What I am doing about my Mom's cancer! (please keep kicked)

redacted

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Wed Oct-11-06 05:00 PM
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What I am doing about my Mom's cancer! (please keep kicked)

My fellow DU-ers,

Would you believe me if I told you I'm competing in a 109-mile bike race in Tucson next month?

No, not a motorcycle--on a bicycle, and that's more than the distance from Santa Rosa to San Jose. I drove between those towns last week for a meeting, and believe me, it's a very long way.

And let's face it, I've never exactly been the athletic type.

Think I�m crazy? I might just be. So why would I be doing something this insane?

Last February, my mom found a hard lump in her neck. It was a swollen lymph node. It didn't go away. It kept growing.

And yes, it turned out to be cancer. So since March, Mom's been treated at Houston's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. They're a world-class facility; my Mom received incredible medical care there.

Last week (the same day, in fact, I drove to San Jose), her doctor called. The cancer is gone, and her prognosis is excellent!

But during her treatment I felt compelled to do something, anything, to help. Of course. I'm not a doctor, a researcher, or someone who's even thought much about cancer before.

So signed up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. Through this program, I'll be supporting an organization that is dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, along with improving the lives of patients and their families.

In exchange for my work on behalf of the Society, they've helped me train for the race, provided coaching and medical guidance, and put me on a team of riders with similar skills--which when I started in August was NO skills at all!

However, last weekend I completed a 50-mile ride in Napa County, climbing around 1,800 feet total and 1,000 feet in a single 5 mile stretch. After this achievement, my mind thinks the goal is attainable, even though my thighs might not be so sure.

So before I ask for your financial support (you knew that was coming) consider these facts:

� Every five minutes someone in the United States learns that they have a blood cancer.
� Every 10 minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer.
� Leukemia is the number one disease-killer of children under 15.
� Lymphoma is the leading disease-killer of adults under 35.
� Over 75% of your donation will go directly to research and patient services.
� Research in blood cancer treatment moves us closer to a cure for all cancer.
� The money you give today could benefit someone you love.

My goal is to raise $5,000 by November 1st. Your help is needed and very much appreciated. Go to: <http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/annstringer> to make an online donation. Or you can mail your donation to my office address, PM me and I can send it to you. All checks should be made out to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Also you can read about my training and leave me a message on my blog: <http://www.annstringer.com/blog>

Feel welcome to forward this email along to your colleague, friends and family as well.

Thank you for your support!

Ann (& Doug, both of us known as redacted)