I can report that TNT raised $18.5+ million with the Nike Women's Marathon!! At the pasta party on Saturday night, I heard more inspirational stories and people than I can describe. There were survivors participating in the marathon, loved ones of survivors and of those that had already passed on - everyone was running in honor or in memory or both of someone affected by cancer. It was hideous and beautiful simultaneously. I remember watching all of the pictures of honorees, those still here and those passed on and being overwhelmed at one point at our vulnerability. And then a survivor spoke to the group of 6K people about how she beat all the odds. On whole, TNT has raised over $60 million this year through its marathon participants!!
And ... I crossed the finish line at 26.2 miles!! It got hard at mile 20, mile 23 to 26.2 was the most difficult ever!! I made it ... and ONLY with the support of all of the people who offered time, money, words and let's not forget, free babysitting. ; ) I could never, ever have done this on my own, and not just the donations - I could never have completed the training and then the marathon without the endless support I have received. And I am so incredibly thankful to have been a part of that whole experience.
Due to flight delays, I did not get home until 2:30 a.m. By the time I got in bed and then talked to an excited 6 year old who crawled into my bed an hour later to whisper to me all about her adventures while I was away, I'm going on about 2 hours of sleep. So, I'm going to try to do the official letter/e-mail tomorrow to send out and let everyone know of our success and the details of the whole thing! And in case anyone was wondering, yes, we're doing it again next year. ; )
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Okay, we made it past the minimum. Not as much as I'd hoped, but more than required. When I do this next year, I'll know a lot more about fund raising and will raise even more.
I am going to do a 3 mile run on Thursday and that's it until the big day. At times, I can't remember when I wasn't training and then at other times, it seems like it's been no time at all. I really want to keep this up after the marathon - not to this degree but keep a regular running regimen. I think, given how much I've fallen in love with it, that I can.
I have to e-mail Anna's picture tomorrow to the Marathon Expo and they'll display it among all the others with a word about why I'm honoring that person. I have no idea how I'm going to put that into words. I'll probably just say something about how I'm running in honor of Anna Jane, five years old, b/c in her struggles, she's taught me how to live. Yes, I believe that's it.
I am going to do a 3 mile run on Thursday and that's it until the big day. At times, I can't remember when I wasn't training and then at other times, it seems like it's been no time at all. I really want to keep this up after the marathon - not to this degree but keep a regular running regimen. I think, given how much I've fallen in love with it, that I can.
I have to e-mail Anna's picture tomorrow to the Marathon Expo and they'll display it among all the others with a word about why I'm honoring that person. I have no idea how I'm going to put that into words. I'll probably just say something about how I'm running in honor of Anna Jane, five years old, b/c in her struggles, she's taught me how to live. Yes, I believe that's it.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Winding down ...
The marathon is in less than one week. I know the total shows that I have $150 more to go to reach the minimum fundraising total but I am picking up my final donations tomorrow and that will put me over the minimum, how much I don't know. I know that I'm picking up at least $200 but it might be more. I very much look forward to the Pasta Party Saturday night when we'll find out the total raised for the marathon.
I did the last team run on Saturday. I was kind of sad about that, really. I'm almost giddy about the marathon. I can't wait to run in it. There are 15,000 people participating. Wow. That's a lot of people. The beginning is a little nerve-wracking I've heard b/c you're all bunched up together. There is a chip on your shoe that doesn't start counting time until you cross the start line and then stops when you cross the finish. I always wondered how that worked since it wouldn't seem fair to the thousands that take a while just to get to the starting line. Even after that, you're apparently all bunched up for quite a while and then the crowd finally disburses. I'm fairly claustrophobic, I hope that doesn't affect my breathing too much. Oh well, surely it won't.
Anna - I don't really know how one describes how a child is doing that is dieing of cancer. Her mom says that she no longer has good days and bad days but good times and bad times during each day. She has had several 'minor' procedures lately, when little things go wrong, that has caused her next MRI to be repeatedly postponed. However, I hesitate to detail those b/c, for one, they're heartbreaking and for two, they sell her short. B/c she keeps going - granted, she's weak and has to be carried everywhere, but she goes and is still such a funny little child. So, it's not fair to just think about the things that makes my heart ache for her, but it's not fair to minimize her triumph in getting this far. There is a balance there somewhere.
I recently told you about Mitch that passed away. Not long after his death, the Light the Night walk occurred - it's a walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - held at night, obviously, and lit up by small lights down the entire way. There were hundreds of people there that wore shirts in Mitch's honor. His Mom spoke and I want to share what she said:
I did the last team run on Saturday. I was kind of sad about that, really. I'm almost giddy about the marathon. I can't wait to run in it. There are 15,000 people participating. Wow. That's a lot of people. The beginning is a little nerve-wracking I've heard b/c you're all bunched up together. There is a chip on your shoe that doesn't start counting time until you cross the start line and then stops when you cross the finish. I always wondered how that worked since it wouldn't seem fair to the thousands that take a while just to get to the starting line. Even after that, you're apparently all bunched up for quite a while and then the crowd finally disburses. I'm fairly claustrophobic, I hope that doesn't affect my breathing too much. Oh well, surely it won't.
Anna - I don't really know how one describes how a child is doing that is dieing of cancer. Her mom says that she no longer has good days and bad days but good times and bad times during each day. She has had several 'minor' procedures lately, when little things go wrong, that has caused her next MRI to be repeatedly postponed. However, I hesitate to detail those b/c, for one, they're heartbreaking and for two, they sell her short. B/c she keeps going - granted, she's weak and has to be carried everywhere, but she goes and is still such a funny little child. So, it's not fair to just think about the things that makes my heart ache for her, but it's not fair to minimize her triumph in getting this far. There is a balance there somewhere.
I recently told you about Mitch that passed away. Not long after his death, the Light the Night walk occurred - it's a walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - held at night, obviously, and lit up by small lights down the entire way. There were hundreds of people there that wore shirts in Mitch's honor. His Mom spoke and I want to share what she said:
I cannot think of a better cause or a better place to be tonight than right here!
Leukemia, is the deadliest childhood cancer. Mitchell was diagnosed on August 12th, 2005, he relapsed August 13th 2007 and on Sept. 27th he headed to Heaven. This cancer is a beast, there is nothing pretty about it. But at the end of this long and dark tunnel there is a light, this light is the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. The society provides education and financial support to families effected by this disease, as well as, provides funds for research to find a cure.
First of all I want to thank my Heavenly Father for His loving grace and mercy for Mitchell during his final days and for blessing us with such beautiful family and friends who are taking great care of us during this time. Thank you to everyone who came to walk and who donated for your eagerness to help make the light at the end of the tunnel a little brighter.
Mitchell always enjoyed Light the Night. The first year(2005) he was too weak to walk and we pulled him in a wagon. Last year he was able to walk the entire way. Tonight he flies above us.
Leukemia, is the deadliest childhood cancer. Mitchell was diagnosed on August 12th, 2005, he relapsed August 13th 2007 and on Sept. 27th he headed to Heaven. This cancer is a beast, there is nothing pretty about it. But at the end of this long and dark tunnel there is a light, this light is the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. The society provides education and financial support to families effected by this disease, as well as, provides funds for research to find a cure.
First of all I want to thank my Heavenly Father for His loving grace and mercy for Mitchell during his final days and for blessing us with such beautiful family and friends who are taking great care of us during this time. Thank you to everyone who came to walk and who donated for your eagerness to help make the light at the end of the tunnel a little brighter.
Mitchell always enjoyed Light the Night. The first year(2005) he was too weak to walk and we pulled him in a wagon. Last year he was able to walk the entire way. Tonight he flies above us.
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