Go Stephie Go - Wildflower 1

LETTERS FROM STEPHANIE

2000 WILDFLOWER TRIATHLON

On May 7th of this year, I will complete the Wildflower Triathlon in Monterey County, California with theLeukemia Society's Team in Training. That's a .93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run. I am doing this for my cousin Ben and for myself. The amount that I need to raise for the event is 2,700, but because I am doing this for Ben as well, OUR minimum goal is $5,400.

On January 9, 2000, my cousin Ben died of complications from Leukemia. He was 24 years old, with a doting family, a wonderful wife, and a five year old son. In the beginning of 1998 he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. His older brother Christopher was a bone marrow match, and in mid 1998 Ben had a successful transplant. In 1999, several days before Ben was to participate in a small biathlon, tests came back showing Leukemia in the spine and brain. He missed the biathlon and went into the hospital instead. After months of painful surgeries and significant time in a coma, Ben let go and passed away. Leukemia had worn him down and ravaged his body.

After Ben died, I wanted to curl up into the tightest, tiniest little invisible ball and hide away until I'd withered into a dust bunny. Like a piece of paper rolled for too long, it has taken every molecule in my being to uncurl and stand up. Now that I am standing, there are two things that I am on a mission to do for my baby cousin.

Leukemia awareness - it's a killer!

1.	Leukemia is cancer of the blood, and there is NO CURE! Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants may put it into remission, but they don't always work. Leukemia infect blood-forming and infection-fighting organs like your bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen.
2.	Last year, over 102,000 people of all ages were disgnosed with Leukemia and its related cancers. Nearly 56,000 people died from it. Every week there are 1,900 new cases, and every week it kills approximately 1,100 Americans.
3.	Leukemia research is considered to be the window to the treatment and cure for all cancers. 25 years ago, 95% of children diagnosed with Leukemia died. Today, 73% of children with Leukemia will LIVE.

Finish this @#%$ triathlon for Ben.

One of the gazillion things that Ben wanted to do was that little biathlon, but he was no longer well enough to do it. The race of Ben's life was to be against Leukemia, and Leukemia would win. It wasn't just Ben's race, it was all of ours, and it is far from over. I will pick up where he left off, finish this triathlon, and help to find a cure in his name and in his memory.

Because of funding from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training, Leukemia research is rapidly advancing. Check out our articles. Someday, someone else will be in the same position as Ben, and because of what Ben's doctors had the opportunity to learn from him, that person is going to live. What a wonderful gift. Leukemia, like all cancers, leaves people with a great sense of powerlessness. This is your chance to do something. Make a difference. Remember Ben. Your donation will fund not only research, but patient and family support services and public and professional education. 75% of your donation goes to these services, and 100% of it is tax deductible. Many employers will match donations. Ask YOUR employer to help find a cure.

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