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The Long Road

On May 6th of this year, I will complete my first Half Iron Man (at the Wildflower Triathlon in Monterey County) with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. That’s a 1.2 mile swim, a hilly 56 mile bike ride, and a hilly 13.1 mile run. This is considered by many to be the hardest Half Iron Man race in America, and it’s not all I am doing this year...

I should tell you, I am on a long road on which Wildflower is but the first stop. This road is both leading me to next year’s Iron Man Canada, and leading Team in Training towards a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma. On January 8th, 2000, my 24 year old cousin Ben died of complications from leukemia. Ben was an honoree for team in training’s Chicago chapter. He had been fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since 1998. His leukemia recurred after what we thought was a successful bone marrow transplant. He fought a hard battle, but after months of painful surgeries and significant time in a coma, Ben finally let go.

Because of funding from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training, leukemia research is rapidly advancing. It is my intention to help find a cure in Ben’s name and in his memory. I have committed to raising $9,200.00 over the next year to aid in funding research, patient and family services, and public and professional education -- I need your support! Join me and remember Ben by giving a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


For your enjoyment, here are a couple of stories from the road...

BEES AND COWS
Saturday, June 3rd 2000 I went for my first ride on my new bike, and it WAS SO HARD! I don’t know if it’s the bike or me! Probably a little of both. Not only was it hard,but I got hit in the head by a stupid bee, like there aren’t a million miles of other air that it could occupy! Anyway, I almost crashed because after it ran into my face, it proceeded to try to escape by going up my face and into my helmet. I looked so stupid! Picture this - ride ride - weave weave weave (while flailing arms and hitting myself in the head - which pissed the bee off), stop - try to unhook feet from pedals before falling over - throw off helmet, hit myself in the head a few more times for good measure - look around to see if anyone is staring - they are. It stung me on the forehead. After I got home it was funny.

August, 2000
OK, so I’m running with the team through a field at InspirationPoint when I see it. The cow. It isn’t close, but it doesn’t matter. Cows have a thing for me. So I, being the person that I am, scream “AAACK! COW!” and speed up. Running faster, I try to explain that cows give me that “we know you eat us” look, they get in front of me, and then they stop and stare. That’s just creepy. This particular cow is now on an intercept course. It has stopped whatever it is that cows do, and is now walking just fast enough to be in front of me before I get to the fence. My teammates watch (and laugh) in amazement as I speed up again. The cow starts running. What kind of cow runs? I beat it to the fence, and the game is over.

LOYAL TO THE CAUSE, LOYAL TO THE SPORT
It’s a long road to Canada, and a long road to a cure for Leukemia. I have had, and will continue to have, adventures along the way. But my focus is singular. Help find a cure for leukemia. Please help me by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Your contributions are 100% tax deductible, and over 75% goes directly to services. Many employers will match donations. Please ask your employer to help us to find a cure. You can track my progress over the months by visiting www.oocities.org/GoStephieGo.

Click here to donate!
(You can now donate online using your credit card)

Cool Wearables!
100% of profits go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.