Despite my somewhat driven personality, I am not too keen on contests and competitions. That said, I learned about one recently that really intrigued me. It’s a contest where even if you lose, you win!My friend Jen Moss is participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year contest. This is a 10-week campaign where she will try to out earn her fellow competitors and raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Her goal: $20,000!
Team Moss is a family affair. It includes Jen’s parents, brother and his family (the Shireys), her mom’s sisters and their families (the McCaffertys), and some of Jen and Bill’s Team In Training (TNT) family! Her parents are hosting an event at Lake Oconee and her sister-in-law is hosting one in Alameda, California. Closer to home, Jen is busy spreading the word, gathering silent auction prizes, planning events, and selling gala tickets. In other words, she is working like crazy to make sure that she pulls in some big dollars—more than she has earned during her nine years as a TNT participant. She is doing all of this, while keeping her own race training going and building her business: Baby Boot Camp.
Jen is competing against other entrepreneurs and business women in the metro-Atlanta area. Each participant is leveraging their social and business networks to get the word out about LLS and raise serious money. The campaign culminates with a gala event on June 17 where the highest earning man and woman are declared the Man & Woman of the Year.
I had a chance to chat with Jen recently and she shared with me what drives her. Jen’s grandmother raised seven wonderful daughters while battling leukemia and succumbed to the illness at age 59. Jen was just a toddler at the time of her death, but Nana’s memory drives her to do everything with strength and energy. In addition, this year marks the 10th anniversary of Bill’s mother losing her life to leukemia. This fight is personal and they are fighting it hard.
Jen, Bill, and their daughter Delainy, were one of the first TNT families I met when I became a mentor. They showed me the ropes of water stop duty and have always had an encouraging word for my training efforts. As a friend and alum, I wanted to know how we could help. It’s easy. We can donate—as little as $10 helps. We can secure silent auction items. We can buy tickets to attend the gala on June 17, or we can simply offer our arms and legs to one of the many events that Jen is planning.
Win or lose, Jen and her team will make a huge difference in the fight to cure these cancers. Let’s rally around one of our alums and help her succeed!
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Upcoming events for Jen's Man & Woman of the Year campaign:
Dine for a Cure on Monday, May 17 at Crepe Revolution, 4600 W Village Way, Smyrna, Georgia 30080 (a percentage will be donated to Jen’s Campaign)
Family Field Day on Saturday, June 12th at 11am, Smyrna (by Market Village). Watch for details and volunteer opportunities!
To donate directly: http://ga.mwoy.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=JENNIFERMOSS/t_blank
Contact Jen: jennifer.moss@babybootcamp.com ; 404-274-3148
Learn more about The Man & Woman of the Year campaign at http://www.mwoy.org/ga/
About the author: Lori Rasmussen is a TNT Georgia alumnus and is currently a mentor for the 2010 Nike Women's Marathon team.
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