A message from Arpana: You probably see the occasional post on our page about TEAM Dutch Monkey, or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or Team In Training, and our efforts to raise money to fight blood cancers. You may dismiss them as another one of those things that a company does to get tax deductions, to get publicity, or to look community-minded. I want to tell you exactly why we support LLS, and how we came to be big advocates for the cause. Nineteen years ago, Martin lost his sister, Mary, to multiple myeloma, at the age of 35. She had twin pre-teen sons and a young daughter. It was something that devastated his family, and something that was, at the time, a rare blood cancer that people didnt know much about. I never met his sister. And, I didnt know anything about what kind of cancer she had. But five years ago, a customer of ours who we knew only by seeing her occasionally in the drive-thru, came in and asked us if she could put a jar on our counter to raise money for Team Marion. Team Marion was an LLS fundraising group named in honor of her mother, who had passed away earlier that year--from multiple myeloma. I walked into the kitchen and casually told Martin that we had another request to put a jar on the counter for another cause. When he heard about Emilys mother, he said, Yes, I want to do that. Thats the kind of cancer my sister had. When Emily heard that, she encouraged us not only to keep the jar, but to start our own Team, TEAM Dutch Monkey. That year, we raised close to $3,000 for LLS, and Team Marion raised upwards of $7,000. The next year, we joined forces to raise $20,000. At that point though, it still didnt mean a whole lot to me. I supported the cause because I loved Martin and wanted to do this for him. I ran the Goofy Challenge 39.3 with Team in Training in 2012, and still didnt have a real emotional attachment. But that Fall, when we were gearing up to start our century ride at Viva Bike Vegas (another Team in Training event), someone gave a speech very much like the one in the link below. I remember where I was standing, straddling my bike in the entrance to the hotel, ready to set out on the longest ride of my life, thinking only about how physically taxing it would be, whether or not I had fueled properly, and if I would make it through the mileage to get back to experience one of Vegas famous all-you-can-eat buffets. As I listened to the speech though, I looked around at the jerseys of my teammates. Some said Alumni, and some said Survivor. Most had the names of patients and honorees on the backs. And suddenly, listening to this woman who I didnt even know tell us about what cancer had done to her family, it all started to sink in. Team in Training is not just an endurance training program. (You can find plenty of endurance training programs on the internet that will help you meet your fitness goals.) Its not just a fundraising campaign. (There are scores of those, too.) Its a way for ordinary people like us, who are not scientists or doctors, to DO SOMETHING about this disease that destroys our families and those of our friends. Its putting physical effort towards that cause. Its a cathartic process for families and survivors. Its raising money to finance the people who spend their lives creating therapies to extend the lives of cancer patients, and funding the experiments that will someday cure the disease. Its a program that has raised more than $1.4 Billion for these efforts. That day, I finally got it. And, I understood why a lot of the ads for LLS have the word PASSION printed boldly across them. I rode down the Vegas strip, past gorgeous Lake Mead, and over the Hoover Dam, almost brought to tears every time a person in a purple Survivor jersey passed me. I was humbled by their strength, and proud of my team. Next weekend, Martins twin nephews (who are now 30 years old) will ride the Fletcher Flyer Century with him, each having raised more than $2,000 for LLS, in hopes that other families wont have to go through what they did. And right now, were getting together a team to run the Savannah Half and Full Marathons in November with Team in Training, to celebrate the FIFTH year of Team Dutch Monkey. We want to hit a cumulative total of $200,000 raised over five years. Not because it sounds cool, but because thats a LOT of hours of research, and a LOT of patient support. THANK YOU for all of your support, good wishes, and help with Team Dutch Monkey over the years. We appreciate every penny you throw in the jars, and every visit to one of our events. YOU are heroes to families dealing with a blood cancer diagnosis. youtu.be/JRIOAmLupY8
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 15:52:40 +0000