Dear family, friends, and colleagues, 

thank you so much for your support of my fundraising campaign for Team Brigham in 2012. 

As you all probably know, running is a great passion of mine. For a long time now I have wanted to run Boston. By joining Team Brigham to do so on 4/16/2012, I not only will get to participate in the race any marathon runner dreams of running, but I also get to support the important community projects Team Brigham focuses on. 

While I feel great about all the community projects championed by Team Brigham, the cause particularly close to my heart is the Connecting Hope, Assistance and Treatment (CHAT) - Breast Cancer Assistance Program. My grandmother and my mother were both affected by breast cancer; my mother died of her disease. While they had the insurance and means to financially cope with their illness, the hurdles were still substantial. By raising money through running with Team Brigham to support CHAT, I hope to both support other women affected by breast cancer and to honor my mother’s memory. 

Again, thank you all for your support.

When you give, please let me know who you are so I can be sure to thank you. 

Luise

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Brigham and Women's Hospital wrote -

Team Brigham is a group of runners dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for low-income families in the Greater Boston area. Each member of the team commits to running the Boston Marathon and raising a minimum of $5,000 to support Brigham and Women’s Hospital community health programs.

In 2011, Team Brigham runners raised more than $425,000—and since the program’s inception in 1998, the team has raised more than $5 million dollars to support programs to improve the health and opportunities of the underserved in our communities. Here are some ways this fundraising MAKES A DIFFERENCE:

·         $350 pays for a wig for a woman with breast cancer

·         $450 buys a compression garment for a woman with breast cancer

·         $1,200 covers one year of comprehensive assistance through the Connecting Hope, Assistance, and Treatment (CHAT) Program for low-income women with breast cancer

·         $2,500 provides one year of support groups and educational materials to survivors of domestic violence

·         $3,000 provides 15 high school juniors in the Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) intensive monthly workshops and personal consultation to prepare their college applications, apply for financial aid, and make informed decisions about where to attend college

·         $5,000 provides back-to-school clothing for approximately 100 children whose mothers are victims of domestic violence

·         $7,500 supports the Passageway program’s emergency fund for one year, supplying victims of domestic violence and their children with items such as food, clothing, transportation, changes in apartment/home locks, rental and utilities assistance, and more

·         $15,000 pays for school-year internships for 15 teens in the SSJP

·         $20,000 pays for summer internships for 15 teens in the SSJP

·         $40,000 covers one year of advocacy for domestic violence victims and survivors at one community health site affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital

For more information about Team Brigham, Community Health and how you can run the Boston Marathon, visit TeamBrigham.org