Friends and Family,

April – Hello again. We did it !!! We have pushed our total fundraising for the last 14 years to more than $100,000! So exciting! And it just may be a nice send-off. As I hinted in my first email back in January, we’re moving - this summer - to Prescott, AZ. We’ll certainly consider the possibility of coming back next year, but the logistics will be a lot more challenging. If this is our last DC walk, then what a way to finish.

About this year’s event on May 7 – I look forward to seeing everyone. Should be a good crowd. I had been out walking and building up my endurance. I was doing well before our trip to Sweden a few weeks ago where I hurt my ankle in a tussle for the last chocolate filled croissant at the breakfast buffet. You should have seen the exasperation in the eyes of that little girl who didn’t get the croissant. The downside is I had to finish our tour of Stockholm in a wheelchair. I’m getting better but it has prevented me from training. I still hope to walk in the event. Though I’ll also bring a wheelchair so I can roll along with our team as necessary. Teresa pulled together a terrific memory book from our past walks. I’m bringing it so everyone can sign. It’s going to be a good time! If you’re planning to walk, please send me an email so I can build a distribution list for communicating event details.

If you haven’t donated already there’s still time. Please follow the links herein and donate on behalf of my team. Thanks again, everyone, for all your support over the years. I could not have done it without you.

Gratefully, Lisa

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March – Since I started fundraising for the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) in 2010 my team has raised over $95,000. Holy crap! If this year’s campaign is as successful as every other year has been, 2023 will be the year we pass the $100,000 mark. The NBTS Director of Regional Development provided that information, along with her astonishment of our success. She asked, “Do you do separate fundraisers for your team at all, or is this solely you asking your friends and family to make donations? It's always inspiring to see this kind of fundraising success.” I told her that it all came from friends and family – i.e., YOU! How about that?! I sincerely thank each and every one of you for all that you have done and continue to do.

As promised, this is my gentle interim reminder that we’re once again preparing to participate in the Race for Hope-DC on May 7th. With a little luck the weather will cooperate and we’ll have a great time. It’s always fun to see everyone and reconnect. I hope you’ll consider donating and joining us for the walk. If you can’t participate you can still contribute by hitting the “Donate” button. As you can see from our results over the years, your individual contributions can lead to big results.

I’ll send out one more reminder in April a couple weeks ahead of the walk. Please let me know if you would like to join us. Until then, enjoy the Spring thaw and get out and walk. Thanks again.

Gratefully, Lisa

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January - Happy New Year! I hope this note finds everyone doing well and recovered from the holidays. I’m good. We’re out and travelling again. Last year we took a long road trip to spend time with friends in Arizona, and we hung out on the Outer Banks with Tyler and all our dogs. Our next stop is visiting Nicole in Sweden very soon.

My doctor says I’m doing well. My issues with balance and cognition continue to be a challenge – due mostly to the radiation treatments I received many years ago. Given the likely outcome had we done nothing, I’m ok with these relatively small inconveniences. Some doctors and hospital review boards assessing my case back then suggested I do nothing – “Just go home and don’t worry about it.”, they said. Wrong! Fortunately, organizations like the National Brain Tumor Society were around to help develop and promote progressive treatment protocols. Today they continue to fund research aimed at better understanding brain tumors and improving treatment and care options for patients who suffer. That is why 14 years later I’m happy to still be supporting their cause.

This is the time of year when I kick off my fundraising campaign for the National Brain Tumor Society’s Race for Hope – DC to be held Sunday May 7th. My team has participated in this annual event eleven times – rain or shine. After postponing the event in 2020 and 2021, everyone was eager to get out last year and we had a great showing. I’m hoping we can do the same this year. Besides, next year we may live too far away to participate. ;>) Here’s where I find out who reads this far.

Start thinking about it. I’ll send out a couple more reminders before May. Let me know if you’re interested in participating. Whether you walk or not, you can follow the available link or select “Donate Now” on my personal page to contribute. I know there are many great causes to choose from. I hope you’ll consider this one as well.

Please forward to anyone you think might be interested.

Take care. Lisa