The Girlfriend Bond
Lots of events going on this week have me thinking about my girlfriends. There are the friends that go back so far that you can hardly remember when you first met. Friends that you talk to daily. Ones that you only exchange Christmas cards with. Ones that live near you and those far away. Ones that are part of your life because you are family. Ones that have come...and gone... My life has been filled with friends that have made me a richer person for knowing them. I've decided my blog should have a theme this week --"Go Girlfriend!" Every person in this world has something to offer and finding that specialness is so important.
Sister-in-law Jennifer, with her children Megan and Ryan
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Today I want to highlight my sister-in-law Jennifer. We live thousands of miles apart (my brother and their family live in Painted Post, NY). For as long as I've known Jennifer, and that dates way back...long before she even knew my brother existed
...she has been a runner. Cross country, track, high school, college, running internationally. (I know I'm not doing justice to her incredible running resume. I believe she was even inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame.)
I must tell you how giddy I was to be on the receiving end of a phone call from Jennifer back in 1990 to ask, "so is your brother seeing anyone?" And, the look on my brother's face days later when I started asking him about Jennifer and he didn't think anyone knew. Oh, the fun of being a little sister with a secret. They couldn't be a more perfect match for each other!
Her dedication to running is admirable and I am glad to be able to support her in her latest endeavor of raising money for Multiple Myeloma. My heart aches for her personal loss, as her mother and uncle were so important to her. I'm going to include her letter below for you all to read, as I want you to read directly from her what her latest running efforts are about.
Although I know Jennifer would appreciate any financial support you want to offer, I really want to remind each of us to take a few minutes and support our girlfriends in their efforts to raise money for any cause. Make yourself aware of what efforts are going on around you...and help one of your girlfriends make a difference. And, if you're the one out there walking for breast cancer or running for multiple myelomoa---BRAVO!! I applaud you for making the effort to make a difference.
Love you Jen! Go Girlfriend!
A note from Jennifer McNutt:
I'm writing to let you know that on November 1st, 2009, I will be running the New York City Marathon as a part of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Marathon Team. As many of you know, I lost my Mom, Diana Brower, to multiple myeloma in 2006, and my Uncle, David Rembolt, to the same disease in 2007. The battle against this form of cancer is a deeply personal one for me. Mom and Uncle David were huge supporters of my love for running, and I can't think of a better way to honor them than running the New York City Marathon in their memory. As Uncle David would say: "Neat!"
The MMRF is the world's leader in funding myeloma research; nearly 93% of funds raised by the MMRF directly support research and related programming. MMRF-funded research has already resulted in four new treatment advances - Thalomid, Velcade, Revlimid, and Doxil - that have helped extend the life expectancy of myeloma patients from four years to almost seven years. In addition, because of their success in treating myeloma patients, these four drugs are now being explored as treatment for 19 other cancers. While there is currently no cure for multiple myeloma, it is my hope that with increased awareness and continued research, one day soon a cure will be found. OUR EFFORTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
As part of the marathon team, I have committed to raising $4000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. As you've probably guessed, I'm asking you to help me reach my fundraising goal by making a contribution! Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly & securely. You will receive an email confirmation of your donation, and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. I thank you in advance for your support, and I truly appreciate your generosity!!
http://www.active.com/donate/2009NYCMarathon/jennifermcnutt
Please forward this email and my fundraising site to anyone else who may be interested (perhaps friends of Mom or Uncle David) and encourage them to donate as well!
Thank you so much for your support! I'll keep you informed of my progress!
Jennifer
Sister-in-law Jennifer, with her children Megan and Ryan
Today I want to highlight my sister-in-law Jennifer. We live thousands of miles apart (my brother and their family live in Painted Post, NY). For as long as I've known Jennifer, and that dates way back...long before she even knew my brother existed
...she has been a runner. Cross country, track, high school, college, running internationally. (I know I'm not doing justice to her incredible running resume. I believe she was even inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame.)I must tell you how giddy I was to be on the receiving end of a phone call from Jennifer back in 1990 to ask, "so is your brother seeing anyone?" And, the look on my brother's face days later when I started asking him about Jennifer and he didn't think anyone knew. Oh, the fun of being a little sister with a secret. They couldn't be a more perfect match for each other!
Her dedication to running is admirable and I am glad to be able to support her in her latest endeavor of raising money for Multiple Myeloma. My heart aches for her personal loss, as her mother and uncle were so important to her. I'm going to include her letter below for you all to read, as I want you to read directly from her what her latest running efforts are about.
Although I know Jennifer would appreciate any financial support you want to offer, I really want to remind each of us to take a few minutes and support our girlfriends in their efforts to raise money for any cause. Make yourself aware of what efforts are going on around you...and help one of your girlfriends make a difference. And, if you're the one out there walking for breast cancer or running for multiple myelomoa---BRAVO!! I applaud you for making the effort to make a difference.
Love you Jen! Go Girlfriend!
A note from Jennifer McNutt:
I'm writing to let you know that on November 1st, 2009, I will be running the New York City Marathon as a part of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Marathon Team. As many of you know, I lost my Mom, Diana Brower, to multiple myeloma in 2006, and my Uncle, David Rembolt, to the same disease in 2007. The battle against this form of cancer is a deeply personal one for me. Mom and Uncle David were huge supporters of my love for running, and I can't think of a better way to honor them than running the New York City Marathon in their memory. As Uncle David would say: "Neat!"
The MMRF is the world's leader in funding myeloma research; nearly 93% of funds raised by the MMRF directly support research and related programming. MMRF-funded research has already resulted in four new treatment advances - Thalomid, Velcade, Revlimid, and Doxil - that have helped extend the life expectancy of myeloma patients from four years to almost seven years. In addition, because of their success in treating myeloma patients, these four drugs are now being explored as treatment for 19 other cancers. While there is currently no cure for multiple myeloma, it is my hope that with increased awareness and continued research, one day soon a cure will be found. OUR EFFORTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
As part of the marathon team, I have committed to raising $4000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. As you've probably guessed, I'm asking you to help me reach my fundraising goal by making a contribution! Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly & securely. You will receive an email confirmation of your donation, and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. I thank you in advance for your support, and I truly appreciate your generosity!!
http://www.active.com/donate/2009NYCMarathon/jennifermcnutt
Please forward this email and my fundraising site to anyone else who may be interested (perhaps friends of Mom or Uncle David) and encourage them to donate as well!
Thank you so much for your support! I'll keep you informed of my progress!
Jennifer
How wonderful to not only have a sister in law that is so special, but to also be able to call her your friend as well.
I admire her efforts to raise money for the cancer that is so personal to her. I lost my Dad to cancer, and we also do fundraising, Relay for Life, etc. to help raise money and awareness.
Kudos to Jennifer.
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You are blessed to have such a lovely and caring sister-in-law and so is she! A few years ago, I did a quilting retreat that was called "Sisters at Heart". Near the end of our weekend, we all gathered together and I asked everyone (our group was small - about 15) to share something special about their "sister". Not everyone had a sister, of course, so I was referring to anyone who "felt like a sister" to them. It was wonderful to hear the stories that were shared and it was "proof postitive" that one doesn't have to be "kin" to become a true sister. Wishing my best to Jennifer in her fundraising and success in the marathon!
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