I am again running the Country Music 1/2 Marathon. This is my third year to run with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise funds for leukemia and related cancers research. I do this through a group called Team In Training. They train me and I raise money and awareness for them. My first year I raised $5100, the next run I raised $11,100, I want this year to be much bigger and better. This year I am running in honor of my cousin Stewart Smith. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Anneke and 2 year old son Tate. They are expecting a new baby in March. Last spring Stewart was diagnosed with AML...Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. It is probably the worst kind of leukemia to have, besides any type of leukemia with adverse drug reactions. Stewart has been a trooper and a hero to me, my entire family, and his many friends. He managed to survive some very potent chemotherapy to get into remission, and also had to have a bone marrow transplant once in remission. He was lucky. His only sibling, and sister , Julie, was a perfect match. Stewart is about 100 days past his transplant without any major complications. He had a bone marrow biopsy this week which showed he is in remission, and is just waiting on the results of a few more tests. I think we all have God to thank for this courageous journey that no one wants to take. The importance of what I am doing is to raise all the money I can to go to the Leukemia and Lyphoma Society in Stewart's honor to fund treatments , research, and patient support to every one that has to encounter one of these life changing diseases. I cannot do this without remembering my patient Brooks Richardson who paid his life to one of these diseases. I know he is in heaven looking down on all of us, and challenging us to move forward to a point where there are no leukemias to face, or to perfect easy cures that do not take lives away. I urge anyone who can give please give generously.I ask all co- workers, church members, companies to do the same. For Stewart I challenge all Bell South employees to give, all Georgia Dawg fans to give, all Georgia rugby friends to give. For every person that donates, I ask that they ask one more person to match their donation, and have them do the same. For every person that has written in Stewart's web guest book to give. If I have left out anyone, please send this email to anyone on your email list. If you are unable to give, I ask that you keep Stewart, and his family in your prayers. I ask that you pray for me during my training, and pray that I am able to raise enough to make a big dent in the cure for leukemia. Sincerely, Elaine Townes