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help a great friend help others!!!!! his lovely letter!!!
Dear Family and Friends-
In case you haven’t figured it out: I’m a little nuts.
Two years ago I set out to accomplish a goal to raise $8000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and complete an IRONMAN. Though the financial and physical goal was achieved, the bigger battle is still ongoing… Cancer. I am not a doctor or scientist so I am doing the only thing I know to do and that is to raise money to find a cure and return to Louisville, KY August 29, 2010 to swim 2.4 miles, bike a hilly 112 miles, then run a marathon (26.2 miles) in the blazing sun. Two years ago I completed the race , in 107 degrees weather, and in 14 hours and 28 minutes. I am hoping it is a little cooler this year.
I’ve decided to take on this challenge for numerous reasons. Simply stated, I want to make a difference. Then of course there is the physical challenge of completing the IRONMAN again, and most importantly I am doing this in honor of some very special people: My brother, John Daniel Leist, who passed away after fighting Leukemia for 18 months and Richard Shumsky, father of my very dear friend. Richard has been battling leukemia for the last 5 years and is winning the fight. He is now in remission. (FIGHT ON RICHARD!) Plus, all others who have fought and continue to fight this horrible disease. This is for you.
I have committed to raising $8000 and I need your support to meet my fundraising goal.
To date, members of Team In Training raised over $680 million dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in its fight against leukemia, Hodgkin’s Disease, lymphoma, and myeloma. An estimated 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with one of these blood-related cancers, and every week 1,100 of them die. Leukemia is the number one killing disease in children, and it affects 10 times as many adults.
75% of my pledged amount of $8,000 goes directly to research. All donations are 100% tax deductible, and our tax ID is 13-5644916. Feel free to pass this along to your friends & family. Also check to see if your company has a matching gifts program, it’s an easy way to double your donation!
If you would like to donate online please go to my donation web page at:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/louisir10/rleist
<http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/louisir10/rleist>
I will be updating this page with how my training and fundraising are going. You will be shocked to see the amount of miles the Team puts in on a weekly basis.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/louisir10/rleist <http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/louisir10/rleist>
Rowdy cheers, band aids, ice packs, and chicken burritos (no beans) are just as welcome and appreciated.
SMILE,
Rich Leist
