"I'm running a half marathon!"

"You're what?"

"I'm running a half marathon!"

"You're crazy!"

If I got just $10 every time I heard someone say that to me, I could probably make my fundraising goal easily.

But, wait! I'm going to tell you why you want to donate more than just $10 while telling me how crazy I am.

Some of you might not know my motivation and just how closely this cause lies to my heart. My Mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma when I was in Grade 5. I was 9 years old, my little brother was 7. I'm sure my parents did their best to shelter us from the worst of it but there was surgery, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and Christmases spent in the Hospital. My Mom was a fighter and where I get my stubbornness from but she lost her battle on January 10, 1998.

If she were still with us then May 4th 2014 would be her 53rd birthday. It is in her honour and memory that I will be running - for the lost memories of Christmases, anniversaries and the birth of her grandchildren. But I'm also running for hope. Hope that other sons and daughters won't have to face this disease.

If you can, please donate to those memories and hopes. If you can't, please spread the word.

Thank you for your support.