Jane Luke

I am running the Nike Women's Marathon with Team in Training in memory of my Aunt Marjory Olson, who passed away three years ago from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Aunt Marge lived almost her entire life in Milton, Massachusetts, in the home where she grew up. She never married, and never had children. Therefore, her only sister, my mother, and her family (myself, my 4 siblings and our father), were her family. Since we lived in Northern Virginia, our times with Aunt Marge were limited but precious. Every year, she would be with us for our family vacations, and she always came to Virginia on her birthday and Christmas. Aunt Marge always made the little things in life special. For birthdays and holidays, she would spend endless hours shopping for the perfect gift and card for each and every person. On Christmas Eve, we couldn't wait to help Marge make her traditional Swedish Coffee cake for Christmas morning.

For years, we tried to convince our Aunt to move to Virginia where she would be closer to us and the 13 grandchildren. It wasn't until she was diagnosed with Lymphoma that she finally agreed to leave the only home she ever knew to begin a new chapter of her life here in Virginia. She quickly adjusted to her new surroundings and loved having her nieces, nephew and grand nieces and nephews close by. She truly enjoyed the regular visits and having family close by to take her shopping or to doctors appointments. Unfortunately, our time with Aunt Marge in Virginia was much shorter than anyone expected. Only six months after she moved to Virginia, our loving Aunt Marjory passed away. As difficult as the loss has been for all of us, we cherish the many memories of an aunt who was so loving and family oriented.

I have never been a runner, but was inspired by friends who were taking on this challenge, but also by the Team in Training Organization. I am so happy to take on the physical challenge, but also to be able to raise funds for such a wonderful organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Jane

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