Josh & Brandy Vance's PledgePage


Guess what Brandy and I are doing on May 4th 2008...


We are running a half marathon (13.1 miles) in Vancouver, Canada to help eradicate blood cancers. Yes, you heard right. We are starting to train for the Vancouver marathon. We are training with the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As many of you know, I survived a fifteen-month long battle with Non-Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma 13 years ago. At 17 years old I stared mortality directly in the face at a time in my life when I should have been playing football, dating girls, running and lifting weights. I endured two surgeries, 10 High-Level Radiation treatments, and 54 weeks of High-Dose Intensive Chemotherapy. The Chemotherapy caused all of my hair to fall out, extreme nausea, my fingernails had white zebra-stripes on them. I lost all sensation in my fingertips and toes. I took steroids that caused my face to become round, sometimes described as “moon face”. I had two Bone Marrow aspirations (one while awake), 14 spinal taps and received multiple GSF shots to keep my white blood cell count from bottoming out (GSF shots feel like being stung by about 20 fire ants all at once). I spent one out of every four weekends in the hospital to administer 48 hours of IV methotrexate and an intrathecal (Injection directly into the spinal fluid since Chemo will not cross the blood-brain barrier). The Methotrexate strips the mucosa lining of the mouth and intestines causing up to 20 mouth ulcers at one time (once a month). I took almost all of my Chemotherapy through IV’s because a staphylococcus infection required that my port catheter be removed. I took somewhere near 2,500 pills and was very fortunate to survive a disease that many do not.

I’m not telling you this story looking for pity. Children and Adults who endure Leukemia endure more than twice what I endured. They are required to take at least 24 months of chemotherapy and as a result have many more late effects from the drugs. I’m telling you this story so that you realize what so many people go through every year as a result of blood and lymphatic cancers. These diseases affect not only the patients, but also the parents and families who feel absolutely helpless as well. Because of my experience, I feel that it is time to give something back to past, present and future cancer patients. We do this in hopes that one-day no one will have to experience what I experienced. We need a cure and we are getting so close. The next dollar raised could be the hinge that opens the door to a breakthrough. That could be YOUR dollar; it could be YOU who made the difference. By committing to run the Vancouver Marathon, We have pledged to raise $8,800.00 by May 4th.

We are running for all those who can't run anymore and who would do anything that may help save their loved one's life. When you look at a 3 year old with Leukemia or a child that has lost their father to the disease, running 13.1 miles and raising $8,800 seems simple compared to what those families have been through. What they would do for one more minute with a lost loved one is priceless.

We plan to cross the finish line on May 4th with the Millions of people in mind who have been touched by the "life shattering" effects of Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. We will run for those who cannot, for those who grieve, for those who celebrate and for posterity. We run for the hope to find a cure to a disease that takes without remorse or discrimination.

This is an ambitious task and we need your help. We hope that you will join us on this journey by making a donation to our campaign. On this website you can make a donation and follow our fundraising progress as well as our running progress. You may also mail a check to us made out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 75% of all donations go to research, patient services and funding for families in need. All contributions are Tax-Deductible. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL!!!

THE PRICE OF HOPE IS SMALL AND THE REWARDS OF YOUR EFFORTS ARE BOUNDLESS!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invests $61 million annually in research. The Society receives no federal funding so they depend on fundraising events like this. Without critical research, funding and emotional support, it is almost impossible to defeat such an adversary as blood borne cancers.
We start our training November 12th and will build up every week until the race. We will keep you posted on our progress and hope that you will support us in this great cause.

You may be asking, Where does all that money go?

Well, 75% of all the money we raise goes to Research for finding a cure and program services for families in need.

Remember, NO amount is too small.
    Some suggestions are
  • $2 For every mile we run
  • $20 Because Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer related death among children under 20
  • $52 Or just $1 dollar per week for one year
  • $88 Because there is now an 88% chance of survival for children under 5 years old who are diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • $100 Because with your help, we have a 100% chance for a cure in the future!!!
  • $288 Equivalent to $1 for each person who will be diagnosed with a blood cancer in the next 24 hours
  • $365 Or $1 per day for one year
  • $500 Enough to provide one patient/family with financial assistance
  • $1000 Cost on average for a one night stay in the hospital. Patients visit the hospital numerous times and for extended periods while undergoing treatments
  • Whatever amount you can handle. Every single dollar helps us move one step closer to putting cancer behind us! Every dollar adds up!!!


    Okay, so it is the third week in January and things are coming along...SLOWLY...but still coming along :)We are now running about 16 or more miles a week and continuing with Saturday group runs. Those kinda help to keep you going.
    Brandy had her gallbladder removed on the 18th so she is out for about 2 weeks. But will pick right back up where she left off hopefully!!!
    Most of you probably received a fundraising letter from us. Those have helped us to raise around $1300.00 so far. Our friends and family have been very generous and to them we are Thankful. Both of us have been extremely busy volunteering at different events to raise money. Brandy even worked the Dallas Cowboys vs. Giants game. Just couldn't pull Josh away from watching the game so he sat that one out...We have decided to do a See's candy fundraiser for Valentines Day and Easter. Hopefully that will be a success!
    TNT gave us some good news this week. A Society researcher invented a procedure that can rebuild the immune system within 30-60 days. Blood cancer research is the gateway to curing all cancers….Gleevec is now used for more than 6 different cancers including brain and esophagus. Dr. Collins at UT Southwestern is in a clinical trial for the son of Gleevec drug which 20% of CML patients become immune to Gleevec.
    We helped fund research developing the port which is a way to administer chemotherapy and many anti-nausea drugs for all patients under going chemotherapy.
    This is just one example of what your donation is used for. Doesn't that feel good?
    Will update more soon. Thank you and God Bless.