Dear Friends and Family,

We have decided to take on a great challenge and need your help.  We have committed ourselves to The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society of America Team in Training (TNT)
program.  As members of this program we will be participating in the San Diego Marathon (our first!), in honor of a
two-year old leukemia patient, Isabelle Thomas, and in memory of our
father's sister, Sophia Vlamidis.

Isabelle Thomas is the daughter of a teacher and friend from the University of Florida.  She is a lively and
determined little girl.  Isabelle has been through a series of chemotherapy
treatments and recently received what we hope is her last treatment.

Our Aunt Sophia passed away as a result of leukemia.  We had the opportunity to spend many fun summers in Greece in
her company.  She went through a series of unsuccessful
chemotherapy treatments and succumbed to the disease in 1996 in Thessaloniki, Greece. 

We have set a goal to raise $7200 ($3600 each) in Isabelle's honor and our Aunt Sophia's memory.  Money raised will
go toward helping Isabelle and other people stricken with leukemia
by helping The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society reach its goal of finding a cure for this dreadful disease.  We sold
homemade baklava at our brother-in-law's tavern.  In addition, a friend
of our sister who lost a brother to leukemia has helped us raise money for the Society by making other sweets to
sell.  

We realize you are called upon often to support many causes.  We are contacting you as we feel this cause is also
worthy of your support.  Twenty years ago, 5% of children diagnosed
with leukemia survived.  Today, thanks to the efforts of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 78% of the children
diagnosed with leukemia will survive the disease.  Survival rates for
adult forms of leukemia are also on the rise.

We are going to run 26.2 miles for this great cause.  Training has been a lot of hard work as well as a lot of fun.
We have track workouts for speed training as well as group runs with other
TNT members twice a month.  The rest of the time we are on our own to keep up with the training regime our TNT coach
gave us.  This week we will run a total of 25 miles including a
straight 13-mile run.  

Please join our effort to support the cause by making a check payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, writing
my name (Kathy Kantaras) in the memo, and sending it to 2856
Chelsea Place North, Clearwater, Florida 33759.  You will receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.  Any
contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Please take a moment to HELP US HELP THEM.

Thanks so much for your generosity and support.

 

Sincerely,

Dean and Kathy Kantaras, 

Team Members