A Thank You Letter

Dear Anyone who has ever spent time raising money and awareness for a cause they believe in,

This is a quick note to say Thank You.  Thank you for believing in something enough to make a difference.  Whether you walk, run, bike, swim, donate, hang posters, or plan events you are making a difference.  Not only to the organization that benefits but to the people.  I know in my heart that if you make a difference to one person then that is enough.

This past Saturday I had the chance (with my 3 year old) to cheer on a group of runners doing a 20 mile training run in preparation for the 115th Boston Marathon (April 18, 2011).  This particular group of people (I think there are about 100 of them) is raising money and awareness through Team in Training for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Saturday was a beautiful sunny day but not at all warm.  We were set up with a decent size group of friends and family of runners at the 15 mile mark.  When these runners got to our water stop they had been running for 15 miles in a bitter wind and not one of them came through without a smile.  Amazing!  In addition, they all said thank you as they ran through.  Thank you for water or cheering or just being there.  I was stunned....they were thanking me?!  I was standing there in multiple layers with fuzzy minutes and the option to warm up inside at any time and these people were thanking me.  To each of them I say THANK YOU.  Each of you is an inspiration to me...and that my friends means that you have made a difference to at least one person, and that is enough.

I was particularly in awe of the fact that four of the runners were wearing shirts with my name written on the back.  "I am running for...."  These runners are my sister Susannah, my friend Jon, my friend Betsy, and my friend Amy.  I can speak to the 4 of you as I say it is truly incredible to see your own name on the back of someone's shirt as they train to run 26.2 miles.  Thank you.  And be sure that you will hear me cheering loudly on Marathon Monday!!

With Love,
Elizabeth