$ 2,817 112% $ 2,500
TOTAL DONATIONS COLLECTED:$2,817.00
GOAL:$2,500.00

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Kelly Roque's Team In Training Page

Racing to Save Lives

MARATHON UPDATE: I did it! See? I even have the proof! Although I must tell all of my wonderful donors that I did not complete the full marathon as originally planned. Instead I was advised to drop down to the 1/2 marathon which is 13.1 miles. You see, God definitely has a wicked sense of humor . At least that is the impression I get since around the middle of March, well into my full marathon training, I found out that our happy little Roque Family of 5 is about to become a happy, slightly larger family of SIX in late November of this year. Funny, right??? Well-so there it is. I completed the 1/2 marathon at 11 weeks preggo and can't tell you what an emotional high it was to do so! As I tell friends and family who ask how marathon weekend went, with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, my reply is simply : "It was good for the soul." The people I've met, the stories I 've heard, and then of course the money WE have all raised for this cause is just something I'll never forget! With all of your help, we raised $2,792.00...well over my $2,000 original fundraising goal. While a whopping 76% of all money raised up to that $2,000 goes directly toward helping families and funding research- 100% of everything above that goes directly into the pockets of those same families, related programs and research efforts! And as an entire chapter, TNT raised well over $200,000 for this event! So I thank you all again for your support!

God Bless! Kelly

Here are some of my race day photos:marathon 00126321-1814-021fNJ Marathon 081NJ Marathon 049 NJ Marathon 037 ____________________________________________________________________ <P> January 2008 <p> Now if you know me well you may find this news somewhat unbelievable, but I am training to participate in a marathon this coming May 2008 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training! I am working hard (i.e. actually stepping foot into the cold at unGodly hours to run with the training group.....who is this person?? ) to reach my goal and cross the finish line of a 26.2-mile run in Long Branch, NJ. <p> Sadly, it’s nearly impossible to meet anyone who hasn't been affected by some type of cancer in some way! It seems nearly as prevalent as the common cold; what a frightening thought! In fact, I suppose my true vendetta with this awful epidemic stems from the fact that my mother lost her battle with cancer just a week after I'd finishing my chemo and radiation treatments for hodgkin's lymphoma. However, I am so blessed to have had the treatments available to put my own cancer into remission since 1995. I’ve never had a life lesson or challenge like the one I experienced during that time. It is emotionally, financially and physically challenging (ok...draining!) for the patient as well as their family. Now, I finally feel I’m in a place to do something for others undergoing treatment and so I’m rallying alongside the TNT volunteers to reach my goal of $2,500 by this coming April 2008. The money I raise helps provide support services for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma cancer patients. It will provide emotional support, such as pairing up survivors with current patients undergoing similar treatments (I think that's one of the best support you can get!), fund research for new treatments and provide financial assistance for families who must make travel and/or lodging arrangements during treatment. Of course these are only a few of the ways these funds are utilized. <p> Some special individuals and their families have touched my life over the past several years and these are the people I have in mind every time I push myself out the door for my run! <p> ~I am thinking of Gary Van Dyke, a sweet man I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with at a local diner about a year ago who is battling Hodgkin’s disease. I check in with him periodically and he's doing great! As of the end of January, he'd just finished with chemo and has begun radiation treatment. He's in the final stretch! <p> ~My dear friend and fellow survivor, Jennifer Beatty was a mom of two small girls when she got her Hodgkin’s diagnosis a few years ago. Thankfully, today she is now in remission and the picture of health! <p> ~The father of my childfriend friend, Heidi, has just started treatment for Leukemia. His name is Gene Hellriegel. I only found out about his diagnosis since emailing friends and family about my upcoming marathon. My heart broke to hear this news and the entire Hellriegel family is on my mind every single day. I pray for their strength during this difficult time. <p> UPDATE AS OF 2/7/08: After undergoing two rounds of chemotherapy, Gene Hellriegel's latest bone marrow test reveals he is now in remission!!!!! Incredible and uplifting news! Still a long road of recovery ahead, but he's going strong and with his first grandson on the way--he has all the motivation he needs. <p> ~Finally, I am praying for Bob Catanio. Although he may not know me directly, his daughter Kim is a friend of mine. I think of him and his family constantly as he undergoes treatment for myeloma and know that these are challenging times. <p> These people are my inspiration and the names I will wear on my race day shirt. Every time I want to give up and stop running, I am reminded that there is no such thing for these individuals….and so I have to keep going too! <p> I’m grateful for your support and appreciate any donation, no matter what amount! And if there is someone special you’d like me to add to my race day shirt, please forward me his or her names. You can reach me at kelroque@hotmail.com or 973-729-2291. <p> Please visit when you can to check up on my progress! <p> With sincere thanks, Kelly </p> </div> </div> <div id=

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