Rocky Mountain National Park - June 9, 2008
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| Me in the Grand Canyon - Sep 2007 |
In 2004, my high school friend Alison contacted me after being silent for some time about her battle with Hodgkins Disease. She told me she had learned that nothing productive came from withdrawing into silence, and that she would do all she could to support me in raising money to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, and Hodgkins disease. She was in remission when I invited her to walk with me in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night fundraising walk in October 2004. Alison not only raised money for the cause, but raised awareness about blood cancers among her 7th grade students, colleagues and friends. I thought this was one of the bravest things a person could do, especially when faced with the probability that the cancer had returned.
Over the next year or so, Alison sought various treatments for Hodgkins, including a ground-breaking treatment involving stem cell therapy. After spending many days and nights in the hospital, she was sure she had beaten the disease.
In the fall of 2005, I learned that Alison’s cancer had returned, more aggressive than ever. She passed away in the hospital from complications due to her treatment. She was 31 years old. Although I know my friend is gone, her spirit still inspires me every day. My Hike for Discovery is an opportunity to honor Alison’s memory while raising money for a cause in which she so strongly believed.
Last September, I hiked in Grand Canyon National Park and raised $7,392 for the Society. This year, I am trying to beat my previous fundraising goal. You can help by making a donation to support my participation in Hike for Discovery and help advance the Society's mission. It's easy to donate online by selecting a dollar amount and clicking the Donate Now link on the left-hand side of this page.
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. If you want to read more about my training and see pictures, visit my training blog at http://mayahikes.blogspot.com.
Thank you so much for your support!
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