Darttny Ellis wrote:

Hello Family and Friends

As some of you know I strive to live a healthy lifestyle and persistently preach the fundamentals of staying physically active. I decided to take this passion and devote it into something much bigger than myself. Running a marathon has been a goal of mine for a while now and I finally conjured up the nerve to follow through. However I'm not sure if I would have even considered this an option if it weren't for one special individual who has left me with the courage and determination I needed to actually do so. 

On January 2nd, 2011 I received the devastating news that I lost a cousin and a best friend to a lifelong battle with sickle cell disease. Trevon Moore was a sensational individual. He encompassed the very characteristics we all strive to obtain; fearlessness, benevolence, strength, compassion and virtue, just to name a few. Trevon and I spent much of our childhood years together. He was a couple years older than me, and overtime I began to look at him as an older brother. I wanted to do everything he did and I wanted to be everything he was, if he was skateboarding I wanted to be just as good. If he was a Michael Jackson fan I wanted to be a Michael Jackson fan as well. And more recently if he was buff I wanted to be buffer. Trevon was like the cool older brother that you always want to be around in hope of soaking up all his extraordinary qualities. Though it took years for me to understand that Trevon was not teaching me how to capture his light but to create a light of my own. So on that day not only did I lose a cousin and a best friend but I lost a hero as well. Throughout the rest of my life I pledge to keep his spirit alive and our memories close to heart.

In an attempt to keep Trevon's spirit strong I have joined 'Team Tre' and committed to running in the LA Marathon in support of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells). It affects millions of people throughout the world, and approximately 90,000-100,000 Americans.

In a time where some are having trouble to make ends meet I find it only appropriate to ask you to donate what you can and contribute to a cause near and dear to my heart and many others as well; helping to raise awareness and funding to find a cure for sickle cell disease. If not possible, then I ask you to donate blood at your local blood bank. And if that is not possible, please remember to always smile and stay strong, no matter how hard times may get, just like Trevon always did.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and checking out my page. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT!