FYI: This letter is taken directly from my Team in Training Home Page http://pages.teamintraining.org/ok/wdw09/mrobinsjgf
Hello Everyone,
Thanks for visiting my Team In Training home page! I want to take this opportunity to let you know about something I am participating in this winter, and to invite you to join me in this adventure!
Outside of my family and my relationship with God, the past few years have helped to reveal a couple of interests in my life:
1. Beginning in 2001, I began training for distance running events. It all began with my friend David Ridgway inviting me to participate with him in running the Ft. Worth Cowtown Marathon in 2002. Being a fairly “task driven” guy, I loved the feeling of accomplishment that finishing a marathon produced. The years following Cowtown were dotted with a few injuries, but I was able to train for and complete the 2008 Disney World Marathon last January with another friend, Craig Parrish. I have continued to run since then, and look forward to running another marathon in the near future.
2. Also beginning in 2001, I came on staff at Wildwood Community Church in Norman, Oklahoma. I came on staff working primarily in the College Ministry at Wildwood, but have since moved into the role of Executive Pastor. I love being able to be a part of what God is doing in Norman and at Wildwood and have grown to really love the people there.
Recently, a few things have happened that have encouraged me to combine these two “new” interests to do something very significant. In the past month, I have become aware of two different Wildwood members, one a three year old little girl and the other a mother of two teenage children, that have been diagnosed with leukemia. These two diagnoses have really impacted me and have caused me to pray for these two families. In addition to that, I wanted to do something more.
When I ran Disney last January, I was surrounded by many individuals who were wearing purple jerseys. These purple jerseys indicated their participation in a program called Team in Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. I would come to find out that each participant in Team in Training was raising funds for blood cancer research. In fact, the Team in Training program is the premier fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
As I watched these two friends be diagnosed with Leukemia and reflected on the Team in Training members I met at last year’s marathon, I became convinced that I would like to join the Team and begin raising money for cancer research as I train for the 2009 Disney World Marathon. The truth is that 105,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Leukemia this year alone, and nearly 60,000 Americans will die from the disease this year. One of those who died this past year was the wife of a college friend of mine. Survival rates for this disease have improved dramatically since 1960, but there is still more that can be done, and contributions to research are some of the best ways to pursue long term solutions to this disease.
My fundraising goal (set by Team in Training) is $3,700 and all gifts are Tax Deductible. I would like to ask you each to consider giving financially on my behalf to this program. You can do so by giving online here via this website, or by mailing me a check made out to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and mail to:
Mark Robinson
500 Terrace Place
Norman, OK 73069
I really appreciate you taking the time to consider supporting me in this adventure. Together we can make a significant difference in the fight against blood cancer. Please feel free to contact me at mark.wildwood@gmail.com if you have questions. Thanks again for your interest!
I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Mark Robinson