Lunch with Jim

I had lunch today with my friend Jim Fuhrmeister. I have known Jim and Tricia for about 10 years. When I lived up here in Birmingham the first time, he became my attorney for just about everything I did related to the Bank and everything I needed personally.

I wanted to have lunch with him to follow up on a series of emails about remembering his wife, Patricia Fuhrmeister. He reminded me how cruel of a disease leukemia really is and continues to be supportive of our efforts to raise money and increase awareness in hopes of eradicating blood cancer.

He told me about a lot of the little things I didn't know about how the disease affects you and all the hoops it requires the patient to jump through during the course of treatment. Lindsey Allison told me the other day that the loss of Tricia makes her "mad." Jim echoed that today and talked about every time he hears about somebody else who is affected or suffers a setback, it makes him mad as well.

We talked about another local guy, Scott Armstrong. He has gone up to Duke last week and is preparing for a transplant from cord cells. A Caring Bridge site has been set up for him and can be found at http://caringbridge.org/visit/donaldscottarmstrong. Like Jim, when I was here the first time, he was one of my business resources in that he handled many commercial appraisals for me over the years. Please pray for him and his family as they go through the toughest part of the fight yet.

Thanks for the emails of encouragement I have received so far. Please consider a donation so we can help fund the required research to find a cure for these diseases.

July 18, 2008 - Fundraising

This week, I have kicked off my efforts to raise the money to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I mailed some letters early in the week and then decided it was much more cost effective to send emails. Therefore, last night and today I have started sending the information out to my friends. If you get one, please feel free to pass it on to others who would like to support the cause of finding a cure for blood cancer. If you didn't get one yet, you probably will if I can find your email address.

If you are willing to give just a little, it all adds up. The link to the donation page where debit and credit card are accepted is in the right-hand column, near the top. I have also tried to include a donor form in case you prefer to send a check. Unfortunately, one group of emails I sent, I failed to attach the attachments. I am trying to find out how to make a link to it - check the right hand column for it also.

I am also looking for any ideas for future fundraisers. If you have an idea, or access to any trips or items that can be donated to be included in a silent auction, please let me know.

Thank you for any support you can offer!!!!

I didn't train this morning as my feet continue to be really sore. I am taking today off, tomorrow will ride the bike since it doesn't bother them, and will rest again on Sunday. Hopefully this rest will allow me to hit the road full speed again on Monday.