Thank you.

For being here. For reading this. For taking your hard-earned money and donating it to an organization as great as Chai Lifeline. I am raising this money and running this race in honor of my cousin, Sophie Spangenthal. Sophie was like a sister to me. Her shining countenance and loving smile graced her face and made everyone smile back, too. Thank you for embarking on this journey with me and keeping her memory and legacy alive by helping other kids who are dealing with serious illnesses.

Chai Lifeline is not only for kids with cancer. It's for the parents who are struggling to make ends meet and are juggling work, responsibilities, and making sure their other children have the love and attention they deserve and need. It's when Chai Lifeline shows up with dinner and toys for the siblings who just needed some extra love. Chai Lifeline changed Sophie's life for the better, and I know and believe they are changing countless other families' lives for the better.

You are making a difference. Every dollar, every step, every visit. I promise you it is making an infinite mark and difference in this world. I cannot thank you enough for helping me get a little closer to my goal of raising $12,000 for Chai Lifeline. Your belief in me and this mission is what is going to get me to that finish line on race day.

So from the bottom of my heart and from the tips of Sophie's smile,

Thank you.

Avigail Bloom