Everyone has that ONE friend.....that one friend that totally accepts you 100% for everything that you are......that one friend that never questions your intentions, but just jumps on board....that one friend that always has your back.....that one friend that you can go for months without speaking to, but when you do it's like you never missed a day. For me, that friend is Colleen. I've been friends with Colleen for over 16 years.....we are like family.....actually, it's closer than that.....it's a love I can't explain.

In July of 2009, I received news that blew me away. Colleen's son, Seth (almost 2 years old at the time), stopped using his left arm. Colleen took him to the doctor and Seth had his first ever CT scan. The scan shown that Seth had a mass on the right frontal lobe of his brain. Seth was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of the hospital to have an MRI and surgery to remove the mass. On July 28, 2009 Seth had his first MRI which confirmed  there was a large mass (tumor) growing on his brain and the doctors made the decision to try removing the mass. Seth underwent his first surgery on July 29, 2009 and they successfully removed 99% of the brain tumor leaving 1% because it was growing around a major blood vessel. After the surgery doctors confirmed that the tumor was what is known as a PNET/Medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is a fast-growing, high-grade tumor. - http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-information/types-of-tumors/medulloblastoma.html - The day after Seth's surgery, he became a big brother when Colleen gave birth to a beautiful daughter named Lily. Can you even imagine giving birth to a daughter in the same 24 hour period as your almost 2 year old son is having a cancerous tumor removed from his brain? Take a moment to wrap your head around that one! Seth is also a little brother....he has a pretty incredible older sister named Courtney.

In December of 2009, I flew to Memphis to visit with Colleen and her family while Seth was being treated at St. Judes. I was able to witness it all first hand......all of those children and families affected by pediatric cancer......all of those parents hoping their child would be one of the lucky ones. I still get chills whenever I reflect on that experience.

Seth is now almost 7 years old.....isn't that amazing? Today, March 10, 2014 I was approved/confirmed to run the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon on November 8th as a member of Team Lemon. The timing is so perfect ----- Colleen and her family headed back to St. Judes today for Seth's first 6-month check up......he has an MRI scheduled tomorrow (March 11, 2014) and everyone is hoping for clear scans!

What Is Team Lemon? ---- Have you heard about Alex's Lemonade Stand? I'm guessing yes! If not, let me fill you in. Alexandra Flynn "Alex" Scott was born on January 18, 1996 in Manchester, Connecticut. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer, two days before her first birthday. In July 2000, in spite of her own failing health, she decided to open a lemonade stand, aided by her older brother, to raise money to help children with cancer. They held an annual "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on the family's front lawn. Her first lemonade stand in her hometown of West Hartford, Connecticut raised over $2,000 and turned into an annual tradition. It continued after the Scott family moved to Wynnewood, Pennsylvania to pursue treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia while she attended Penn Wynne Elementary School. On August 1, 2004, Alex died at the age of eight. Heart breaking.

I am running this half marathon in honor of Seth Boozer, Alexandra Flynn "Alex" Scott, and all other children and families afftected by pediatric cancer. I live in Florida and I am runnning this with a friend from New York.....her name just happens to be Alexandra....her friends call her Alex. Colleen's maiden name is Flynn. Isn't that crazy? Alexandra (Alex) Flynn Scott! Love all the name connections! To date, the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised more than $75 million and funded over 375 research projects towards the goal of putting an end to childhood cancer. In addition to funding cutting-edge research into finding better treatments and, ultimately, cures, they also fund nursing grants to improve the quality of life and care of children with cancer.

While the majority of the funding goes toward research, they are also intensely aware of the struggles - emotional, financial, and more - that families like Colleen's face throughout their battle with childhood cancer, and have created programs for assistance. The Travel For Care Program helps families with travel expenses as they travel far from their home for their child's treatments. The annual Childhood Cancer Symposium brings childhood cancer families together to learn about the disease, treatment and beyond. A donation of…

~ $15 can provide a gas card to help a family drive to a hospital for treatment.

~ $20 allows a family to park at the hospital where their child is receiving treatment.

~ $100 enables a family to reside at a nearby hotel so they can stay close to their child receiving treatment.

~ Any size helps ease a family’s financial burden so they can focus on their child’s treatment.

I am so proud to be a part of Team Lemon and I would run a thousand miles to raise money for this cause.....thank goodness I only have to run 13.1! I am asking you to please contribute $5.00 or more in order to help me reach my goal of $1,000 by race day. (November 8th) Words can't express how much this means to me and how much I appreciate your contribution.

Thank you SO much!

Keenun

PS:  Be sure to check out the pictures! (above and to the right) Thank you again!  :)