I have joined a very special Team in Training of more than 25,000 volunteers nationwide. We will run, walk or cycle in established marathons and century rides for a reason much more important than the personal challenge of completing. As members of the Team, we participate in these events on behalf of local patients and will raise funds to battle leukemia – the #1 killer of children.

I will be riding in the Lake Tahoe Century Ride to honor the strength and courage of a young lady by the name of Beth Gershowitz. At age 12, after enduring the loss of her Aunt to Acute Mylogenious Leukemia (AML), Beth was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Imagine a world filled with friends, make-up and boys suddenly replaced with chemotherapy, daily trips to the hospitals, and a constant feeling of fear that no child should have to experience. Being 12 is hard enough, imagine not knowing if you will ever see 13.

Today, Beth is 25 years old and pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She writes “Now, 13 years later, it is realistic to believe that one day I will have children of my own. With the loving support of my family, friends and all of the individuals who have contributed to my treatment, I have survived. It is with great pride that I am now given the opportunity to give back strength and courage that I have gained to others, and it is with your help that these individuals may one day have their own story to tell.”

It is estimated that leukemia and related cancers struck more than 107,000 Americans last year – and killed 60,500. Although the cause of these cancers remains unknown, steady advances in research and treatment are bringing us closer to cures. In fact, thanks to research funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia has improved from 4% in 1960 to 80% today.

Funding for research is imperative to help the Society reach its goal. Over the years, leukemia research has proven to be the window of hope for potential cures for other forms of cancer. Bone Marrow transplantations as well as chemotherapy – the backbone for treatment of most forms of cancer – stemmed from leukemia research. Glivec, a recently announced experimental pill which appears to cripple the cells responsible for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), is one of a new class of anti-cancer drugs that selectively target genetic defects without causing the severe side effects associated with current treatments. The drug has also shown promise against a particularly deadly form of gastrointestinal cancer. Tests are underway to determine if Glivec can also be effective against lung, prostate and brain tumors.

Please help me honor the courage of leukemia patients like Beth, and further the tremendous advances being made by researchers in the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. I have committed to raising $4,000.00 to help find a cure, and I need your help. Please go to the Donations page for instructions on making your tax-deductible donation. Thank you in advance for your generosity.