help a stranger...

I've seen a few of these float around, and I don't want to overkill the humanitarian insticts of the SG community...

However, this is a friend of mine. She's a great person. She's got a smile that just sticks you right down into your seat. She deserves any effort I can put forth to help her and her family out.

She doesn't want free money. She wants sponsored so she can run a marathon for her father. That's movie-grade shit people. It's just that this time, it's real life.

So here's her letter.

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In August 2005 my family's life changed drastically when we found out that my father, Jeff Gholson, had pancreatic cancer. The pancreas is the organ that produces enzymes that aid in food digestion and secretes hormones that help maintain and regulate body sugar levels. Cancer of the pancreas is very aggressive and spreads quickly because there are no tests or screenings to help diagnose it early on. Since it is difficult to diagnose before it reaches an advanced stage, the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is usually quite poor; the National Cancer Institute reports that pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer related death in the United States.

Recently, while surfing the Internet, I came across the Pancreatica Pacesetters Running Team. For the next 12 weeks, the members of the Running Team will train to run in the US Half-Marathon in San Francisco, CA on November 5th and will simultaneously collect donations for their efforts to benefit Pancreatica, a research and advocacy initiative supported by the non-profit Lorenzen Cancer Foundation.

Since last year I have watched my father battle this horrible disease with courage and incredible determination and have wanted to do something to honor his strength. As a way to show him that I admire his perseverance, and to support him and other pancreatic cancer patients in their fight against this terrible illness, I have joined the team and am currently training to run the 13.1 miles for my dad.

I would like to ask for your help to support this program and contribute to a great cause. Every dollar raised for the Pancreatica Pacesetters will go directly to the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation and will be used to fulfill its mission. 90% of the amount you contribute is tax-deductible. Every little bit helps and I would be very grateful if you could help me reach my goal of $2000.

If you would like to make a donation, there are two ways to do so:

1.Go to: www.active.com/donate/pancreatica/running4dad
and donate online using the "Make a Contribution" box in the upper right hand corner
OR
2.Send a to: "The Lorenzen Cancer Foundation"
312 1/2 Fountain Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(please be sure to write my name (Marisa Gholson) on the Memo line of the check so that it will be credited to my fundraising account!)

I hope that by doing this half-marathon I can spread awareness about pancreatic cancer (one of the lesser-known cancers) and fundraise to help find a cure for this disease. Even though my father's doctors are fantastic, I would love nothing more than to put them out of a job because a cure has been found!

Thanks for your support!
-Marisa Gholson

Good luck.