Today is the day I launch my Official Fundraising Efforts for Team In Training. On March 7, 2010 – I will be running 13.1 miles in the Disney Princess Half-Marathon in Disney World as part of Team In Training. I have signed a form saying I will raise at least $3500 to be part of the Team In Training Program. I am financially responsible for any amount I lack – but that doesn’t phase me because I know I can raise that much plus some. Today is the official day I start my fundraising and I have already raised over $900 thanks to many of you jumping in early. You have made me feel much more confident that I can raise the amount needed and much, much more…thank you. If you’ve already donated, feel free to move along. However, I do go into a little more detail as to why I’m doing this and you might want to read it to understand what your donation means to me.

WHY THE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY?

You’ll see on the LLS Home Page that this organization raises money for research for all of the blood cancers. One of which is Myleoma – the cancer that took my Daddy from me on March 31, 2009. It seems serendipitous that the race I’ll run in Dad’s name will almost be exactly one year after he died. Myeloma did awful things to my father before it took him from me, awful things I’ve not really talked a lot about because it seems so terrible that it happened to him. However…to help you understand why I really want to do everything in my power to someday prevent others from the same suffering, today I’ll share some of them with you.

My Dad was initially diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma based on many tests and exams from many doctors. However, to make it a solid diagnosis he had to have a bone marrow biopsy done. This is when they take a huge needle and jab it in the largest bone in your body (your thigh) and suck marrow out of it. We all know from medical shows how much this hurts and Dad knew it was going to hurt. They did it to him when he was in ICU. Here’s the thing — he was in so much pain already from the damage the cancer had done to his bones? That he actually was shocked at how little the procedure hurt. He said to the doctor, “No, it was great…” with a surprised tone in his voice. That’s how much pain he was in – the bone marrow biopsy didn’t hurt him compared to everything else.

Myeloma does so much damage to the cells in the marrow that one of the first symptoms is bone pain. But Dad was notorious for thinking pain was just normal with aging and didn’t get it looked into until his kidneys started failing (one of the other symptoms of the cancer). By the time he was hospitalized, he had micro-fractures and lesions all over his skeleton. This is why he was in so much pain.

And then, they put him on dialysis. Took someone living every day in agony and forced them to be hooked up to needles for four hours a day several times a week and sit still while blood was filtered. This was one of the huge catalysts for him deciding not to fight any longer and to enter into a residential hospice to let the kidney failure just end his life. But it didn’t stop there.

The worse part was between the kidney failure, the pain, and the initial chemotherapy – Dad’s digestive system pretty much stopped working. The man who lived his life with more dignity and pride (for good reason) than I could in a million years – he spent some of his final days dragging his agonizing body to the bathroom. First, in his home and then in hopsice. He didn’t always make it and he shamefully had to apologize to us for the mess he left at the home we had to clean out once he was in hospice. He also shamefully asked us to buy him protection to wear in case he couldn’t make it. None of this mattered to us at all, but to my Father – the man who deserved a long and proud life – it would have killed him alone if he wasn’t already dying. The cancer broke him. Into pieces. It will be my mission in life to raise as much money to research this cancer so that maybe somebody can be spared the death my Dad had.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHILE WE GIVE YOU MONEY?

Good Question! First of all – I’m training to run 13.1 miles. When I’ve trained for past long-distance runs, I would call my Dad every weekend to tell him what distance I was up to. He ran 5Ks several times a week for his entire life, just to stay healthy. But, he never understood why my brother and I wanted to run more. He was very proud, and loved hearing about it, but never quite got it. He supported all of our efforts, however. He went out to Nevada to cheer on my brother when he competed in an Iron Man distance race. (Over 140 miles of biking, running and swimming.) He came to Nashville to cheer me on for my marathon. He fed me crackers along the way. At one point when I was reaching a spot he was at near the end of the race, I started running just so he’d be proud when in reality I had been walking for miles. That stupid move popped my double-layered blisters. I’m a genius. So – 13.1 miles! That’s a lot!

I’ve also decided to make one big sacrife while I raise this money: I am giving up Diet Coke. For those of you who know me well, you know this is probably my biggest vice ever. I’ve never given it up completely, even when pregnant. I won’t tell you how much I drink in a day because it’s embarrassing. But – my family and friends in the real world? They are all scared for me. They see me drink it every second of every day. They’ve all been with me when I’ve gone through the McDonald’s drive through just for a Diet Coke. (They have the best fountain drinks, you know.) But until I meet my $3500 goal? None for me. And not just Diet Coke, no sodas at all. I don’t like Diet Pepsi or Diet Dr. Pepper as much, but if I’m desperate I’ll drink them. So, I’m taking that all off the table. I’m hoping this will help motivate me to keep pushing the efforts.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR US?

Giveaways! Giveaways! Giveaways! I’ve already emailed the winners of the Pioneer Woman Cookbooks and the $100 Visa Gift card. That could have been you! Every week I’m going to have a batch of prizes to have drawings for. Anyone who donates that week is eligible. I’m trying to make a smattering of prizes to appeal to everyone. I’m choosing prizes that I either love myself, or that somehow support other writers or artists or crafters that I support. This week’s drawings are for:

1. $25 gift certificate to Julie Rose Jewelery at Etsy. You could get almost THREE RINGS with that if you wanted!
2. No One Cares What You Had For Lunch: 100 Ideas For Your Blog by Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl.
3. The Glee Soundtrack Vol 1 which comes out Tuesday.
4. One “Pro” membership (for one year) to flickr
5. One Camera Strap of your choice from VMJESS whom made both of my straps for my Nikons.

I’ll announce the winners on Sunday!

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

Because I feel like it is entirely unfair for my Dad to have died so early. I’m pissed off and angry at the universe that took him from me. I’ve been aching all year to do something to give a little bit of reason to his death. Make some good come out of it. This is my first attempt and I hope to make many more. Because this short video below is one of the examples of the little things he is missing every day. If any of this money helps keep someone else from missing out on the little moments? Then maybe some of my anger at the universe will eventually fade.

Man, I know times are rough. They are here too. I got laid off this year. If you can’t donate? Please don’t. Seriously. But maybe post a link on your next blog entry for me? If you do, email me the link so I can see it and thank you on my sidebar. Maybe send the link to anyone in your family who may have someone affected by a blood cancer and want to donate. Anything you can do to help, even beyond the money, I appreciate. And if you can spare a few dollars, click the logo (or here) and give what you can.

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart – and my blistered feet.