Help Andrea raise money

Long post warning...
As many of you may know, I am a nurse who has worked with leukemia and lymphoma patients for the last 9 years.  What you probably don't know is how deeply affected I have been by the grace and humility with which these patients face their diagnosis and treatment.  Every day when I enter my unit I am reminded of how precious life is.  I have gained a different perspective on my own trials and worries -- so many of which are just "the small stuff" that doesn't deserve my energy.  I am honored to do what I can to make every patient's journey towards a cure as bearable as can be (sometimes the cure is worse than the disease -- IYKYK).  And when things don't go as hoped for, I pray that life ends with the respect deserved, and that pain and suffering are minimized.

When @Mara Wearden asked me to train for a half marathon (we're walking, friends - my running days are sadly over!) in San Antonio, in March, I happily agreed and suggested that we also plan to walk the Pittsburgh half in May.  For the Pittsburgh event, we decided we would walk for a charity.  In honor of my patients, and to try to give back some of what they have given to me, we have chosen the Mario Lemieux Foundation - dedicated to raising money for cancer treatments and cures.

  
I don't expect all of you to share my passion for this charity and its beneficiaries. I am also aware that times are tough financially for so many of us. This is why I am asking you to simply consider donating as you look to make your end of the year charitable gifts. If each of my Facebook friends gave just $1, that would raise $378. A $5 donation would be $1890 and $10 would be $3780. You get the point :) 

 
If you feel so moved to help, here is a link to the Mario Lemieux Foundation so that you can find out more about their work for yourself https://mariolemieux.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1ZGcBhCoARIsAGQ0kkqmJ8lZP5pl7MNQrpCMDpwWP8sfT_rzGhDaPHFTaW_DxQmtUztBQRkaAo4UEALw_wcB.  

If you read through all of this, thank you.  If you are unable to donate, please consider keeping all of those suffering from blood cancer - or any cancer - in your prayers.  Your support, in any fashion, is appreciated.