I am honored to be a part of Team Fight Ulman Cancer Fund Key to Keys Ride again this year. During this ride last year, I learned about what it is like to have cancer and how I can make a difference in someone's life. I am continuing to learn and feel that I can make that difference in peoples lives that struggle to get cancer out of their lives. I will be riding in memory of my sister, Joanne, and my brother-in-law, Sa'id Hawa. And always, in memory of my father.
On January 22, 2015, the world lost a legacy. It's with the heaviest of hearts to announce Sa'id Hawa's passing, my brother-in-law. We are at peace knowing he is no longer suffering. Sa'id was one of the most loving, kind hearted, noble, respectable man to walk this earth. If you ever crossed paths with Sa'id, you were lucky. He had a heart of gold and made me feel welcome to the family.
This past October my sister lost her battle against cancer. And although my pain continues on, my sister is finally pain free. I was able to be with her this past year, and be by her side in her final days. I know now that she is safe, and pain free, up in heaven with my daddy. Joanne was quite tough, she put up a good battle! We all joke about how tough we are because we ate “rock candy and marble cake”! I guess it really did work! I will miss her giggle, and her funny personality. She had a heart of gold. I have soo many fond memories with Joanne that I wil never forget. I also had the opportunity this past week to meet many of her family members and friends. They all truly loved Joanne. Now I know why she loved living in Richmond so much.
My dad, there are no words to describe how much I miss him. He was the best doctor! And the best dad anyone could have. I know that he is watching down on me, so proud of the person I have become.
In my full-time life, I have been a NICU nurse for over 25 years, caring for the tiniest little babies, a mom, and --I have to add--a little crazy with all of the activities I do! But these activities are where I get my strength and ideas on how I might raise awareness and support for cancer patients, especially young adults. This is where the Ulman Cancer Fund comes in, with its mission to enhance the lives of young adults and their families.
The ride is a relay style ride starting in Baltimore and passes through 6 states, a total of 1500 miles. But it's not just a ride; it's a journey. Along the way, we will stop at cancer centers to share the Ulman Cancer Fund's mission of educating, supporting, and connecting young adult cancer victims and their loved ones. The ride is about making relationships and sharing experiences with others who are committed to waging the fight against cancer.
I cannot complete this ride without the support of family and friends. I would greatly appreciate any contribution you make to help me raise $5,500 for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
Any donation will make a big difference!
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
Marti
UCF Experiences Key to Keys is a journey that brings together a diverse group of individuals to build a community of support for those affected by cancer. Using cycling as a platform, Key to Keys participants come together throughout the journey to share their individual cancer connections and give out as much support to others as they are receiving.
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| James Thompson | 04/24/2015 | $25.00 | Maureen Dunnigan | 04/13/2015 | $50.00 | Jennifer Privee | 04/07/2015 | $100.00 | Nikki Grant | 04/07/2015 | $20.00 | Said impacted my life so greatly. It's a blessing that you are riding in his memory. Safe tavels Aunt Martha! | Sami,Shareen & Sara Hawa | 04/02/2015 | $500.00 | Thank you for thinking of others Have fun and be safe. | Joyce Conner | 04/01/2015 | $25.00 | Adele Ratcliff | 04/01/2015 | $25.00 | For Andre Von Tilborg | Melody & Iwan Balcet | 04/01/2015 | $25.00 | Gooooo Marti!!!' | Frank Roberts | 03/30/2015 | $25.00 | ride like the wind | Mark Edmunds | 03/30/2015 | $25.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/30/2015 | $20.00 | Leanne Layne | 03/29/2015 | $50.00 | Good Luck Marti. . . you're riding for an awesome organization that helps so many young people!!! Enjoy the warm weather while you're at it!!! | Priscilla Demeo | 03/29/2015 | $20.00 | Lucy Moore | 03/28/2015 | $50.00 | Bob Young | 03/27/2015 | $50.00 | Go Marti! | Nicolas Nouvel | 03/27/2015 | $20.00 | Kudos to you for your commitment and endeavor! | Muna Miller | 03/27/2015 | $100.00 | have a safe ride | Pipps Nash | 03/25/2015 | $25.00 | Enjoyed meeting you last year Marti- glad to see you're going again. All the best!! | Christine Stalvey | 03/23/2015 | $75.00 | Kaye Cyrus Smith | 03/20/2015 | $100.00 | Jennifer Gibbins | 03/20/2015 | $50.00 | Bob & Mary Ritz | 03/17/2015 | $500.00 | Good Luck and Enjoy the Ride. | Angela Alvey | 03/10/2015 | $25.00 | Anonymous Friend | 03/09/2015 | $100.00 | A gift from "One Night Only" | Jamilia Hawa | 03/07/2015 | $200.00 | Thank you for all you do to help fight cancer | Jeffery Bowers | 03/06/2015 | $50.00 | Jordan Applebaum | 03/06/2015 | $25.00 | Abraham Parker | 02/24/2015 | $25.00 | Georgis Kefale | 02/21/2015 | $50.00 | Good luck Marti | Lucy and Robert Beck | 02/20/2015 | $50.00 | Diala Hawa | 02/18/2015 | $50.00 | Jack & Susie Hardy | 02/18/2015 | $100.00 | Kirema James Hawa | 02/17/2015 | $500.00 | RIDE - RIDE FOR THE CURE. | Mishi Vadney | 02/17/2015 | $200.00 | Thanks for continuing this fight. Have a great ride. | Jennifer Catton | 02/13/2015 | $100.00 | Rita Vadney | 02/10/2015 | $100.00 | Love ya Marth | Nasrah Abuelhawa | 02/10/2015 | $30.00 | So proud to have a sister in-law like you Martha, May Allah bless you | Brian & Laura Gibbins | 02/05/2015 | $25.00 | Have a great ride ! | Janet Chow | 02/04/2015 | $25.00 | Jodi Huston | 01/31/2015 | $50.00 | Patricia Glass | 01/30/2015 | $25.00 | Ride like the wind!! | Anonymous Friend | 01/29/2015 | $50.00 | Bob Young | 01/28/2015 | $50.00 | Frank Castro | 01/27/2015 | $50.00 | Diana Pascoe | 01/27/2015 | $50.00 | Jo Cooper | 01/27/2015 | $25.00 | Have a safe journey Marti! | Anonymous Friend | 01/27/2015 | $50.00 | Kathryn Myers | 01/27/2015 | $25.00 | Denny Petrella | 01/27/2015 | $100.00 | Samantha Mader | 01/23/2015 | $40.00 | Kelly Matthews-Hart | 01/23/2015 | $50.00 | I support you fighting cancer anyway we can ! | Cindy Searcy | 01/23/2015 | $100.00 | Sally Kidd | 01/17/2015 | $50.00 | Siri Oswald | 01/13/2015 | $50.00 | Go Marti! | Tom Reilly | 01/04/2015 | $100.00 | Happy to support you in honoring your sister Joanne and all other cancer patients. Have a great ride. | STEVE HAIDAR | 12/30/2014 | $10.00 | Anonymous Friend | 12/30/2014 | $100.00 | John Stalvey | 12/02/2014 | $75.00 | From the Stalvey family | Jennifer Mallard | 11/25/2014 | $25.00 | Tamara Smith | 11/24/2014 | $25.00 | Jennifer Weisberger | 11/19/2014 | $25.00 | Linda Dunn | 11/19/2014 | $100.00 | Happy Belated Birthday, Marti. | Joyce Dowd | 11/13/2014 | $100.00 | Mary Klote | 11/13/2014 | $100.00 | It's good to hate cancer! Ride on! | Theresa Urban | 10/31/2014 | $50.00 | Karen McCray | 10/31/2014 | $25.00 | In memory of my sister. She is finally pain free. | Catharine Oliver | 10/29/2014 | $15.00 | Mary Fincher | 10/27/2014 | $50.00 | GO MARTI GO!!!! | Becky Baltes | 10/23/2014 | $30.00 | Thinking good thoughts for Marti and your sister. |
| Total | $5,130.00 | ||