Robin Matlib's Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training PledgePage
It began with a mailing from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was tempted to discard it. As a grad student in Molecular Genetics, I have already dedicated my life to biomedical research -- with little to spare by way of time or money. But this mailing was different. It was a summons to become part of a TEAM -- a team that would first engage in a massive fundraising effort to benefit blood cancer research, then participate in a grueling athletic event, in my case the daunting 100-mile long, scorching hot, Santa Fe bike ride. I began to make excuses. Can I possibly balance fundraising and training goals with my research? Still, I felt compelled to attend the organizational meeting.
There, I met Lisa, my "honored teammate." Lisa was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 26 and has been in and out of chemotherapy since. It was impossible not to be moved by her tearful, intense, personal account of how she came to discover her illness and how she's struggled to cope with it. She has bravely continued to compete in marathons for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, raising awareness for her disease, even after a grapefruit-sized tumor was removed from
her inner thigh. Unbelievable.
I also met Kailie, a very brave 10-year-old girl diagnosed with ALL in 2000. Kailie loves to ride her bike, play baseball, do gymnastics, and watch movies. I understand that she's quite the budding writer, inspired by her favorites "Little Women" and "Return to Snowy River." Kailie loves everything that has purple on it, and says when she grows up, she wants to be a nurse so she can help others. Kailie is a remarkable "little woman" herself!
I have pledged to raise at least $3800 to help make a difference in the lives of people such as Lisa, Kailie, and the loved ones who take care of them. Would you be willing to do your part so that I can do mine? Please click on the donate link and give what you can. Then forward this website's URL to as many people as you know. I thank you. Lisa and Kailie thank you. Present and future blood cancer survivors thank you.
--Robin
There, I met Lisa, my "honored teammate." Lisa was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 26 and has been in and out of chemotherapy since. It was impossible not to be moved by her tearful, intense, personal account of how she came to discover her illness and how she's struggled to cope with it. She has bravely continued to compete in marathons for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, raising awareness for her disease, even after a grapefruit-sized tumor was removed from
her inner thigh. Unbelievable.
I also met Kailie, a very brave 10-year-old girl diagnosed with ALL in 2000. Kailie loves to ride her bike, play baseball, do gymnastics, and watch movies. I understand that she's quite the budding writer, inspired by her favorites "Little Women" and "Return to Snowy River." Kailie loves everything that has purple on it, and says when she grows up, she wants to be a nurse so she can help others. Kailie is a remarkable "little woman" herself!
I have pledged to raise at least $3800 to help make a difference in the lives of people such as Lisa, Kailie, and the loved ones who take care of them. Would you be willing to do your part so that I can do mine? Please click on the donate link and give what you can. Then forward this website's URL to as many people as you know. I thank you. Lisa and Kailie thank you. Present and future blood cancer survivors thank you.
--Robin