Julie Mitchell's PledgePage for Team in Training 2004
“Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”
-- Howard Thurman
Running a marathon makes me feel alive! What makes you come alive? Every moment presents an opportunity to seize life, to make a difference. We can let life slip by, or we can wake up and grasp its essence.
I first learned about Leukemia when I was 14 years old. My friend Johanna, who had been sick lately, called me and told me she had Leukemia. She said that she would be undergoing a treatment known as chemotherapy, and would lose her hair as a result. We cried together on the phone. That was in March in 1980. She started her treatments immediately but then had a series of complications that put her in and out of the hospital for the next three years. Throughout the entire ordeal, Johanna kept her spirits up and fought the disease boldly. The courage Johanna displayed during her experience was immense, and made all of us look at life in a different way. In June of 1983, Johanna’s body could no longer fight this horrible disease and with dignity and grace she left us.
Fast forward to December 2, 2003. An amazing boy, Conor, a classmate and good friend of my 8-year-old daughter Nicole was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Conor started his treatments the morning after he was diagnosed and has been in remission since December 9. Unlike Johanna, Conor’s prognosis is extremely good. Today, children diagnosed with ALL have an 85% cure rate; Johanna only had 40% chance. The huge increase in this cure rate is because of all of the generous donations made by people like you, to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
On June 6, 2004 I will participate with other Team In Training (TNT) members running The San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon (26.2 miles) to benefit the Kentucky Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS is a non-profit, voluntary health organization whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. I will be running this race in honor of Conor and in memory of my friend, Johanna. They will be my inspiration on days when I battle fatigue, sore muscles and most of all doubts about my ability to meet this challenge.
As a TNT member I have pledged to raise a minimum of $3500. The money I raise will assist the LLS to provide funding for research, patient aid, community service, advocacy and public and professional education.
What I need from you is a donation to keep the hope alive for people like Conor and all the others who suffer from these forms of cancer. If you should have any questions please call me at (502) 339-1758. I would like to thank you for your time and generosity.
Sincerely,
Julie Mitchell
-- Howard Thurman
Running a marathon makes me feel alive! What makes you come alive? Every moment presents an opportunity to seize life, to make a difference. We can let life slip by, or we can wake up and grasp its essence.
I first learned about Leukemia when I was 14 years old. My friend Johanna, who had been sick lately, called me and told me she had Leukemia. She said that she would be undergoing a treatment known as chemotherapy, and would lose her hair as a result. We cried together on the phone. That was in March in 1980. She started her treatments immediately but then had a series of complications that put her in and out of the hospital for the next three years. Throughout the entire ordeal, Johanna kept her spirits up and fought the disease boldly. The courage Johanna displayed during her experience was immense, and made all of us look at life in a different way. In June of 1983, Johanna’s body could no longer fight this horrible disease and with dignity and grace she left us.
Fast forward to December 2, 2003. An amazing boy, Conor, a classmate and good friend of my 8-year-old daughter Nicole was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Conor started his treatments the morning after he was diagnosed and has been in remission since December 9. Unlike Johanna, Conor’s prognosis is extremely good. Today, children diagnosed with ALL have an 85% cure rate; Johanna only had 40% chance. The huge increase in this cure rate is because of all of the generous donations made by people like you, to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
On June 6, 2004 I will participate with other Team In Training (TNT) members running The San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon (26.2 miles) to benefit the Kentucky Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The LLS is a non-profit, voluntary health organization whose mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. I will be running this race in honor of Conor and in memory of my friend, Johanna. They will be my inspiration on days when I battle fatigue, sore muscles and most of all doubts about my ability to meet this challenge.
As a TNT member I have pledged to raise a minimum of $3500. The money I raise will assist the LLS to provide funding for research, patient aid, community service, advocacy and public and professional education.
What I need from you is a donation to keep the hope alive for people like Conor and all the others who suffer from these forms of cancer. If you should have any questions please call me at (502) 339-1758. I would like to thank you for your time and generosity.
Sincerely,
Julie Mitchell