Beth Averkamp Support Fund

So I decided to run my first marathon.   Hopefully the 26 weeks that I have spent training will allow me to get across the finish line.  It was on a long training run in less than optimal weather conditions that I thought I had made a mistake.  I was cold, wet, and in pain.  I wanted to quit…basically I was miserable.  As I trudged along, I started to think about all the things people deal with that are significantly worse than this simple run.   In that moment I realized that I was actually lucky to be doing this miserable training run because there are people everywhere dealing with difficult situations on a daily basis…far worse than a couple hour run.

One of those people is Beth Averkamp.  Beth was diagnosed with DLBC Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma just before New Year’s Eve 2015.  Ever since she has been on the roller coaster from hell!  From being told you have cancer, going through chemo, getting positive PET scans, remission, being told it is back again, stem cell treatment…and more chemo.  She is the one that is actually doing something difficult.  She fights day after day through the entire ordeal and that makes trudging along on my long training runs seem like a privilege.

In return for providing me with inspiration, I wanted to do something small for Beth.  While I do not feel comfortable asking people for money…I don’t mind earning it.  My goal is to run 26.2 miles on July 9th in the Missoula Montana Marathon.  I’m asking for you to sponsor me for a $1 per mile or $26.20 total.  My goal is to raise $2,620 for Beth and her husband Doug.  I will personally donate the 5% fee that goes to GoFundMe, so that all of your money goes directly to Beth and Doug.

Thanks for the help in making someone smile as they continue to fight a real battle.