• Share a Story About Roberta

•Info on
Platelet/Blood Donation

•Pictures & Memories

•Charities & Honoring Our Angel

Support Mike Cooke

Mike Cooke is competing in the Disney Marathon January 08 through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training Team. Please visit his donation page to find out more.

"I am training to participate in the Disney Marathon in Jan. 2008 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I have two personal heroes who, with great courage, have faced leukemia and have inspired me to help raise funds for LLS. The first is my sister, Susan Marcheski, who, with constant support from my borther-in-law, John, has fought leukemia for more than ten years. Susan was diagnosed in 1997. She had no matches for purposes of a marrow transplant. But some experimental treatments have kept her strong and vibrant. Susan claims to be my younger sister, and I won't contradict that, but I have looked up to her our whole lives. She is a leader and even now leads me to better understand how to live with joy, peace, and strength no matter what the circumstances. She fully suppports LLS and its services, like the funds for research it provides. So I'm doing this to honor her.

I'm also running in honor of my friend, Roberta Petish. Roberta was diagnosed with leukemia a few years after my sister. She "lost" her battle to leukemia on May 2, 2006. But if ever there was a winner, it was Roberta. She touched so many lives and taught us all to enjoy every moment. There are many things I could say to describe Roberta's spirit, but I'll mention just one. In 2005, just a year after receiving her bone marrow transplant, Roberta raced in a Team In Training skating marathon at Disney, and it was one of her most cherished accomplishments. Many of Roberta's friends and family first learned about LLS and Team In Training through Roberta. Whenever I think of her I know I am running and raising funds for a good cause

These are two heroes with blood cancer who have touched me personally. But there are so many more who deserve our support. Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission. It will make a difference in someone's life who is battling leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, or myeloma."

Read More =>

Charities & Honoring Roberta

Link to Subdudes website; one of Roberta's favorite bands: http://www.subdudes.com

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
As most everyone knows, because she probably hit you up for money to support her, Roberta participated (kicked butt) in a skating marathon last year as part of Team In Training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She did so just one year after her bone marrow transplant. This was one of her most cherished accomplishments and it is the experience that gave her so many new friends. So in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation in her memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Specifically the Suncoast Chapter.

LINK FOR LLS: https://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_donate?item_id=8072    

Sea Turtle Survival League
Roberta loved the ocean, the sand between her toes, the outdoors and all living creatures. She particularly loved sea turtles. As an alternative to donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we think Roberta would be elated if you would also support the Caribbean Conservation Corporation and the Sea Turtle Survival League.

http://www.cccturtle.org/

http://www.cccturtle.org/member.htm

Florida Blood Services Foundation or your local Blood Services organization
Please remember to donate blood and platelets whenever you can and do so in Roberta's memory.

Note: The family would like you to send any funny stories or happy memories that you would like to share about Roberta to: michelle@mnault.com.

Back Up=>

This press release was issued today, April 26, 2006:

Florida Blood Services Experiencing a “Drought” of a Different Kind

(St. Petersburg, FL: (04/26/06): Florida Blood Services (FBS) is in critical need of O-positive, O-negative and B-negative blood types. O-positive is the most common blood type as FORTY out of 100 people has this blood type. O-negative is SEVEN out of 100

“We have less than a one day supply on our shelves.” stated JB Gaskins, Vice President of Donor Systems. “It is vital we recover this inventory quickly as patients in our community are counting on us. O-negative and B-negative blood types are harder to recover as there are fewer donors in the pool. We are asking the public to respond to this critical need by giving blood over the next few days.”

Florida Blood Services provides for the blood needs of patients at Tampa Bay area medical facilities through the generosity of volunteer blood donors. Over 750 donations are required daily.
________________________________________

Link to FBS Blood Donation Centers

If you have any questions about blood donation or becoming a marrow donor, Marla is happy to speak with you at any time. Please contact her at marla@kickingforkids.com or mgrant@fbsblood.org