Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

On November 11, 2002 I went to what I thought it was an information meeting about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program, and the next thing I know, I am holding a fundraising training manual and a marathon training schedule.

Now I have two goals for my life from now until April 27, 2003.

To raise $1500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and
To complete the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

Why should I support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's disease, strike 107,000 Americans each year and kill 60,500.

Every five minutes, someone in the United States learns that they have leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. That is almost 300 people per day. Every nine minutes another child or adult dies from the disease.

New cases of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma account for 11% of cancer cases diagnosed in the United States each year.

Survival rates for acute leukemia were 4% in 1960 and today have risen to 81%.

Chemotherapy was initially developed as a leukemia treatment. Today it is a standard therapy for most cancers.

Bone marrow transplantation, which was also developed as a therapy for leukemia, now serves as a promising therapy for many types of cancer, as well as AIDS and sickle cell anemia.

There is still work to be done. In children under age 15, leukemia causes more deaths in the US than any other disease.

How will my donation help?
Donations made through this site will assist The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society implement their mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.