anna is my hero

Many years ago, when I was studying abroad in Japan, I saw a sign for the Kyoto Half Marathon. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be fun to run this?" And then I convinced my friend Anna that she too should run it. We had such a good time that when we both moved back to the East coast, we decided to train for the Boston Marathon.

It is now years later and while I'm stuck in the midwest, Anna has been living in Boston and running the marathon every year with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and their Team in Training. For the past four years she has been raising money and running with the goal of curing cancer. Please read her letter below and donate to this very good cause, because she is my hero.

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Dear Friends and Family,

It's February. Old faithful Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Temperatures are frigid and snow flurries loom over every weather forecast. This can only mean one thing: the Boston Marathon is around the corner!

Please support me and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as I run the Boston Marathon on April 21, 2008.

Last year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Boston Marathon team raised just under 1 million dollars! That's $963,000 to help fund research to fight blood cancers and support families affected by blood cancers. That's $963,000 closer to finding our ultimate goal: a cure.

My goal is to raise $4000! Can I do it?? WHO KNOWS! There's one way to find out… visit my fundraising site and follow my progress:

http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/tntmaARoyer2

I cannot say thank you enough for the support I've received over the past four years. When I started running the Boston Marathon I was by no means anything close to a runner. Now, running has become a significant part of my daily routine; when things become stressful with medical school I know I can go blow off some steam on the road. I am grateful that I am able to run and that I am healthy. When times get rough during a run or for sure during the marathon I remember why I run – I run for those who can't. I run to raise awareness and funding. I run for hope.

This year I am running in memory of Lawrence Meyer – my friend Laura's father who passed away from Leukemia. I am also running in honor of Frank Small who is currently battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Please let me know if you know someone afflicted by cancer and would like to have his/her name on my singlet.

Thank you to those who have already donated and to those who have showed support in other ways (thanks for the socks Mother!). Please consider if your work place does matching gifts. If you think this is a possibility, let me know and I can get any additional information they need for taxes etc. Lastly, please feel free to pass on this e-mail.

Donate at my site:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/tntmaARoyer2

I hope to keep you updated on the marathon progress as we approach the big day!
Thank you!!!
Anna Royer