I'm excited to be participating in the Chicago Marathon this year and running with Team in Training of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! It takes more than one person to make up a team and that’s why I’m asking you to donate to my TNT fundraising page for TNT!
This is how excited I am!
Chicago | 2018
By participating as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) TNT, I am raising funds to help find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a great organization and I am honored to be considered part of this team. My connection started in beginning of 2017. My childhood friend, Gracie, developed a rash in her leg and did not know what it was from. Her journey started with the pediatrician, and continued through the spring and summer with the dermatologist, rheumatologist, GI specialist, pulmonologist, and culminated with a week of fevers, numerous biopsies, and hospital visits. Finally, in the fall of 2017 and right before we were about to transition into our freshman year of college, Gracie was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. She started her courageous battle and began chemo shortly after!
Gracie, with her sister Rosie, during chemo treatments.
Gracie is one of the toughest people I know. Despite learning how to adjust to cancer, chemo treatments, and this life-altering journey, she continued on with her freshman year of college and started taking classes! She was given treatment through the fall and into the spring of 2018. When I would talk with her about how she was doing, she would tell me about how tired she would get, or the day she shaved her head, and she continued on to look forward and trust in God's plan for her. Every day, I became more and more amazed and honored to call Gracie my friend. Finally, by February of 2018, she had her final chemo treatments!
Since then, she has been cleared of cancer, graduated from college, and is looking forward to a career in medicine as a PA! It is hard to put into words the weight and value of the experiences I encountered through her journey. She continues to have a vast amount of love to give to her family and friends, and she cares greatly for every moment that she is given.
I have also been loosely connected and involved with people and organizations that are supporting those diagnosed with other forms of cancer. In the spring of 2018, an alumni of the Benedictine College Women's Soccer team, Katie Reynolds Scott, passed away from Ewing's Sarcoma. Today, the team will add encouragment, noise, and energy from the bench to the field at the 29th minute, honoring her as she wore #29.
Later in 2020, my grandpa passed away after a year-long effort fighting against an aggressive form of Leukemia. He fought longer than any of us imagined, and his journey and will-power still amazes us to this day. It is because of these people, and many others, that I have become inspired and passionate to become more involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and ultimately decided to run with them in this year's Chicago Marathon.
Your donation will help fund treatments that save lives every day; like immunotherapies that use a person’s own immune system to kill cancer. You may not know it, but every single donation helps save a life with breakthrough therapies such as these. Patients need these cures and they need your support.
Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help get us all closer to a world without blood cancers.
Thank you!
Love, Ellen
Gracie's celebration party for finishing chemo! | 2018
During our breast cancer awareness night, I also wanted to support Gracie (although I didn't have purple tape) and often wore this during our games. | 2017
Sweaty, but happy to see friends after the game! | 2018
Although I played soccer in college, I have enjoyed running for a long time as well as coaching soccer. | 2016
| 2021
Thank you for consideration; I cannot wait to be in Chicago!
