CJ Frogozo

I believe in the strength of the human body to run a marathon, take a yoga class, heal itself from injury, and beat cancer.

As a long time yogini and sometimes runner, I never thought I would have the strength, much less the patience, to run even one marathon. But I find myself taking on yet another challenge, a challenge which seems insignificant in comparison to what cancer patients endure.

This year, I will be running a second marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Unlike the Paris Marathon, which was run purely for the CJ Bucket List Foundation, I am channeling my effort towards a higher purpose, and I need your help in reaching my fundraising goals. Several other Team Endure to Cure athletes and I are trying to raise $50,000 to fund a pediatric cancer survivorship study at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in 2011. The study will enable a clinical psychologist to research methods to reduce the long-term effects of harsh treatments on pediatric cancer patients. Your donation will directly go towards funding a Masters or PhD-level clinical research psychologist’s salary for a year. The clinical psychologist will be the sole person involved in this study.

So why this is this study important? Many people do not realize that 60% of pediatric cancer patients will suffer long term side effects, often times severe, after they have been deemed "survivors." Post-survivorship is a very underfunded and under-examined area of study. This study can have an immediate impact with patients the psychologist examines, and a long-term effect as more data can be used to put new post-survivorship treatment methods into place.

I hope you will consider giving to this cause and being part of my transformation from yogini to marathoner as well as the transformation of a person from cancer patient to cancer survivor. Thank you so much and see you at the finish line.

xx CJ