running for our lives

Jenny Marin is a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. She is training for the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Half Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska on June 17th.

Jenny’s parents were math majors with my mom at Wake Forest and we reconnected this fall at her brother Geoff’s wedding. My last memory of her was July 4th weekend in 1984. That was my first trip to Washington, DC. I most vividly remember the sea of trash on the lawn surrounding the Washington Monument. The Beach Boys had performed the day before.

Tonight I received an update on Jenny’s training, which I must give her credit. I am not much of a runner, although Henry likes to run. However the cause caught my attention. My aunt Cheryl died as a result of treatments in her battle against lymphoma.

Cheryl was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 1994. After a tough year or so, her cancer went into remission. But it raised its ugly head and the last two years were a struggle. Since last spring, Cheryl grew increasingly weak and fought as hard as she could despite the problems that she had resulting from her treatments.

So I had to donate to Jenny’s efforts. Unfortunately most of us know of someone who has been affected by leukemia or lymphoma. Please donate and help put a stop to this devastating disease.