Training time for the Houston Marathong is here again! I can't believe it's been a year since I first thought of walking a marathon and joined the Team in Training (TNT) program! What a year it has been!

January 19, 2003 I completed my first marathon in Houston, Texas - 26.2 miles with an unofficial time of 6 hours and 35 minutes (the course must be completed within 6 hours for an official time.) But I finished! And with the help of friends and family I raised $1,500.00 to help in the fight against Leukemia and other blood-related cancers.

Over the next 4 1/2 months I will cover hundreds of miles preparing to participate in the 2004 Houston Marathon. There will be lots of 5 o'clock mornings and the temperature from now until January will probably range from 95 degrees to freezing, but I am ready, and excited!

You may ask why I would want to do this... for one, through this program I have learned a lot about myself, and what I can do when I put my mind to it. Also, I have met some of the greatest people, and have made some life-long friendships. But the most important reason of all is the work that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is doing.

Did you know that in 1960 there was no effective treatment for leukemia and very low rates of effectiveness for lymphomas? The all-age survival rate for leukemia was 14% and for lymphoma it was 31%. Today, thanks to research supported by contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the overall survival rates have tripled for leukemia and doubled for lymphoma.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's programs include:
*Supporting researchers in the United States and other countries who are engaged in promising, medically sound studies investigating the causes, treatments, and eventual cures of leukemia and its related diseases.
*Providing financial assistance to patients who are unable to meet the high costs of treatment drugs, blood support, and transportation to and from doctors' offices and treatment centers.
*Serving the community with resource and referral information programs and support groups for families dealing with these life-threatening diseases.
*Educating medical professional about the latest research advances in order to speed knowledge from labortories to doctor's offices of each new advance in diagnosis, treatment and therapy.
*Raising the funds necessary to support and expand these programs. Of the funds raised throught the TNT program, at least 75% will go to research, patient and community services, public health education, and professional education!

How can you help?
*Click on the "donate" link to the left. Print out the form, and return it to me.
*Forward the link to my pledge page to anyone and everyone (friends, family, co-workers, etc.) that might be able to donate.
*Attend my fundraiser dinner at Sweet Tomatoes in Stafford, Texas Monday, September 22, 2003. Everyone that dines there from 5pm to 8pm and presents my flyer will have 20% of their dinner check donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Please contact me for flyers!
*Attend my Mexican Fiesta fundraiser and silent auction Sunday November 2, 2003 from noon to 4pm. Please contact me for directions.

Check back often, as I will be making updates to this site.