This was sent to me by Danny Rothenberg ( Danny working hard with wife Sarah ) :
As most of you know, I have never done anything of this nature. It was only due to a great team of people and a deep desire to honor a great friend that I've decided to take on this challenge. I may only be running a 5K, but it is technically running a race...
As some of you may know, in 2009 we lost a dear friend of ours, Jamen Amato, to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's, and specifically Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, is a rare type of cancer that results from abnormalities in your white blood cells that then grow in an uncontrollable fashion. Jamen fought the disease valiantly, and received great care from many great doctors in the process. Tragically, Jamen lost his battle with cancer at the age of 24.
Jamen's is a life cut far too short, but he accomplished a great deal in his 24 years. He was a brilliant soccer player, a career that culminated in him captaining the Boston College soccer team. He was a bright and capable student and thinker, and he focused his attention on preparing for law school before he got sick. Jamen was a great friend and a generous soul. He gave his time and his energy to the people around him, and he was never short of an opinion when asked, or even at times when he wasn't. He was a phenomenal brother to his sisters, and a great son to his parents. Simply put, Jamen was an amazing young man.
And Jamen was a fighter too, and he brought that same warrior spirit to his fight with cancer. So this year, in honor of Jamen, we are taking on our own fight through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Man of the Year" Campaign. We believe there's no better way to honor our friend than to raise money to beat back the disease that took him far too early. We remember him, and we honor him, and if we raise enough money, we will dedicate a research grant in his name. It's a small effort against a Goliath of a disease, but there is something truly empowering about converting our loss into an opportunity to unite, and to struggle and fight to change the face of leukemia and lymphoma. That fight, that warrior spirit, that's what Team Jamen is all about.
The campaign (ours is one of many across the nation) will run for 10 weeks, beginning March 21st and culminating in the Grand Finale Celebration on Saturday, June 4th. We have set a team goal of raising at least $250,000, and we are reaching out to friends and family asking for their support in helping raise these much-needed funds for cancer research and awareness for LLS. Personally, I am trying to raise at least $50,000 for this cause.
For those less familiar with the organization, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research. They have invested more than $1 billion in blood cancer related research. They provide critical patient support and services, and work diligently to advocate for issues impacting blood cancer patients. They are relentless in their efforts to cure leukemia and lymphoma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
So please join us in this important effort. Like our posts, forward and circulate our message, and take this opportunity to open your hearts and wallets. Every donation counts. Every donation makes a difference. Give generously and help us change the face of leukemia and lymphoma. Give and help us honor our friend Jamen. Give to continue to fight, because that's exactly what Jamen would do. To contribute online, please visit http://www.mwoy.org/pages/calso/los16/drothenber
We'll stay in touch with you as the campaign continues. Thank you for your time and generosity. Together we truly can make a difference. Please forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well!
Daniel Rothenberg
TEAM JAMEN
