Debra Mittleman

I believe that by simply stepping out of my comfort zone, I will better the lives of children fighting cancer.

I am not a runner. I do not like to run. I own one pair of running shoes and a heart rate monitor. I run in my cotton Red Sox shirt that is so faded, I can’t remember it’s original color. I started running in my mid 20s once I realized that if I did so on a regular basis, I could pretty much eat and drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. But after an injury sidelined me for a few years, I realized I needed to get back into running, but for a different reason.

I have decided to step out of my comfort zone and run the Chicago Half Marathon this fall. I am doing this to not only challenge myself both mentally and physically, but more importantly, to run for a higher purpose. I am running to help survivors of pediatric cancer who are suffering long-term side effects from past treatment live a better life.

My team of Endure to Cure's Chicago Half Marathon runners, along with other runners within our foundation, 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.

Please join me in my fight against pediatric cancer by donating to this amazing foundation. Thank you and see you out on the lake path!

Thank you! Debra