One of my wife's best friends - her sister and Godmother to our firstborn - was diagnosed with Leukemia in September 2001. A devoted oncology nurse and impassioned advocate for her patients, Mary Jane knew the climb and was a natural fighter. She waged a fierce battle and one year later, as we all expected, the doctors diagnosed her as cancer-free. The entire family celebrated the victory of her one-year remission with a festive dinner party.

The celebration was short lived as the cancer reappeared 18 months later. Knowing full well the difficulty of the second time around, she did not waver in her fight for life. My last moments with Mary June were at my daughter's birthday party just days before she passed away the third of September 2005. Even in her weakened state, Mary June was there with us and for us - her family. Mary June asked us never to forget her, an impossible thought to those who knew her, including those in oncology community who unimaginably lost one of their own to the very illness.

In Mary June's memory I joined my first LLS fundraising event, a sprint triathlon, in 2006. I have participated in a minimum of one LLS event every year since, including this past 2009 Boston Marathon. Last year I joined the venture to build KARHU and CRAFT and fortunately can now elevate a personal passion with a corporate partnership to support the mission of LLS and a cause I am committed to for life. I can only hope this partnership will be one way to spare others from similar heartache.

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