For Another Friend

Please be sure to read the previous blog by Virgina Gill. It is very important to her, to me, and to a lot of people.

On a lighter note, a friend, an author has a new release today. It will make a great summer read, but be sure to keep the iced tea available cause it's HOT. The author is Lacey Thorn and you can get her book at www.ellorascave.com

Guest Blogger Virginia Gill

Dear Friends,
What does it take to cure cancer? It takes tens of thousands of runners raising more than $700 million in less than 20 years … and still we aren’t at the finish line! For the past two years I've been speaking routinely at meetings to recruit people to join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training (TnT). Each time I ended by telling those attending that they have incredibly beautiful feet. Why? Because those feet have been putting my prayers for a cure for my husband Bill into motion while I was unable to participate myself.
This summer finds me truly stepping out in faith. Just 24 hours after committing to not only recruiting others, mentoring them through the season, once again joining the team myself and raising money for the LLS as a participant in their Team In Training program we learned Bill had taken a turn for the worse. As my husband spends the next six months undergoing chemotherapy I will be raising funds and training for the Nike Women's Marathon held October 21st in San Francisco. I very much need your help in the form of donations! The minimum I need to raise is $3900...but my goal is to top $5200 ($100 more than I raised last time). Sounds like a lot doesn't it? Broken down it's really not ...at $50 dollars each I need just 91 more donations! Every donation big or small brings us one step closer to cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and brings hope to the patients and families who are on the front lines in the battle against these diseases.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been a wonderful blessing to Bill and I as he fights leukemia. While we are thankful for the support the LLS has given us we are ever aware that there is as yet no cure for him. Thankfully there are treatments though! These allow for improved quality of life and extra time while the search for cures continues. It's easy to see progress has been made with leukemia, some types have cure rates of 80% or more! For Bill's type the search is really just beginning, the first treatments were approved barely two years ago. The support the LLS provides ranges from connecting newly diagnosed individuals with others who've undergone the same treatments, to assistance with insurance co-pays and even money to pay for things not covered by insurance. The LLS ensures that patients have advocates when navigating the winding halls of cancer treatment. We’ve personally benefited from all of it. Even Team in Training itself has been a wonderful support. Being an "honored teammate" motivated Bill for the first time to really understand what was wrong with him and start fighting for himself. The impact of seeing 97 (local team) other people cry with us over bad news and cheer every small success can't even be described. God has surrounded us with angels...all of whom have gloriously beautiful feet to me! June 22nd I was privileged to share our story as the “inspirational speaker” for Team in Training’s pre-race dinner at the Mayor’s Marathon here in town. It was so hard to stand there talking as Bill lay receiving chemo alone across town. I spent 9 hours the next day waiting at the finish line to cheer for and thank every one of the 1140 runners/walkers. They raised $5.1 million dollars! Together we CAN find cures so that one day no one will have to endure this journey.As I begin what will be the hardest season of my life I ask you to join me in the fight by using the link in this letter to donate online quickly and securely. You will receive a confirmation by email of your donation and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. The LLS is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.
There are no words to tell you how much your donations mean to me, to Bill, to hundreds of thousands fighting blood cancers in this country. I really appreciate your generosity in joining me as I race for a cure! You can learn more about my efforts and make a donation by visiting the following Web site: http://www.active.com/donate/tntvirtual/DarlinGin Mailing checks made out to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to me using the enclosed reply envelop works as well! You can follow our progress with Bill's journey in my "Breathe ...Just Breathe" blog at www.mychurch.org/virginia
Thank you!
Virginia
P.S. Please forward this to as many people as you can. Encourage them to donate as well. We'd also cherish your prayers that Bill will be well enough come October to be waiting for me at the finish line in San Francisco. The next fundraising deadline is Oct.12th. Please donate early.

Prophecy of Vithan is now available

Prophecy of Vithan is now available at http://www.cerridwenpress.com

Here's another excerpt: Rated PG-13

Morgan heard the lock click. She stepped closer to the door, hoping for a chance to escape.
Len landed with a thud on the floor. His back filled with red welts from a beating with a strap.
Morgan kneeled near his head as the door slammed behind him. The lock clicked again. She helped Len turn partially over. She put his head in her lap. His eyes black and blue from being punched. He kept one leg crossed over the other.
"What did they do to you?" Asked Morgan, pushing a strand of blond hair out from Len's eyes.
"I told them I wouldn't have sex with you. They changed my mind." Len said lightly.
Morgan slowly, gently put Len's head on the floor. She stood. She walked carefully to the bed. For the millionth time in the last three days, her world disintegrated. She believed Len loved her. She believed he wanted her. Now, he took a beating to keep from having sex with her. She sat on the bed, idly noticing the softness and the resilience. As a sex slave, the bed was very important for how you felt in the morning. Morgan wondered how she would feel in the morning as an unwanted wife.
"You…you needed to be forced to come here and have sex with me? Am I undesirable?" Morgan stood. She looked at Len. He tried to stand. Morgan didn't offer any help. "Is that why you told me to choose Royce instead of you at the village? You really don't want me? Of course, now it makes sense. You have never wanted me. You've tried to get rid of me from the very beginning. You wanted to set me free the minute we married. You even agreed to the stupid idea of competing for my freedom."
"It was your idea." Len finally found his footing. His hands covered himself.
"To distract you, so I could escape." Morgan said from the bed.
"It worked."
"Why are you covering yourself? I've seen you naked. You're very good looking." Morgan said remembering Len on their wedding night. It seemed years ago.
"I'm…I'm indisposed." Len said weakly.
"You're what?" Morgan asked.
Len blushed. He removed his hands. His source of embarrassment sprang to life.
Morgan covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle.
"They drugged you." Morgan made a statement instead of asking a question.
"A shot. Your father told me how to change the drug to plain water. I haven't had a chance."
My father? The thought flittered through Morgan's mind.
"It's…it's huge." Morgan said, biting her lip.
"And painful." Len said.
Morgan stood and came closer to Len. Len backed up. "You would rather take a beating than have sex, despite that?"
Len shook his head. "Not have sex, have sex with you-"
"That tears it." Morgan interrupted. She gathered her hand into a fist. She reached back, swinging from the floor up. Her fist connected with Len's jaw. He flew backward into the wall through a holographic tapestry. Morgan shook her hand. It hurt. Hopefully his jaw hurt more. She walked toward Len to grab him and slug him again. She may be a slave, but she would not be insulted. Sex was ok, but not with her? She would show him abstinence.


Charlene Leatherman, Prophecy of Vithan by Cerridwen Press, released August 2, 2007Defeating the villain, destroying the monster, delivering the hero, and never breaking a nail. www.charleneleatherman.com