7 came up to my table clutching a 5 dollar bill in her hand. She dropped it in my donation box and said "thank you so much for doing this". I was touched... So I handed her an Easter bunny magnet. Then her father walked up behind her and said "She has leukemia. She is in her final treatments. What you are doing means so much to us".
Needless to say, it was a great day. Those are just 2 of the stories, but all day long, I heard positive comments and fantastic stories. So... I will be doing this again. I'm going to call the JAX in the next town over and there are also plenty of other shops in town. Although it's getting a bit warm for selling my crochet winter hats, people get the idea and they are for the most part, willing to help out!
Oh... and I ran over 10 miles on Saturday's run!! details... details.... :)
Friday, March 13, 2009
So much $, so much time :)
WHOA! The donations have been POURING in! You guys are all FANTASTIC!! I'm almost at my halfway point... of course, I don't have to stop at $4,000... let's just aim higher!
Tomorrow morning at 7:45 we have group training again. 1 and 1/2 hour run. Good to have company for those long ones... We usually pick some really nice bike trails around the city... have a little team meeting to start out and then we're off! Last weekend we were running past prairie dogs and bald eagles in 60 degree weather, so I guess I really can't complain :)
Tomorrow and Sunday I also have a fundraising stand set up in front of JAX, which is like a local EMS or REI. They are letting me set up a table to sell my crochet hats. I'm going to donate all the proceeds to my fundraising balance. And then next Saturday we have a group fundraiser, a bowling party here in Fort Collins. I've been collecting food and prize donations all week from local businesses... so let's hope that's a success as well.
Thanks again for ALL the support- both donation wise and all the positive emails that I've been receiving. I can't stress how important you guys are every day as I have to "drag" myself out of the house to go running- knowing that what I'm doing is SO MUCH BIGGER than me!!
Tomorrow morning at 7:45 we have group training again. 1 and 1/2 hour run. Good to have company for those long ones... We usually pick some really nice bike trails around the city... have a little team meeting to start out and then we're off! Last weekend we were running past prairie dogs and bald eagles in 60 degree weather, so I guess I really can't complain :)
Tomorrow and Sunday I also have a fundraising stand set up in front of JAX, which is like a local EMS or REI. They are letting me set up a table to sell my crochet hats. I'm going to donate all the proceeds to my fundraising balance. And then next Saturday we have a group fundraiser, a bowling party here in Fort Collins. I've been collecting food and prize donations all week from local businesses... so let's hope that's a success as well.
Thanks again for ALL the support- both donation wise and all the positive emails that I've been receiving. I can't stress how important you guys are every day as I have to "drag" myself out of the house to go running- knowing that what I'm doing is SO MUCH BIGGER than me!!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
This Just In...
I just got this email from my team captain...
"There are some EXCITING things going on in the world of cancer research right here in our own backyard thanks to your hard earned fundraising dollars! Dr. Yosef Refaeli and his team are funded by the LLS, and work out of Denver's National Jewish Hospital. This amazing group of researchers are on the cusp of discovering a way to use a patient's own cells in treatment INSTEAD of relying on a bone marrow transplant. This is a really exciting discovery because it eliminates the need to find a bone marrow match. Locating a bone marrow match often takes months or even years, and sometimes no one is ever found! Non-existent bone marrow matches are a huge reason why the survival rates for some types of cancer are so low. However, with this new discovery, the patient will be their own perfect match! In addition, the researchers believe that they can multiply the extracted cells so that the patient has a lifetime supply in the event that they have a relapse. The icing on the cake is that this treatment can applied to patient's battling a wide variety of cancers, not just blood-related. The research from National Jewish is just one of many examples of how your hard earned fundraising dollars are at work and saving lives! Thank you for making these amazing advancements in cancer treatment possible. None of it would happen without your dedication to TNT and its mission!"
So THAT is what your generous donations are helping to do!!! Doesn't that bring a smile to your face?? Keep 'em coming-- I still have 4 more months!!!
Been having a good week running- it's been SO beautiful out- literally in the 70's (farenheit) and sunny!! So I can't complain about forcing myself out on the trails. Our next team training is this Saturday- I'll keep you posted...
"There are some EXCITING things going on in the world of cancer research right here in our own backyard thanks to your hard earned fundraising dollars! Dr. Yosef Refaeli and his team are funded by the LLS, and work out of Denver's National Jewish Hospital. This amazing group of researchers are on the cusp of discovering a way to use a patient's own cells in treatment INSTEAD of relying on a bone marrow transplant. This is a really exciting discovery because it eliminates the need to find a bone marrow match. Locating a bone marrow match often takes months or even years, and sometimes no one is ever found! Non-existent bone marrow matches are a huge reason why the survival rates for some types of cancer are so low. However, with this new discovery, the patient will be their own perfect match! In addition, the researchers believe that they can multiply the extracted cells so that the patient has a lifetime supply in the event that they have a relapse. The icing on the cake is that this treatment can applied to patient's battling a wide variety of cancers, not just blood-related. The research from National Jewish is just one of many examples of how your hard earned fundraising dollars are at work and saving lives! Thank you for making these amazing advancements in cancer treatment possible. None of it would happen without your dedication to TNT and its mission!"
So THAT is what your generous donations are helping to do!!! Doesn't that bring a smile to your face?? Keep 'em coming-- I still have 4 more months!!!
Been having a good week running- it's been SO beautiful out- literally in the 70's (farenheit) and sunny!! So I can't complain about forcing myself out on the trails. Our next team training is this Saturday- I'll keep you posted...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
