Hi Everyone!
My name is Lisa Kreissler and I am a friend of Mary Anne Kobylka’s. Mary Anne called me about a week ago and asked me to take over the management and organization of *Team Mary Anne!* for the Swedish SummeRun Event. It was a very difficult phone call … I think more so for me than for Mary Anne. Sadly, Mary Anne will not be able to be with us at SummeRun this year. She is losing ground in her battle with cancer.
As many of you know, for the past six years, Mary Anne has battled ovarian cancer. She was determined to thrive, to take everything in stride, and to live her life with a firm grasp of what really matters. Every obstacle was dealt with honesty, and with her great, wonderful sense of humor. Cancer did not rule her life; she made the most of every day and created wonderful memories with her family. It would have been understandable to turn inward, but Mary Anne wanted to do more.
Her motto quickly became “Celebrate Life!” And, as Mary Anne explains in her own words:
“I accept the fact that I cannot control how I die, but I can control how I live. For me, spending time with family and friends, and raising funds for cancer research is part of living well.”
Ovarian cancer is brutal. It is hard to detect, and very hard to cure - doctors say it looks like gravel thrown into the body. Mary Anne wanted to do anything she could to help fund research towards a cure. She participated in fundraising triathlons. She formed a team of runners and walkers to participate in the Swedish SummeRun, an annual event that has raised over $3 million for the 
Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. This organization was formed by her doctor, Dr. Saul Rivkin, who lost his wife, Marsha, to ovarian cancer. Last year, "Team Mary Anne!" was the top-fundraising team, with $47,433.00 donated to support ovarian cancer research. And as many of you know, Mary Anne was also the SummeRun Survivor Honoree last year, and you can read more about her story by clicking here.
Many of us have asked if we can help with dinners, errands, the caring of David and Alex, and helping with cleaning the house. For those of you who know Mary Anne’s husband, Richard, it is no surprise that he has this under control and as I’m sure Mary Anne would say “He’s got a spreadsheet detailing it all!”.
However, if you would really like to help, there is absolutely nothing that would make Mary Anne’s day more than a donation to the cause that she has devoted six years of her life to … the Swedish SummeRun benefiting the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.
In Mary Anne’s words:
“This money is being put to great use by researchers selected by the Marsha Rivkin Center. These researchers are making progress in diagnosing this disease, treating it, and curing it. Lives are being saved.”
“People with recurrent ovarian cancer have new chemos available to them to prolong their lives. More kids will have moms around and some kids may never have to learn to fear the word cancer. Wouldn’t that be great?”
Indeed it would be great. And with your help, Mary Anne believes that it is possible. Please do know that it doesn’t have to be a large donation if your budget does not allow for it … even a $10.00 donation would be so welcomed.
Mary Anne’s Swedish SummeRun goal this year is $50,000.00! And this year Mary Anne is due to turn Fifty. In her words, “Fifty would be Nifty!” Please, let’s do what we all can to have her reach this goal.
Please go to my SummerRun web site and donate to one of the members of Team Mary Anne! in support of MaryAnne.
Also, we would love to have you walk or run with us on Sunday, July 26th. We will be meeting beforehand and will have a celebration afer SummeRun. More details will be forthcoming.
Thank you, on behalf of Mary Anne.
Lisa
You can join us at the Swedish SummeRun by clicking Join Us at the SummeRun on my SummerRun web site. Remember to enter our team in the Team Name field. You can also help by sponsoring our team or an individual on our team. It's easy to make a gift, just click on Support Us! or click on a team member's name.
Thank You!