THE RUN FOR CHRISTINE
I never ask for anything. Never. So now is a good time.
I am running The Valley of the Sun Marathon in Phoenix, Arizona on March 14, 2004. I know what you're thinking; "Steveoh, you idiot! Do you know how far a marathon is? That's gotta be 75 or 86 miles long!" Yes. I've thought about it. But I figured I've always been a runner, and I always will be a runner, and there's no more important time than now to run 26.2 miles.
You see, one of my closest friends who also happens to be one of the sweetest people on this or any other planet, Christine Wonica, is sick with leukemia. But she's a warrior and she's not taking prisoners. This may sound like bravado, but there's no doubt in my mind that the leukemia within her has a serious ass-kicking coming to it.
She just had her bone-marrow transplant. Please keep her in your thoughts.
Anyway, when researching training programs for running a marathon, I came across a fantastic organization called Team in Training that will help you finish this endurance test if you help them raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma. So I signed up. In fact, so did Christine. She's my honoree.
Actually, I'm understating who she is - she's not just my honoree. She's my left foot. She's my right foot. She's my water breaks. She's my pulse thumping. She's my eyes counting the miles pass. She's my third wind. She's my fourth wind. She's my every wind. And she's my finish line. This is the part where I ask for stuff. I need to raise at least $2,800 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'm not asking for the whole shibang (but if you're that generous, I'm that welcoming). Whatever you can spare is more than enough.
And what do you get for this? My neverending gratitude. Knowing that you not only helped me cross the finish line but you're also gonna help someone somewhere who has this terrible blood disorder. And, for fun (depending on your definition of fun), you get to ride my lazy ass up until that race. Tell me to run harder. Tell me to run more. Yell at me for the beer in my hand. Whatever - I don't care. Make it funny and I'll post it. Y'all become my boss, and I'm open for all the verbal abuse you can dish out. I thank you. Christine thanks you.
I am back running in San Francisco, but Chris is back in the hospital. As usual, Tommy explains what's going on with her and all we can do is pray.
I saw her quickly during the holidays. A bunch of us sang some Christmas Carols for them outside their door. She wasn't allowed to leave the house, and we were far back on the front walkway, but from where we were standing, she looked great. Kailey loved it all, and she clapped for us, Especially for "Kailey, The Red-Nosed Raindeer". What a precious joy she is.
When I know anything about her condition, I'll let you know. But check Care for Christine for quick updates - at least as quick as Tommy can post them.
This is insignificant, but I'll post it anyway. I have a 14 mile run this weekend at Lake Merced in Oakland. I was able to get a 13-miler in back in chilly New York, but 14 miles is uncharted territory for me. Not that I can't do it - I can - but it's uncharted for my feet. It's amazing how with each frozen step, each early morning rise, each passing day, how increasingly important this whole crusade is for me. Just when I thought I couldn't get more determined, I get more determined. And with that, I just wanted to thank everyone whose donated, and to plead to everyone who hasn't.
We're all gonna get through this together.