Byong's Fundraising and Fun Racing
How You Can Help an Overweight Physically Challenged Man Run a Marathon And Raise Money to Fight Leukemia!
It's About Time You Showed Up!
Dear friend,
Everyone thought I was crazy. My mother looked at me with such worried eyes, and my father, he didn't want to doubt my actions, but I knew he was concerned.
I was born with a condition called WPW. Wolfe Parkinsons White Syndrome. The electrical nodes in my heart were all messed up causing irregularities in heartbeats, sometimes leading to tiny episodes of cardiac arrest - minor heart attacks. I'm only 29 years old. I was diagnosed when I was 19.
marathon isn't easy. Do you think you can do it?"
But I was committed. It's been over ten years since the operation and I feel fine. In fact, prior to my decision of running the marathon I went from 200 lbs. to 187 lbs in three months. I was determined to get in shape, and when the opportunity presented itself, I decided that running a marathon would be a landmark achievement. I thought, if I could do this, I can do anything.
So here I am. Training, getting my body to run over 26 miles and I've never ran past 5 miles in my entire life!
Did I mention that I also have Plantar Fasciitis? The arch in my foot collapses with every step I take and after awhile, it feels like someone is taking a knife and cutting across the bottom of my feet. The pain is intense and without the help of shoe inserts or orthotics I wouldn't be able to walk comfortably.
I'M POSSIBLE!
I am training and conditioning my body to endure the pain I expect to endure just so that I could prove to myself that despite my physical limitations - I don't have limitations in life. I don't like it when someone tells me I can't do anything. If someone is going to tell me that I can't do something, you better well believe I'm going to go out and do it. Let's not forget that I have a deviated septum and can only breathe through one nostril. I know it's going to be tough. But I'm tired of the excuses. I'm tired of blaming my physical limitations from preventing me from reaching success and achieving my dreams. Why? Because this pain is nothing compared to what others have to endure on a daily basis.
I'm participating as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. Along with Team In Training we are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. And I can't do this alone. I need your help and support to cross the finish line.
Here are some frightening statistics about Leukemia
- Every 5 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer
- Every 9 minutes someone will die from a blood cancer.
- Leukemia takes more children’s lives between the ages of 1 and 14 than any other disease, yet it affects 10 times as many adults.
A Little Goes A Long Way
Last year the Team in Training program raised over $88 million towards the fight. Each donation beginning with an individual like you making any contribution, no donation is too small.
With Team in Training at the helm of aid, the overall survival rate for leukemia and related blood cancers has tripled in the last 30 years from 10% to 42%. Twenty five years ago only 5% of children diagnosed with leukemia would survive but now that rate is up to almost 80%.
Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission and get me across the finish line. Remember, you're not just helping me finish the race, you're helping others stay in the race of life. It's not just about me reaching a lifetime achievement goal, it's also about helping someone else live a lifetime.
Here's what happens when you donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
- Your contribution goes to help find a cure for those suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma.
- You help me achieve a goal never thought possible. You get to participate in a landmark event in my life.
- Your donation will directly help those suffering from blood cancers, the true heroes of the race.
- You get to participate in the race and help make a huge impact without ever having to step foot in the actual marathon.
- In just a few minutes of your time, the money you give will have made a difference in not just my life but in the lives of thousands of other people who benefit from Team in Training.
- Remember, your contributions are 100% tax deductible. With 75% of your contribution going directly towards research.
I encourage you to check back often to see my progress. Thank you so much for your support and on behalf of myself and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training we appreciate your help.
