$5000+ Thank you!!!

WOW! Less than three weeks to go to the race!

This weekend I ran my 22 miles. It was hot and humid with overcast skies that never quite opened up on us and basically a yucky day to run (after all the sub 20's in Jan I have some nerve complaining about this!!). At mile 19 there was a water stop. As we approached the stop I saw Christopher-Lori's son. Then POP there was Lori at the stop waiting for me! WOW it was great! Talk about making my day! There was my hero standing and smiling and willing to take a stinky sweaty hug! (after 19 miles I am definitely ripe!) Thanks Lori!!!!

I run with 6 other people each week. We are (well 6 of us) all wearing skirts during the race! Really because it is funny to think of running a marathon in a skirt. We keep trying to get Kevin to wear one, but for some reason he is resistant...

I knew Shera from work-she is awesome. Kat, Val and Colleen L and I have been running together for months. What a great influence they are! They are all about 13 or 14 years younger than I am (surprised I am sure but it is true!)-they are all very bright, funny women with wonderful perspective and great stories-especially the cat poop one! It is quite fun and inspiring to run with them! We all support each other and make sure that no one is left behind.

Wait that is only 4 people!

The last two that make up the group are Colleen Jones and Kevin Kirkpatrick. They are about to be married (can you imagine planing a wedding while training for a marathon?) Colleen is finishing her student teaching 5 days after the marathon. She started running last year when Kevin was deployed to one of the hot zones in Iraq- to help keep keep herself from worrying. She did this at the suggestion of her step father Bill. She ran this same marathon with team in training last year-because it was easier to run with a group and she felt it was a worthy cause. This year Colleen and Kevin decided to run together to celebrate Kevin's safe return to the US.

In February they learned that Bill was diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Something had to give-it was fundraising! Now they are facing a large bill because they have not met their minimum fundraising goal and will have to make it up out of pocket. They are great people with such positive attitudes.

If you can open your hearts and wallets once more and give a dollar or even 5 dollars to Colleen Jones www.active.com/donate/tntepa/tntepaCJones2
and/or www.active.com/donate/tntepa/tntepaKKirkpa
It would mean the world to us as a team, to the people fighting blood cancer and it will help them reach their minimum.

If you can't donate money, please say a prayer for Bill. It worked for Lori-let's throw some positive energy to Bill!

You have all given to me-financially and spiritually. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You made this so easy for me. I have passed my minimum fundraising goal by over 100%. Together we are working for a cure!

Much love!
Meg