Fundraising...

Tonight is my first fundraiser event, and I'm a nervous wreck. If you are in the Newport News Area, check out Schooners (across from CNU) between 9pm and 1am. This event happened because a member of Chasing Arrows wanted to help. Last night, Justin and I began finalizing every detail. This involved picking up cornhole sets at 10pm, creating posters, buying materials, and staying up until 3:30am creating materials. This has been a stressful process and it wont be the last fundraiser.

Yesterday I traveled to multiple restaurants attempting to set up a fundraising night, and successfully got a bite. Now I'm waiting for a phone call from a General Manager in order to pick up flyers. On April 16, if you bring one of my flyers to UNOs Chicago Grill on Victory Blvd., 15% of your check will go to LLS. If Uno's makes over $1000, I get $20% of all checks with flyers.

Today I had a meeting about finding a new venue for the Stand Up Comedy Night. Luckily, it was a successful meeting. On April 17 (yes the day after UNO's) I will be hosting it. This one is going to take much needed effort, but will be successful.

I'm working with another TNT participant to form a carwash, unfortunately, I'll be out of town the weekend she wishes to do it. Hopefully I can work something out.

Anyway, I'll let you know how tonight goes. Ah, I'm so nervous!!! I have to MC and everything. Hopefully those public speaking courses will prove worthy tonight.

Raised Over $700!

Congratulations to Lisa Lazzari who has raised over $700 for Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego! Way to go! So far, Danielle Taylor is still leading the way at $1315. Who will be the next one over $1,000????

Can I be that one?

This week I was "featured" in our weekly Team in Training email from the staff member overseeing our race. I've raised over $700 so far because of all of you! Thanks for your support. Last week I met with a representative from Chasing Arrows. He was incredibly supportive of my campaign and is trying his hardest to help me out. Additionally, plans are underway for an Stand Up night full of entertainment and activities for early April. I still have $2,000 more to go.

For those of you who are unaware, I learned about this 1/2 marathon opportunity through my internship at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Virginia Chapter - Hampton Office. It has been an amazing internship. Next weekend (March 19 - March 21), I will help my supervisors, volunteers, and fellow interns manage and cheer on the runners supporting LLS at The Shamrock Marathon 2010 in Virginia beach. Since starting my internship in October, I've been working towards this event by recruiting and maintaining participants. I'm both anxious and excited to see the streets of VA Beach in green. Our days will start at 5:45am and probably end near 11pm, making sure the event runs smoothly. This will be my first glimpse into the world of TNT Marathons.

Where Does Your Donation Go?

$25 could pay for the cost of a patient's chemotherapy drug prescription co-payment.

$50 could register one person to be a bone marrow donor.

$75 could provide bone marrow typing for a family member of a patient with leukemia.

$150 provides 10 patients access to a web-conference to learn more about their specific blood cancer.

$300 will train 25 peer volunteers who can provide emotional support to newly diagnosed patients.

$500 could provide patient aid to a person with leukemia or a related cancer for a year.

Welcome Home

This past week was my final Spring Break as an undergraduate student. Finally, I decided to go away and relax from the weights of the world. My sister and I enjoyed the sun and the relaxation in Dominican Republic. It was truly an amazing trip. I conquered fears by swimming with sharks, I avoided sunburn by going through three bottles of sunblock in 1.5 days, and I met some new and interesting people, who I hope to keep in touch with. Despite this, the most amazing part of my spring break came when I arrived back at my apartment.

My first instinct: Check the mail (well actually, my first was "get to the bathroom" but getting the mail was on the way to my front door). I wasn't surprised to see piles of unread mail. I had forgotten to stop the mail for the week. I was shocked and excited beyond belief to see a pile of letters from people supporting my campaign. Even the President of my university sent me a donation. I don't think I've smiled that wide in a long time.

Thank you, everyone!

Lisa

Anonymous Thanks

This has been a tough few weeks in regards to training. I realized the difficulty in training for a half marathon and fundraising for an amazing cause...life. I spent the last week looking for a new apartment, a new job, and attempting to successfully acquire my degree. Every time I hit a trail or the treadmill, my mind ran more than my feet. Will I find an apartment before my lease is up? Will I be happy with my career goals? Should I only do two miles instead of three so I can finish that assignment? And between each question, I obsess over making my fundraising goal...will I make my fundraising goal?

And then, something incredible happened, something so out of the ordinary, I felt more selfish than I have ever felt...

This past Tuesday, I offered up 5 hours of my day to volunteer at IHOP's National Free Pancake Day. Those enjoying free pancakes were asked to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Although I smiled the first hour, I felt unnecessary in the whole ordeal. I was merely a Vanna White type, standing near a donation box while customers complained about the 45 minute wait. No one noticed me, and I thought of the homework assignments I should be working on instead of standing there. Then I heard it, in a quiet whisper...

"Thank you"

I turned to see an elderly woman, dressed in her finest attire, much too formal for IHOP.

"Thank you. I was just diagnosed with Lymphoma. I'm 56. Thank you for giving me hope."

She handed me a $20 bill for the donation bin and walked out of the restaurant. I never even learned her name, but I almost cried because of her selfless act and her short but touching story. My next mile was tough, as it should be, but I pushed through it, this time thinking of those people who are silently thanking the world for people helping, supporting, and simply thinking of them.

Thank you, anonymous woman. Thank you in every language possible. You inspire me to be strong. I'll think of you strongly throughout the next few months of training, and throughout my life.

The Silent Mile

Saturday was a long run, 4 miles to be exact. This run was much different than my previous ones. About 12 of us gathered at Newport News Park at 7:30am listening to the stories and the thank you's from Patient Honorees, mentors, and family members who had experienced lost. As a group, we ran/walked/biked a mile in silence, reflecting on the reasons we are participating: the people who touched our hearts, those we lost and those we've never known, and our determinations to find a cure. As each foot hit the earth, I thought mostly of all of those lost. I thought of a new friend I met earlier this year, who had lost his wife in October, and handed out buttons to anyone. He merely asked for us to remember him and his wife's story. I thought of my grandfather, who died when I was only 10. To this day I'm not entirely sure what type of cancer he died from, not for lack of people willing to share that information, but because the type never mattered to me, only that he was gone, and I couldn't save him.

As I reached the half mile marker, I noticed a family grilling breakfast on the campground in the distance. Two young boys chased each other while their father, I assume, laughed and continued cooking. It made me think of a young boy I never met, but who left us too quickly. I thought of Tommy, a young boy the Communication Studies Department at my university knows well. I thought of Tommy, and I ran and I prayed, in silence, for all of those effected: family, friends, and patients.

Thank you to all of you who are helping and donating. I ran those four miles, and I will run those 13 in June, and I will continue running, until we find a cure.

God Bless

Coloring For Cures

I launched my newest campaign today: Coloring For Cures!

It is your chance to decide which color my hair will be when I cross the finish line on June 6, 2010. To vote, simply donate money to the hair color you prefer. Whichever color has the highest amount will be the winner.

Subscribe to the facebook fanpage: Coloring For Cures - Fan Page