Racing to Save Lives
In Loving Memory and Honor of Sue and Marty Sperber
Well good things can become an addiction too! After the incredible journey I had experienced as a member of Team in Training and completing the NJ Marathon in April, I just couldn’t help myself. As many of my dear friends and family predicted, I am doing it all again!
I am now training to run in the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28th in Washington DC as a proud member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. I will be doing this event in loving memory and honor of Sue and Marty Sperber, my dear in-laws who have now both passed on. It is with great honor, love and joy that I dedicate myself to complete this fundraising effort as a tribute to two of the kindest and most loving people I have ever known.
They Were the Definition of Love
In my life, I have been extremely blessed. One of the sweetest blessings I have enjoyed is receiving unconditional love from the two most wonderful people, Martin and Sue Sperber. These two loving and devoted parents and grandparents, showered us all with love and affection whenever they could. They never missed an opportunity to send us cards on every occasion, to be there in our time of need, or to rejoice in our happiness. They embraced me immediately and always treated me like their daughter. There was always a card for me on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, and Anniversaries and they always read “Dear Daughter”, never "Daughter-in-law". They gave their love and devotion fully and unconditionally, without any expectation of receiving or needing anything in return, not even a thank you. Our needs and happiness were always paramount and placed ahead of their own. I will always cherish their beautiful memory and will be forever grateful for having had them in my life.
As I passed the 20 mile mark during my NJ Marathon run, it was incredibly tough to keep going. I found that it was difficult to even drink water let alone take in nutrition that I needed for fuel. What kept me going when I was running on empty? In a word, Love. When I am running the Marine Corps Marathon my inspiration will be my love for Mama Sue and Papa Marty. I have no doubt that my love and admiration for them will carry me all the way to the finish line .
Cancer, regardless of what type it may be, does not discriminate on who it shall strike next. All of us have been touched by this in our lives and can relate to the pain it causes families all over the world. Let's work together to do what we can to help those in their time of need. All of us on Team in Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. Please make a donation to support my participation in Team in Training and help advance the Society's mission.
I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.
Thanks for your support!
Categories: In Loving Memory and Honor of Sue and Marty Sperber
Lori,
just go out and do it. I can remember today as if it was just yesterday, everytime as a teenager that i rang the doorbell waiting for it to open. It was always Sue, beautiful and smiling saying "Hi, Bob." and yelling upstairs " Jeff, Bob's here" with Alfie at her feet barking hi to me and smelling Maxwell's scent on my clothes. Sue would ask if I wanted something to eat and how my parents were even though she spoke to my mother at Waldbaums a few hours earlier. Memories of sitting in the den watching a ball game with them and Jeff and of course, riding in the thunderbird with Martin on our way to Giants Stadium talking sports and fielding questions from him on everything from how are you doin bob, to whats up with your family and school and work. Yes, in my mind it was only yesterday and the images are so vivid
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Robert,
Sue and Marty have touched so many people with their kindness. My memories of them are so vivid too. Thank you for sharing these stories with us. I can see them just as you have described and it puts a smile on my face!
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My father-in-law grew up in Newark and worked as a Tool & Die Maker. He was a very intelligent, talented and hard working man. Before the Tool & Die Makers could work on the metal, they had to use chemicals to clean off the grease. The chemicals my father-in-law used got into his blood. He was eventually diagnosed in 2003 with a blood disorder for which the doctor informed him there was no cure. The doctor tried experimental drugs but he finally died of leukemia and kidney failure in January 2005. When he was in the hospital for the last time, I told him that I was going to run the Boston Marathon with his name on my back. He died a fews days later. I contacted the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and asked them if I could make a personal donation and run for Team in Training. They agreed. The Team in Training support groups on the way from Hopkinton to Boston were awesome. My thanks to all of those who participate in the Team in Training support groups. I hope you know how much your support means. It is truly inspiring. My eyes are filling up with tears now as I write my story. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the Tool & Die Makers and their families who suffered the same fate as my father-in-law. I prayer that the companies that make the chemicals that got into my father-in-law's blood and the companies that buy those chemicals hear my story and find another way for these men and women to do their job safely. My brother's wife is currently battling Leukemia. I pray for her and Thank Lori and the Society for all that you do to find a cure for this disease.
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Rich,
Your story is so incredibly touching...I am so sorry I didn't see this and respond sooner. I just saw this entry today.
From your heartfelt words I feel the love you have for your Father-in-law which is a gift. He obviously touched you in a profound way and in life this is your one true legacy...to touch those that you love. I have no doubt that he is looking at you and your family and beaming with love and pride.
I am so sorry you have to now face this struggle again with your sister-in-law. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your battle and the battle of so many struggling with these blood cancers makes all of us who are part of Team in Training passionate about what we do.
If it is o.k. with you and your family, I would be honored to place your sister-in-law's name on my running jersey when I run in the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28th with my prayers for a full recovery and a show of support for her and your entire family. If this is o.k., please send me her name.
With love and best wishes,
Lori
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