Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues!
October 13, 2007 dawned clear, cool and beautiful! It was the perfect day for the more than 14,000 runners/walkers who were participating in the Baltimore Running Festival and the energy in the air was palpable.
For the 115 participants from the Maryland Leukemia & Lymphoma Society team, it was the culmination of a commitment to raise funds for research and patient support by challenging ourselves to participate in this endurance event. Together we walked, ran, talked and laughed countless miles together, and along the way we raised more than $250,000! At the Friday night pasta party, we met some of the patients and families whose lives have been touched by the LLS TNT program, and we were reminded that what we were doing really was making a difference. I am so proud to have been a part of that team.
My goals for the day of the walk were to finish in less than 4 hours (which I did – 3:45) and to have fun (which I also did!). The people of Baltimore were wonderful; they lined the streets in their neighborhoods, cheered us on, gave us high-fives, applauded us, offered food/drink, and waved and smiled. There were even two Baltimore “Hons” who were giving away hugs! The police were also great; they kept us safe by managing the traffic (I’m glad that I was walking), and also cheered us on. It was a wonderful day and I look forward to doing it again!
Your contribution to my effort was so important and I thank you again. As you can see from the total that was raised by only 115 people, all of the donations – large and small – combined to form a very impressive total! I also want to thank my coaches, teammates, my daughter Carrie (she’s the one who got me to sign up!), the LLS staff, and everyone who helped along the way. (It's not too late to donate. Just go to www.active.com/donate/tntmd/tntmdJMeacha before December 1!)
Next year is the 20th anniversary of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program and I expect that I will be involved again; I also want to invite you to join me! It will mean more than you can imagine…
Peace and blessings to all,
Jana
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