! A Run to Remember ...Jean McCumber's PledgePage !
Check back often for updates...
Be sure to sign my guestbook while you are here!
My Marathon Story:
Why would an otherwise intelligent 47 year-old non-athletic, overweight woman who has never intentionally run a mile in her adult life suddenly decide to run a 26.2 mile marathon? Is it some sort of mid-life crisis? Did she lose a bet to a friend with a sick sense of humor?
The truth is I am actually doing this for a very good reason. This is my way of making a difference in the lives of patients and their families battling leukemia and other blood-related cancers. Many will win the battle, but some will not. By making a personal commitment to train for and complete the Honolulu Marathon in December and, more importantly, by pledging to raise $4500 in donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their Team in Training (TNT) program, I hope to help increase the number of people who survive these awful diseases. I can do the training, but I need the help of kind-hearted people in the community to help me reach my fundraising goal.
Research sponsored by the Leukemia Society has been the catalyst for effective treatments of leukemia and related cancers. The money that TNT participants raise goes to aid researchers in their race to find a cure. The money also funds family support groups and the Patient Aid Program.
The research is working…the survival rate over the past 25 years for children diagnosed with leukemia has increased from 5% to 81%. Leukemia, however, is still one of the leading cancer killers of children between the ages of 1 and 14 and ten times as many adults as children are stricken. Every week there are 2100 new cases in America and every week approximately 1100 Americans die of blood-related cancers.
Prior to joining TNT, running a marathon was not an idea that I would have even remotely considered. Nearing the half-century mark of my life and always having a sedentary job, my idea of daily exercise was a brisk walk to the mailbox (and “brisk” may be a bit of an exaggeration). I have, however, been blessed with good health all my life and the challenge to finish a 26.2 mile run seems small compared to the daily challenges faced by those affected by cancer. The TNT team has a favorite saying “If you think running a marathon is hard, try chemotherapy”.
Each TNT member runs in honor of local patients. I will be running in honor of two very special boys here in the Phoenix area: 4 year-old Daniel Cronen, diagnosed two years ago with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L.) and 6 year-old Gabriel Romero, diagnosed three years ago with A.L.L. Both boys are currently undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments. I feel very privileged to run in honor of these courageous little guys.
If you would like to help me in my mission, I will gratefully accept any donation, large or small. Click on "donate" in the left-hand column to find out how or feel free to contact me by email (jmccumber@sssc.com).
Thanks to all the generous persons who have already contributed. If you have sent a check and don't see your name on the contributor list, please let me know.
Jean
Be sure to sign my guestbook while you are here!
My Marathon Story:
Why would an otherwise intelligent 47 year-old non-athletic, overweight woman who has never intentionally run a mile in her adult life suddenly decide to run a 26.2 mile marathon? Is it some sort of mid-life crisis? Did she lose a bet to a friend with a sick sense of humor?
The truth is I am actually doing this for a very good reason. This is my way of making a difference in the lives of patients and their families battling leukemia and other blood-related cancers. Many will win the battle, but some will not. By making a personal commitment to train for and complete the Honolulu Marathon in December and, more importantly, by pledging to raise $4500 in donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their Team in Training (TNT) program, I hope to help increase the number of people who survive these awful diseases. I can do the training, but I need the help of kind-hearted people in the community to help me reach my fundraising goal.
Research sponsored by the Leukemia Society has been the catalyst for effective treatments of leukemia and related cancers. The money that TNT participants raise goes to aid researchers in their race to find a cure. The money also funds family support groups and the Patient Aid Program.
The research is working…the survival rate over the past 25 years for children diagnosed with leukemia has increased from 5% to 81%. Leukemia, however, is still one of the leading cancer killers of children between the ages of 1 and 14 and ten times as many adults as children are stricken. Every week there are 2100 new cases in America and every week approximately 1100 Americans die of blood-related cancers.
Prior to joining TNT, running a marathon was not an idea that I would have even remotely considered. Nearing the half-century mark of my life and always having a sedentary job, my idea of daily exercise was a brisk walk to the mailbox (and “brisk” may be a bit of an exaggeration). I have, however, been blessed with good health all my life and the challenge to finish a 26.2 mile run seems small compared to the daily challenges faced by those affected by cancer. The TNT team has a favorite saying “If you think running a marathon is hard, try chemotherapy”.
Each TNT member runs in honor of local patients. I will be running in honor of two very special boys here in the Phoenix area: 4 year-old Daniel Cronen, diagnosed two years ago with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L.) and 6 year-old Gabriel Romero, diagnosed three years ago with A.L.L. Both boys are currently undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments. I feel very privileged to run in honor of these courageous little guys.
If you would like to help me in my mission, I will gratefully accept any donation, large or small. Click on "donate" in the left-hand column to find out how or feel free to contact me by email (jmccumber@sssc.com).
Thanks to all the generous persons who have already contributed. If you have sent a check and don't see your name on the contributor list, please let me know.
Jean