As you may know, I began a journey in 2012 to improve my health. One of the changes that I made was that I began running. At first, I was using an app on my phone called Couch to 5K. I had no plans to actually complete a 5K (3.1 miles) at the time and I didn’t even tell anybody that I had started to run. About two weeks later, a couple of my friends shared a link on Facebook for a new 5K fun run series called The Color Run. They were getting a team together and wanted to know if anyone else wanted to join them. I decided “Why not?!” and that marked the beginning of this crazy little obsession I’ve found. Since that first 5K in July 2012, I have completed numerous 5Ks and 10Ks and five half marathons (13.1).

Now that I have completed multiple half marathons, I have set my sights on the next logical goal: the full marathon. It did not take much deliberation to decide which one would be my first. The 21st Philadelphia Marathon will be my first full marathon on November 23rd, 2014. I have taken one extra step in my decision to run 26.2 miles, and that is becoming a member of Team Lemon.

Team Lemon is a division of the Alex’s Lemonade charity that raises money to fight childhood cancer. This division specializes in fundraising through endurance events. Members of Team Lemon raise money for the charity while training for half and full marathons, triathlons, and cycling events. Alex’s Lemonade is a non-profit 501(c)3 that to date has raised more than $60 million and funded over 275 research projects with a goal of ending childhood cancer. The charity was started when 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before her first birthday, decided that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money for other children with cancer. In addition to funding research projects, the money that ALSF raises goes towards providing resources for all children and their families as they fight cancer, as well as a travel fund that assists families who need to travel for treatment.

My goal is to raise $800 for this amazing cause. This amount will be enough to fund two days of research, or any number of things for a family who has to travel for treatment for their sick child: gas for their cars, hotel stays, food costs, etc. I am asking for your support to reach my goal.

Thank you for your support!