On April 19th, I will run the 2004 Boston Marathon for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of Joseph Gaffey, Sr., who passed away from leukemia in the summer of 2001.

The Society was founded in 1949 by a mom and dad who had lost their only son to leukemia. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding, the Society has provided more than $350 million for research specifically targeting blood-related cancers.

Thanks to research supported by the Society’s TEAM IN TRAINING program, the five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia has increased to 81%. In addition, patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma now have an overall survival rate of over 40%.

However, there is still much work to be done. Leukemias are the leading fatal cancers in young men and women under age 20. Every nine minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from one of these blood-related cancers. This statistic represents 158 people each day – seven people every hour.

So whether you need time to balance the checkbook and figure a donation into your budget, or whether you just closed that Swiss bank account and are looking to spread the wealth, I really appreciate any donation you can make. In 2002, with the help of many of you, I collected close to $4,000. While reaching this goal again would certainly feel good, I know that any amount collected will help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its mission to find a cure. Every dollar makes a difference.

I thank you all for your support!

Thanks,
Dave Conforto

PS: Don't forget to sign my guestbook before you leave.
_______

Be not anxious about tomorrow. Do today's duty, fight today's battle, and do not weaken or distrust yourself by looking forward to things which you cannot see and could not understand if you saw them.

-Kingsley