Although it isn't reflected on this page, if you combine the 2 pages assigned (technical glitch, I have no idea why there are 2 pages), and add the $49 worth of checks that haven't posted, we have raised $3016! Please see www.active.com/donate/nflongbeach2007/nfEFinner you will see that our goal has been met! Thanks for your help!

Welcome! Thank you for visiting to learn more about The Children's Tumor Foundation. The Children's Tumor Foundation conducts research on neurofibromatois (NF), a genetic disorder that occurs in 1 of every 3,000 births. NF causes the growth of tumors which can lead to blindness, deafness, and learning disabilities. There is currently no cure for NF, but you and I together can help to change that!

I was planning to run a marathon October 14 in Long Beach, CA in order to raise money and awareness about NF. I have run 2 half-marathons before, but this was to be my first full-marathon. Although I trained long and hard for a full marathon, and had run 20 miles at a better pace than I had hoped to run the marathon at, due to doctors orders I am only running the 5K this year. However, the good news is that I am pregnant with my third child! The doctor thought that this would just be too much, and highly discouraged even a half-marathon, and though I am disappointed, it is best to make sure that baby is healthy. I hope you will all still support my fundraising efforts!

I started running after my father became ill a few years ago. The doctors could not tell us what had caused him to rapidly lose weight and become very weak. After about a year of declining physically, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Just a few weeks later he passed away. I realized that celebrating his life was a lot easier than trying to forget about all of the heartbreaking moments that occured in his last few months.

This fundraising effort is in celebration of James "Big Jim" Finnerty. Your generosity will help fund research, but will also help me to move forward with my life. So thank you again! Please see my other page (I wasn't using one, but they have posted all of my mailed in donations on this other site, so...) for a current total (add the 2 pages together). http://www.active.com/donate/nflongbeach2007/nfEFinner

Recent news:

On July 19th my 8 year old niece went to the hospital. She was disoriented and had been vomiting. The doctors found that she had a brain tumor and scheduled surgery. About 70-80% of the tumor was removed on July 24. The good news is that they believe the tumor is non-malignent and due to juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA). The bad news is that the doctors could not remove the entire tumor without risking injury to Abbie, so she will have to undergo additional treatment of either radiation or chemotherapy following recovery from surgery.

Oddly enough, JPA is often associated with NF1. The doctors suspect that the tumor has been growing for 3-4 years. When I began raising money for The Children's Tumor Foundation, no one had any idea that Abbie would be diagnosed with a tumor just a few months later. She is strong and beautiful and loving. When I feel discouraged or feel that trying to raise money isn't worth the effort, I think about Abs and how hard she is fighting. Her parents and brothers are amazing and I love them all so much.

Abbie is home from the hospital, and having chocolate shakes with every meal now. She is doing great - talking lots, eating and walking around, though she still wears out easily. Although she still faces challenges related to JPA, we know that she will face them with courage, just as she faced her surgery.

Want to read more?

Recently the newspaper in my hometown wrote an article about my dad and my fundraising efforts. Hopefully it will inspire some people to donate, but certainly it will educate people about NF. Please cut and paste the following address to view the article:

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mountprospect/sports/455052,mp-runner-070507-s1.article

A heartfelt thanks to all who have donated, including the following local businesses:

Auld Dubliner • Bentson Chiropractic • Café Luce • Chow Bella • Cold Stone Creamery • Divas • Espresso Art • Frog & Firkin • The Good Egg • Iron Horse Signs & Graphics • The Joint • La Paloma Golf Resort • Peter Piper Pizza • The Landmark Clothing & Shoes • The Loft Cinema • No Anchovies • Old Town Artisans • Silver Mine Subs • Sunday's at the Spa • Vila Thai • Yoga Oasis

More Important Stuff:

Saturday, September 15 Naim Amor, Rey, and Tom Walbank played a concert with proceeds benefiting NF research. We had a raffle drawing at the concert too. Between the concert and raffle, we raised about $550! Thanks so much to the amazing musicians. I think everyone had a great time and lots of people learned about CTF and NF. I couldnt' be happier with the outcome!

Other News

The fundraiser at my son's school is going great. So far the classes have raised over $200! Maybe next year we will try to expand this to more schools in the neighborhood and we can raise more!