Help find a cure!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="044d4c03.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><IMG SRC="2c97c1c0.jpg" border=0 width="124" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <B>You can make a difference!</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Make a donation "><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Make a donation</A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ctf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=38" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.ctf.org/index.php?option=com_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Become a member of your state CTF Chapter.</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Walk</A><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"> a Marathon for NF research</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Run</A><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"> a Marathon for NF research</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM"><IMG SRC="05a471e0.jpg" border=0 width="71" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ctf.org" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.ctf.org"><IMG SRC="12f8b1590.gif" border=0 width="177" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><B>NF TEAM</B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >   |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM">home</A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Introduction">Introduction</A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission">Mission</A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Neurofibromatosis?">What is Neurofibromatosis?</A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact me">Contact me</A>   |   <B>Help find a cure!</B>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest Research">Latest Research</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Event Sponsors Page">Event Sponsor's Page</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Updates on Shannon">Updates on Shannon</A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming Events">Upcoming Events</A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery">Photo Gallery</A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF Heroes">NF Heroes</A></div> <div> Help find a cure!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"><B><IMG SRC="12f615be0.jpg" border=0 width="533" height="446" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"><B>Click here: for a list of Upcoming Marathons</B></A></div> <bR> <div> When I first heard that my cousin Shannon had NF was in total shock. I had never heard of this condition before. All I knew for sure was that she was in pain and that there is no cure or effective treatment. This was not acceptable to me so I starting looking for a way to help her and her family deal with this very difficult situation. I knew that there had to be something that I could do, something that would make a difference. </div> <div> While searching for information I visited <A HREF="http://www.CTF.org" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.CTF.org">www.NF.org</A> (it has since changed to <A HREF="http://www.CTF.org" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.CTF.org">www.CTF.org</A> ) . I found a phone number and I called it. I spoke with a woman named Anita Carter. She is very kind and was extremely helpful. She understood what I was going through and she seemed to know just how helpless I felt. She took the time to educate me with regard to Neurofibromatosis and informed me of the latest research. Although the research is promising, it is also very expensive. </div> <div> That is when I decided that the best way I could help my cousin and the hundreds of thousands of others suffering from NF would be to raise NF awareness and money for research. I needed do something substantial, something that would keep my mind and body very busy. I decided, <B>that</B> something, would be to run the Disney Marathon as a fundraiser for NF research. Keep in mind that I am not an athlete. I am just a regular person who wants to make a difference. In fact when I first started training (7/1/2002) I could barely run a half-mile. I am totally committed and I have been training everyday (5:30am) since. When I grow tired or catch myself complaining about minor aches & pains I remind myself that people with NF deal with pain everyday. </div> <div> Shannon has become my greatest inspiration and I will not fail her. Everyone deserves the chance to lead a normal life. People born with Neurofibromatosis will not have that chance without our help. My best advise for dealing with NF: GET INVOLVED, it helped me and I believe it will help you.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming NF Marathons"><B>Click here: for a list of Upcoming Marathons</B></A></div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM"><IMG SRC="05a471e0.jpg" border=0 width="71" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>