Welcome To My Fundraising Page.

My first time participating (I believe it was 2004 ) in the Race to Any Place I worked for the North Boroughs YMCA a branch of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. I read a back of a shirt of someone pedaling on a bike that said something like-I can pedal for 15 minutes while someone else is getting 24 hours of Chemo. This has been in printed in my head and I have continued to participate even after I left the Y in 2013. 2017 and 2018 Our team did not participate.

March of 2018, I was diagnosed with Leukemia- AML. I looked at the doctor and said I've participated in LLS events but I have NO idea what Leukemia is?

My next thought was I should have never skipped Race to Any Place the last two years! And I set up our “Caring Friends” team while I was in the hospital with the goal of riding on February 23, 2018. 

I was “in remission” able to participate in 2018!

April 4, 2019 I found myself back in the hospital with a fever and freezing. BMB confirmed I relapsed. I had my bone marrow transplant July 9, 2019 and plan to be at Race to Anyplace 2020!

Its’ an awesome event-  come see for yourself, You don’t have to ride- come cheer on the riders.

If you want to ride please join our team: Caring Friends. We are looking for 12 riders (two 15 min. heats Per-person)

When I think of those who have won their fight & those that are still fighting, it gives me hope that we are making a difference in this fight against cancers. I can't cure cancer but I can help fight the fight against cancer!

Riding to honor Leukemia and Lymphoma Survivors: Cousin June Dorsey, Lesley Busch, Max Finberg FIL: Jack Winschel, McKenzie Gales-Miller and 
Brenda Trytek.

In Memory and In Honor of those fighting this terrible disease!

My AML Journey:

Went to UPMC Passavant Hospital March, 16, 2018 for blood work and chest x-ray for a cough I get with my allergies. Left the hospital at 5PM got a call at 5:30PM that I need to come to the emergency room blood transfusion and was admitted. Had tests/scans done to see why my blood was 4.0 and they found no bleeding. Next step was a bone marrow biopsy and I was diagnosed with Leukemia. I Was moved to UPMC Shadyside on March 20, 2018. March 21, Started "7+3" Chemo Treatment which consists of 7 days of standard-dose cytarabine, and 3 days of an anthracycline antibiotic. Then day 14 bone marrow biopsy April 2, and again on March 18 and finally able to go home. I was hospitalized 34 days. May 2, 2018, I started my first of four consolidation treatments which consists of six- 2 hour chemo treatments over a 6 day hospital stay.  While home recovering a nurse comes to the home twice a week for blood work. Depending on my counts we usually have to go to the emergency room for blood or platelets.  May 30, #2 consolidation, June 29 fourth Bone Marrow Biopsy.  July 5, 2018 # 3 consolidation and scheduled for #4 August 2, 2018. August 18, had a temperature of 100.5 and was admitted for 6 days. Nuetropenic fever. September 5th bone marrow biopsy. September 17, 2018 Remission!

April 4, 2019. Back in the ER with fever and freezing cold. Relapsed. Spent 65 days in the hospital. Home  June 7, 2019. Scheduled to return July 1, 2019 for Bone Marrow Transplant. Was released on our 20th Anniversary, July 24, 2019. Made it to day 100- pretty “uneventful” Which is a good thing- Thank GOD. 

LLS's continued advancements over the years, are responsible for the blood cancer survival rate doubling and tripling; in some cases, the survival rate has even quadrupled.

And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers. They're even being tested in clinical trials for patients with a range of cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS funded drugs are now being tested for patients with other non-cancerous diseases like Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.

We really are changing the face of blood cancer!

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere I thank you for your support!

For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org

THANK YOU!

Maureen "Moe"

Maureen

 

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my Web site often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere I thank you for your support!
For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org