On November 5, 2006, I will participate in the New York City Marathon and am seeking sponsorships of my effort to benefit the Preeclampsia Foundation. The Preeclampsia Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization launched in 2000, is dedicated to raising awareness, funding research, and providing support to those impacted by preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Visit their impressive website at www.preeclampsia.org to learn more about the Foundation, the disease, and courageous survivors.

 In the months since my illness and recovery, I have learned a lot about what is not described in What to Expect When You are Expecting and would like to help other families avoid a birth experience like I had – or even worse. Mothers, babies, sisters, and daughters are lost every year to preeclampsia at the one time that should be one of the most joyous moments of their lives. I will be running on November 5th in the hope that more women will be educated on the signs of this disease and how to be aggressive in their own treatment; that recent research on the disease will provide guidance on how to avoid, predict, and treat this disease; and that victims will find support from those of us who precede them.

 You can join me on my path to the finish line in a number of ways: 

• As a “Borough Baby” Contributor with a donation of $5/mile ($131 total).
• As an “I’ll Pay to NOT Run a Marathon” Contributor with a donation of $10/mile ($262 total).
• As a “This Money is Burning a Hole in My Pocket” Contributor with a donation of your choice.
• As an “It’s the Thought that Counts, Right” Contributor with a donation of your choice.

 All monetary contributions are completely tax-deductible and should be made payable to the Preeclampsia Foundation.  I will collect all checks and forward them to the Foundation at the end of each month. Please, bombard my mailbox with your responses!  To make a contribution with a credit card, go to http://preeclampsia.org/donate.asp and click on ‘Honor Donations.’ Please indicate that your donation is a Tribute Gift in honor of Jill Siegel and send a tribute card to me at 3217 W. Leland #1W, Chicago, IL 60625.

 I would also appreciate it if you would encourage friends to participate in this fundraising effort. Thus, I’ve included several brochures, response forms, and self-addressed envelopes, so you can pass this mailing along to others. 

 Closing thought (this is the big sales pitch part) . . . if you saw a person in distress who needed help in order to live and there was no risk to you, would you help?  My guess is that you would.  And that is what I am asking for today—some risk-free help.  Please give money if you are able to do so because I promise you, it is an act of kindness that could save someone’s life.  And take it from someone who knows firsthand, that person – and their family – will  be eternally grateful.