together without limits!

There is so much I want to write, so many thoughts running through my head, that I need time to sort through, so there will be certainly be a follow-up to this attempt at a coherent post. Nevertheless, I wanted to write down SOMETHING about what an amazing weekend I had!

It seems all too perfect that the theme for this year's THON was "Together Without Limits." What the Hope Express team did this past week proved just that. When people come together with the same passion and drive to achieve something, it's unbelievable what can be accomplished. Leading up to this weekend, I spoke countless times about the 135-miles that separated the kids at Hershey Medical that wouldn't be attending THON and the 46-hour Dance MaraTHON at Penn State, and the journey I would take with 14 other runners to bridge the gap between the two special places. I thought about it again and again, but until it was done, until I covered those 135-miles, did I realize how crazy of a dream it was for it to ever even be dreamt. I am SO PROUD of my teammates for how hard they pushed, both themselves and each other, to make sure we did our part in bringing hope to these incredible families who fight every day against pediatric cancer. The journey was amazing, and I feel so fortunate to not only have been a part of this incredible experience with them, but to now know them and be part of a family with them. What we shared in those 24+ hours will forever be etched in my heart, and will certainly push me, all the rest of my days, to be the best I can be. You inspire me and I hope that I can touch lives the way you have touched mine.

Charles Millard, the father of Christopher Millard whose loss in his fight against cancer began the Four Diamonds Fund, spoke in the last hours of THON today and he shared the quote: "When we do things for ourselves, they die with us. When we do things for humanity, they live on forever." There's nothing I can even say in response to that...those words say it all right there.

one last thing!

We just got an email of our online donation totals so far. It's been very "ugh" not being able to see who has donated and therefore not being able to thank people ASA they donate. I won't get a list of exact names until after THON, but we just got an email of the total amount online so far and it never ceases to amaze me how incredible my family and friends are. All my successes in life are a compliment to them and their constant overwhelming love and support. Their support of and passion for this cause gives me all the more motivation to run and to give of myself to others. THANK YOU!

THON is tomorrow!/HE IS TODAY!!!

I CANNOT believe it's today! I woke up with such a range of emotions - excitement, uncertainty (what is this all going to look like?!), nerves, and plain 'ol fear. I feel like I'm on such a roller coaster just sitting here alone even. There are moments when I think - Can I really do this? And then it's followed with - I don't have a choice. The children at Hershey Medical//all over the world don't have a choice to fight their battle any less or to give up. I originally set out to participate in Hope Express to bring hope to others. I think of all the people in my life who inspire me - ordinary people doing extraordinary things. When it comes down to it, that's what I want my life to be - filled with extraordinary things that make a difference in the lives of others. I think it has to be, or else what am I even doing here?

My inbox has been filling up over the past few days with emails of inspiration and encouragement from past runners of Hope Express. I think about the time we will spend today at Hershey Medical with the kids, the reason this crazy dream was ever even dreamed. Life deals out so many cards that are out of our control. There are so many things we have no say over, good and bad. When I think about THON and about Hope Express and about so many of these amazing families I realize that it's not that black and white. Life must be all about the stuff in the middle - the things we do have control over, the place where we can work to make the bad better, where we can celebrate the good, the place where we can help one another. I chose to do this because of those who don't have a choice, whose cards were unfairly dealt, and whose battles are daily. Penn Staters talk about THON being a celebration, and I think it really is...it's a CELEBRATION of life, striving to make the lives we have the best ones they can be...which of course also means finding a cure so these kids can live all the days of their lives.

I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest with excitement and nerves and I can't believe that after YEARS of imagining what this would be like, it's finally here! Here's something important info:

• We leave Hershey at 6pm!
• Here's the map of the run.
• I will be running the 5th leg/miles 13-15, around 8pm; leg 19/miles 55-57, around 3:30am; and leg 34/miles 100-102, around 11:30am tomorrow morning!

Donations can still be made here (www.thon.org). Click "Organizations," and then select "Hope Express - Darian Leib!"

BUSTED

While putting my lunch away in the fridge this morning at school, I decided that it would, in fact, be a good idea to have a belated valentine's day cookie to start my day. As I tried to quickly and quietly pull the cookie tin from the back of the fridge, I failed to see the can of Diet Coke (a former love of mine) rolllll out and onto my left foot - OUCH!

I think it was a sign that I shouldn't be eating cookies that early in the morning (rather than that I shouldn't eat them at all; I still went back for several more later, but this time, checked that the coast was DC-less). Nevertheless, ugh! There's a bump and while the hustle and bustle of the day kept me busy and otherwise occupied, I can now feel the bump's presence.

Nevertheless, I have my FINAL pre-HOPE EXPRESS run scheduled for this beautiful afternoon and I'm so excited that this minor mishap can't hold me downnnnn...oh nooo...I got to keep on mooooovingggg!!!!

TWO DAYS!!!!

FOUR DAYS!

I cannot believe that in JUST FOUR DAYS (and really...almost three at this point!!) I'll be getting ready to run from Hershey to State College for the kids. I think of all the reasons I want to run, all the things that have motivated me these past weeks and months - the daily struggles of these children whose lives have been flipped upside down. I am so incredibly excited!

I ran my last long run today and it went so great! It was exactly what I "needed" heading into this week to feel worthy for having this honor. I needed to know I could do it, based on cold-hard evidence, rather than just a gut feeling. Again, remember, I'm not a runner, so it's difficult to see myself in this group of amazing, committed, passionate RUNNERS!

Let a week of complete and utter amazing start :O)

ONE WEEK!

Family and Friends,

In just one week from now, I will be leaving from Hershey Medical Center with 14 other runners on a 24-hour journey to cover the 135 miles from Hershey to Penn State. This running relay will be to bring hope to the families of the Four Diamonds Fund, families whose battles against cancer extend far beyond those 24 hours. I am honored to be running as part of this year's Hope Express and cannot wait to hit the road three times throughout the 24 hours for these incredible children and their families.

While spreading the word about what the Four Diamonds Fund does, our mission is also to raise money to help these families better fight their battle with cancer. Donations can be madehere (select Organizations, and then Hope Express - Darian Leib). No donation is too small, and every little bit helps take THON one dollar closer to beating last year's total of over $7.8 million raised for the kids! For those who have already donated, THANK YOU so much from the bottom of my heart! I am still waiting for an exact list of online donations, but your letters and support mean the world to me. It is only with your love and support that I have been able to even dream of participating in this event.

I will be (or try to be better at) updating my blog (http://starsinthesky24.blogspot.com )over the next few days as the event gets closer, and I will sure to write all about the experience when I return from Penn State next week!

Thank you again for all your support!

For the Kids,

Darian