November of 2002 my life changed forever when I found out I was diagnosed with stage 4 follicular Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. A lot of things ran through my head for those beginning few days but one thing I worried about is if there was going to be strong enough medicine to save my life. Well with the help of God, family, friends, my community and medical advancements I was able to put my cancer into remission and hopefully it will stay that way forever. I was so blessed with a drug called ritoxin, a new drug that attacks my lymphoma stronger than most medicines. I was lucky to have this new drug but a lot of times there isn’t enough money to discover new drugs or even a cure. So now I want to give back to medical research and help raise money for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society so I am doing the most drastic action possible to reach my goal. I completed the Bermuda Marathon where I raised 4,800 dollars. The trip was amazing and the people I met from team in training truly blew me away!

I would be grateful for your prayerful and financial sponsorship. I have just completed my second event for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training and I competed in a Olympic length triathlon at Maui on June 13th, 2004. My goal amount is 5,000 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which is a high goal but I know a reachable one with your help. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is an amazing organization and I feel very honored to be a part it. They have made me the honored patient for both races so I wanted to be a part of the group that is helping this wonderful organization out by running and participating with them. Also if I can help raise money for a new drug that might one day save a patients life like it did mine than it is worth it.
Every day, 300 people will learn that they have Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma and every 9 minutes a child or adult will die from one of these diseases. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has sponsored research that has been the catalyst for effective treatments of Hodgkin’s disease, Lymphomas and other common kinds of cancers, including Breast and Lung cancer. Now, on the threshold of a new era, the hope is that with accelerated funding for research, Leukemia and related cancers will be curable in the next century. The research sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is working because 80% of Leukemia and Lymphoma patients will live, thanks to the research funded by people involved in projects like Team in Training.
Now I hope you agree with me about the importance of this cause. Please help support me by giving generously. Seventy-five percent of all funds go directly to research and your contribution is tax deductible. Contributing money is a powerful way to be involved when you can’t give your time. I am short for my second goal by 2,000 dollars so any help would be wonderful. Hopefully I will be able to give back to this society each year by doing more races and setting my fundraising goal even higher each time.
Life is going wonderful for me now. I just got accepted to Washburn school of nursing which I will be starting this Fall. I hope to work in hospice or surgical part of nursing. Currently I am still at KU trying to finish up some of my credits. I have now been in remission for one year so it doesn't get much better than this!

With my sincere thanks,
Joanne Riedinger