My Fundraising Page

Welcome to my Light The Night Walk homepage.

Meet my friends, Torri and John, and their gorgeous children, Amelia and Jackson. I've known the Westmorelands for over 6 years. I was there the day they came to tour the school my boys were attending and where I was working. Our friendship quickly grew to include parties at one another's homes, Girls' Night Out, meals at favorite restaurants, etc. The thing about Torri & John that has always amazed me...They CHOOSE to work together!! And...they are happy doing it. Well, most of the time:) They are so fun to be around because they truly are best friends. Those smiling faces reflect how they choose to live!

So, last Feb when John was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, I was devastated by the news! Yet another life re-routed by hearing the words "You have CANCER." John and Torri are younger than me! How could this be happening? They had been on a mission together to eat healthier and lose weight. They'd been doing all the 'right' things, yet Cancer decided to come along and challenge them.

Well, they stepped up to the challenge. Determined not to let cancer get them down, John decided to work while in treatment....literally. Check out this pic taken at chemo:

The dueling laptops are just the way they roll!! Not only did they keep running their business, but they also took on a huge new project. They decided to Stick It 2 Cancer! I've joined their team to help them reach their goal of raising $20,000 to fund research for fighting Leukemia and Lymphoma. I'm personally hoping to raising $1,000 toward their cause. On Friday Aug 13, John had his last chemo treatment. On Fri Oct 20, we celebrated the good news that John is CANCER FREE!!!

August 24, 2010: With a heavy heart I am back to edit my fundraising page. Just today, I got the news that my neighbors' 15 year old daughter, Adrian, was also diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She will start treatment immediately. Another friend, another fight. We need help now to STOP this Cancer.

Here are the links where you can learn more about Stick it 2 Cancer and the latest antics of Torri, John and the entire Stick it 2 Cancer Team:

http://stickit2cancer.com/

http://www.facebook.com/stickit2cancer

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ga/Atlanta10/TeamInDepth

You can learn more about the walk event here:

http://www.lightthenight.org/ga/localchapter/09_results/atlanta

Additionally, there is a t-shirt line that has evolved with irreverent cancer sayings that make people grin.

http://www.facebook.com/stickit2cancer?v=photos#!/album.php?

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

In fact, in 2009 alone, LLS researchers were conducting more than 90 clinical trials, a critical step in the development of new treatments and cures that will help patients live better, longer lives.

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

To make a donation, go to http://pages.lightthenight.org/ga/Atlanta10/MRank to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Even better, join Team In Depth on the walk in Centennial Olympic Park on October 09, 2010!! Be sure to check my Web site frequently to see my progress, and thanks for your support!