Tom Calderiso's Fundraising Page!

Hike For Discovery is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's adventure fundraising program that prepares people to experience a natural wonder in a special way.

While I'm training, I'm raising funds to help the Society cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 712,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. Your support of my participation in Hike For Discovery will help bring them hope and support.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Hike for Discovery and help advance the Society's mission. I hope you'll visit my web site often, so that you can see how my training and fundraising efforts are going. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.

In December I turned 50 and have the good fortune of being in good health. I started to think of what I could do in the second half of my life to make an impact on others who perhaps were less fortunate. For the life of me, sitting in a rocker or couch did not have much appeal even though I am a Papa.

Recently, I received a Hike for Discovery brochure in the mail during the same time I was planning some hikes in New Hampshire this summer as I am working on hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 foot mountains. I was intrigued with idea of doing something I love (hiking), while also having a reason & cause to do it. It would also give me an opportunity to hike the Grand Canyon, something I have been inspired to do since I first laid eyes on it in 1984.

In the past few weeks, I learned that an ex-employee of mine was diagnosed with Leukemia and has been hospitalized and will be under treatment for some time. I also found out that an ex-boss and friend who had been battling cancer only had two months to live. Unfortunately, within days and two days before her 58th birthday, the cancer took her life. As I sat at her memorial service, I thought a lot about that brochure I had received only a few days earlier.

After attending an information meeting, I knew that Hiking for Discovery was for me. My wife Linda and I often run road races for different charities but this was something much bigger. My involvement would require commitment and sacrifice of time and energy for training over the next three months. It would also allow me to encourage & motivate others, while also being inspired and motivated by them in return. As I looked around the room, I was excited to see all the strangers that I soon would bond a friendship with as we prepare for our “Hike of a Lifetime” for one common cause.

Most of us have lost a loved one, a friend a colleague or neighbor to cancer or know of someone who has. Cancer has bitterly touch too many of our lives and I want to do my part to change that. For every Pat, Ed, Rod, Carol, Bob, Walter, Alice that have succumbed to cancer, there is a Barbara, Robin, Janet, Jackie, Kim and others that need help in the research of curing cancers.

I need your help ! As part of my promise and commitment, I am asking for donations to assist me in reaching my pledge.

Thank you for taking part in my commitment to stamp out cancer.