May 26, 2003

Dear family, friends, co-workers, peers, and all-around nice people,

Those who know me understand I never shy away from a challenge...particularly this past year when I left the corporate world in exchange for a waitressing uniform, student loans, and full-time graduate studies.

I also love the challenges of being an endurance athlete, because for the past two years, I have been putting my heart (and soles) into the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT) program. This fabulous program helps fund research in the fight against blood-related cancers (such as leukemia and lymphoma) by participating in distance events across the country and fundraising in honor of those diagnosed. I am running the Virginia Beach Rock 'N' Roll Half-Marathon this August in honor of Danielle Joyce, a 7-year-old girl from Clinton, CT, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 1999. Danielle recently finished her chemotherapy treatments and, like me, loves to sing, dance, and act.

On a personal note, I come back to TNT year after year because I have a family connection with cancer; my grandfather Jack passed away from it in March 1998. Please help me reach my personal goal of $2,400 to honor Danielle and my grandfather Jack through this wonderful organization. (I may even be running on behalf of someone you know.) Please print out the donor form (under the "donate" link) with your check or credit card donation payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society but send it to my address: 110 North Main St., Southington, CT 06489. A contribution by June 16th will be very much appreciated. Every dollar helps and, of course, contributions after this date will be gladly accepted. Don't forget to show this "web letter" to everyone you know, including your friends and family! If your employer has a matching gift program, please take advantage of it to maximize your tax-deductible contribution. Corporate sponsorships are also available for company donations of $500.00 or more.

To those of you who helped me raise more than $1,200 last year for TNT in the Hartford Half Marathon: I truly appreciate all your support and hope you will join my team once again. It is through my involvement with TNT and the Society that I am now considering a career as a medical librarian. With your help, I can one day catalog the words "leukemia" and "lymphoma" under "curable diseases."

Sincerely,


Melissa Goldman
110 North Main St.
Southington, CT 06489
(860) 276-1148
sundevil511@aol.com
melissa.pledgepage.org