Cynthia runs Berlin...in 26.2 miles
Cynthia Schwartz is raising money for Anthony Nolan
Story
Update: Ich bin ein Marathonläufer! Raceday has come and gone, and it was an amazing experience! It was rainy and overcast throughout the day, but 26.2 miles still gave me plenty of sites to see throughout the city, and crossing from the east to west was always impressive. I appreciate all the support I have been given as I undertook this endeavor, and have been truly humbled by all the support and donations made to the Anthony Nolan Trust. Thank you!
Two years ago I couldn't run for more than 30 seconds, and now I've gone and signed up for a marathon, in Berlin of all places! And whilst running for nearly six hours in one-go doesn't exactly get me very excited, my decision to raise money for Anthony Nolan does. Anthony Nolan is a UK charity that manages one of two bone marrow registries, as well as carrying out further research in the field of bone marrow transplant. And in my family, bone marrow transplants are considered pretty fantastic.
My mom has always been one of my biggest supporters with every activity I undertook--driving me to high school band events, staying up all night preparing my clothes for a horse-show, and encouraging me (albeit from inside the house) when I started running two years ago. But in March of 2005, my mom was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and I thought I was going to lose one of the best persons in my life.
Since my mom was diagnosed at the age of 57, she was undeniably closer to the "expected poor outcome" category than not. However, thanks to some amazing people who made the choice to join a bone marrow registry, my mom was one of the lucky ones, finding herself matched with 6 potential donors. And while there have continued to be some ups-and-downs in my mom's health in the 5 years since her transplant in July 2005, she is here, because of the choice someone made to join a registry.
Joining a bone marrow registry is a big decision, and is not something everyone is able to do. But you can help the cause with a donation to the registry. Because while it can cost the organisation £125 to add a new person to the register (at no cost to the registrant), or £10 for a saliva sample kit (which identifies a potential donor as a match), all donations add up and can help save a life--like my mom.
Your help in sponsoring my marathon this September would allow others whose life has been affected by leukemia to be turned around the way ours has. And really, it would give me something to think about during the marathon that is much more awesome than the potential blisters forming on my feet and the pain spreading through my legs! :D
While Anthony Nolan is a UK-based charity, and understandably many of my friends and family who come across this page will be American, leukemia is truly an international disease. My mom is living proof of this, as 3 of her potential bone marrow donors--including the ultimate donor--were all European! Those outside the UK may be questioning whether or not they can donate through this page, and the answer is: yes! Your credit/debit card will be charged in your local currency, however your bank may charge you an international transaction fee.
Thank you for your consideration in aiding my fundraising.
Two years ago I couldn't run for more than 30 seconds, and now I've gone and signed up for a marathon, in Berlin of all places! And whilst running for nearly six hours in one-go doesn't exactly get me very excited, my decision to raise money for Anthony Nolan does. Anthony Nolan is a UK charity that manages one of two bone marrow registries, as well as carrying out further research in the field of bone marrow transplant. And in my family, bone marrow transplants are considered pretty fantastic.
My mom has always been one of my biggest supporters with every activity I undertook--driving me to high school band events, staying up all night preparing my clothes for a horse-show, and encouraging me (albeit from inside the house) when I started running two years ago. But in March of 2005, my mom was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and I thought I was going to lose one of the best persons in my life.
Since my mom was diagnosed at the age of 57, she was undeniably closer to the "expected poor outcome" category than not. However, thanks to some amazing people who made the choice to join a bone marrow registry, my mom was one of the lucky ones, finding herself matched with 6 potential donors. And while there have continued to be some ups-and-downs in my mom's health in the 5 years since her transplant in July 2005, she is here, because of the choice someone made to join a registry.
Joining a bone marrow registry is a big decision, and is not something everyone is able to do. But you can help the cause with a donation to the registry. Because while it can cost the organisation £125 to add a new person to the register (at no cost to the registrant), or £10 for a saliva sample kit (which identifies a potential donor as a match), all donations add up and can help save a life--like my mom.
Your help in sponsoring my marathon this September would allow others whose life has been affected by leukemia to be turned around the way ours has. And really, it would give me something to think about during the marathon that is much more awesome than the potential blisters forming on my feet and the pain spreading through my legs! :D
While Anthony Nolan is a UK-based charity, and understandably many of my friends and family who come across this page will be American, leukemia is truly an international disease. My mom is living proof of this, as 3 of her potential bone marrow donors--including the ultimate donor--were all European! Those outside the UK may be questioning whether or not they can donate through this page, and the answer is: yes! Your credit/debit card will be charged in your local currency, however your bank may charge you an international transaction fee.
Thank you for your consideration in aiding my fundraising.