What can you do for 6 hours with your sister while raising money for a worthy cause?
A marathon. Uh, what did you think I meant?

Dear Friends,

I am once again writing to ask for your support. Back from my triumph in Dublin where I completed the marathon in 6 hours and raised $5800 for Whitman-Walker, I have registered with my sister Jessica to complete the Florence, Italy marathon.

I can't thank you enough for the support you have already given. I couldn't have done any of it without you and, though I know it is a lot to ask, I'm asking again. That's right. I am training for the (gulp) 2006 Florence Marathon which will take place on November 26 in Florence, Italy.

Whether you know me from Theatre, Annapolis, Boogie Knights, Class Acts, Holton-Arms, Lucky Ones Cats, Peaceable Dragon, Wagner/Towson, or the community, you know that I don't do mornings, I don't run, and I don't often ask for help. But now I am asking, not for myself, but for the benefit of the Whitman-Walker Clinic and the thousands of Maryland, DC, and Virginia residents living with HIV/AIDS. That's right, I'm going to be running three days a week, getting up at the crack of dawn (not an exaggeration -- many of our sessions begin at 6 am!!!!), and running over 500 miles before I even leave for Florence! So, please take a moment of your time to read on!

Now I have been affiliated with other fundraisers in the past for Whitman-Walker; so I know that great work they do. But in case you are not acquainted, Whitman-Walker Clinic is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS services in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The Clinic provides direct medical care, food, housing, and other really important AIDS services -- to help keep people alive until there's a cure. It is a staggering but true statistic that approximately 1 in every 20 adults in DC is living with HIV/AIDS. More than one million Americans, and 40 million others around the world, are living with HIV -- the virus that cuases AIDS. With more than 20 million deaths so far, AIDS is now the leading cause of death among all people aged 15 to 59 worldwide.

I wanted to keep this light-hearted and entertaining as that is how most of you know me, but AIDS is no laughing matter. I take this race very seriously. But I hope to be smiling knowing how my friends came out in generous support of my efforts. I have committed to raising over $5000 by August 30 and I hope to far exceed this goal!

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,

Heather Scheeler
Marathoner Extraordinaire

How to Make a Donation:

1. You can print out this form and send with check or charge authorization to:

National AIDS Marathon Training Program
PO Box 3978
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-3978

2. You can also make a donation online at www.aidsmarathon.com:

1. Click here to open new window to www.aidsmarathon.com.
2. Click on "Sponsor A Runner".
3. Click on "Washington, DC" as the location of her training program.
4. On the next screen, enter the number "4107" as the Participant Number.
5. Make your donation.

Please be as generous as you can. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.