Dear Friends,
I am asking for your support regarding an extraordinary journey I will be taking in honor of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This summer I will be part of Chris Warner’s Shared Summits expedition to K2. Called the “Savage Mountain”, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world and thought by many to be the hardest one to climb. Along with Chris (the first Marylander to summit Everest) the American team includes four world class climbers; two additional crew members (I am one) who will be manning base camp, web casts, satellite feeds and weather dispatches; and if all goes well, a camera man collecting footage that will be aired on NBC in October.
To ready for the expedition I have chosen to train as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training and Hike for Discovery Programs. On May 12th I will join one team hiking the Grand Canyon and on May 20th I will compete on a second team in the Olympic distance Columbia Triathlon before boarding a plane later that evening for Islamabad where the K2 team will begin the 8 day trek with 150 porters and 2 tons of supplies along the Karakoram range to base camp located in the Himalayas on the border of Pakistan and China.
Since our family was touched by Leukemia in 1998, I have been continually inspired by both the courage of those battling this insidious disease and the professionals and volunteers who fight with such determination to find a cure. They remind me in my daily training to remain diligent on their behalf. Toward this end I am asking for your help in meeting my goal to raise $12,000, an approximation of the sum of the vertical meters and horizontal miles I am looking forward to sharing with you this spring and summer.
If you are able to make a credit card donation, please click here. If you would prefer to send a tax deductible check, please mail to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, C/o Joel Shalowitz, 5736 Ridgedale Rd. Suite 2000, Baltimore, MD 21209.
In the meantime, please enjoy the video preview and thanks so much for you continued support.
With deep appreciation,
Joel
