Sep 19, 2007

We're on Track...


...to meet our goal - and surpass it!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has contributed to our campaign so far! Thanks to the generosity of so many, we whizzed past our initial goal of raising $20,000 and have set a new goal of $30,000, which will allow us to attract a stronger pool of proposals from major research institutions. If you'd like to donate, please go to our fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/TeamSuperman.

If you are wavering about joining us for the 5K Walk/Run, there is still time to sign up. You can register in advance online at http://www.active.com/ and walk-ins will also be accepted. The event will be held at Lake Fairfax Park, Reston. I visited the park today. It's a beautiful site, about 7 miles northwest of Tysons Corner Center (see sidebar, top right, for directions). We'll be following a circular route, and many of us (myself included) will be walking, not running. So there's no excuse for not coming out and joining us! If you register by September 20, you're guaranteed a really sharp looking Team Superman T-shirt. After that, I can't make any promises, but we'll do our best.

By the way, I've just learned that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which makes our campaign even more meaningful. The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act was introduced in both houses of Congress earlier this year with the aim of increasing federal cancer funding by $150 million over five years; however, the bill remains stalled. In the meantime, more than 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer annually and 1/4 of them lose the fight, not to mention those whose lives are irreparably altered. Brain tumors are the deadliest form of childhood cancer; yet, according to the Children's Oncology Group, the leading consortium of childhood cancer researchers, "survival rates for Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors have not seen a dramatic change across the board in the past twenty years." In my opinion, it's a national disgrace. But this is not the time or place...

A HUGE thank you to all of you who are supporting Team Superman with your contributions and/or with your participation in our upcoming event. We are overwhelmed by all of the support we've received and deeply grateful. We look forward to seeing you on the 30th!

Sep 3, 2007

Team Superman Soaring High

Thanks to all of you, Team Superman is off to a super start!
As we move into September, we are already at 40% of our goal - and we are tied for first place as the most popular fundraising page on the firstgiving.com website. This is all fantastic!

There is still plenty of time to sign up for the 5K Walk/Run. The advance registration deadline is September 20. (You can still register after that, or even as as walk-in, but the fee is slightly higher.)

If you'd like to register, either email me for a brochure (jbanksresearch@comcast.net) or download it at www.childhoodbraintumor.org/events.html. When you register, be sure to indicate that you are part of Team Superman AND please drop me an email as well, so that I can keep a running list of team members.

Please contact us if you have any questions - and thank you for your support!


Here are some recent photos:





Having a Blast at Ali's 25th










Woodneck Beach, the Kids' Favorite






Back to School, 6th and 11th Grades