Hello!

This year, I am very excited to be participating in the ING NYC Marathon 2008 as a member of Team McGraw. The money we raise benefits the Tug McGraw Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing support for research to improve the length and quality of life for people with brain tumors. I am asking for your help and support to reach my goal.

I am running in honor of my friend Sue. In October of 2006, she had a physical exam and was in perfect health. A mother of 3, a 6-year-old daughter and 10-year-old twin boys, she discovered that she had a brain tumor in February of 2007. While dropping her daughter off at daycare, she had a grand mal seizure.

Before she got to the hospital, she had a second. The tumor was diagnosed in her left frontal lobe and she had surgery a few days later to remove 75% of the mass. Four months later, she had a second surgery to remove as much of the remaining 25% as possible.

Today, Sue has a quarterly MRI and, while there is still a small amount of tumor, it has not changed in the last ten months. I am incredibly impressed - not only with the way Sue managed to keep her young children informed about what was going on without having them worry about Mommy too much, and without too much disruption to their lives - but with her attitude in general! She's definitely an inspiration and a positive role model!

I'm really looking forward to lacing up for my 6th NYC Marathon and knowing that, with your help, I will make a difference.