Outrunning
Leukemia Area woman helps raise funds
By Denise Duda
Former New Gloucester resident Laurel Munsell is well
on her way to becoming a marathoner. Her goal to run
26.2 miles on June 18 is something more of a mission.
She is taking on the Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage,
Alaska as a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society.
The Alaska marathon is one of several races that the
Society raises money through. Other locations include
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Santiago and Australia.
Laurel chose Alaska because she has always wanted
to visit "The Last Frontier" and has some
extended family there she has never met.
Ms. Munsell, an RN in the Special Care Unit at Maine
Medical Center, talked to The Monument about what
drew her to this cause. "On the unit I took care
of a girl that was about my age, who died of Leukemia,"
she said. "I'd gotten to know her and her family
before she died. I'd been thinking of doing the marathon
before, but I had lots of doubts. But that was the
deciding factor."
Her doubts had centered on raising the needed funds
and running such a long distance. She has already
raised $3,200 of the required $4,400 for the fundraiser.
Of that amount, 75% goes directly to the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society, with the balance covering airfare,
coaches and administration. For any money that Munsell
raises over that goal, fully 100% will go to the Society.
She is no longer in doubt about running the long distance
either. A two time veteran of the Ontario Shore half
marathon, Ms. Munsell is part of "Team in Training,"
a group providing coaching and mentoring for the group
of runners from the Greater Portland Area training
for the marathon. The group does training runs during
the week and on the weekend they run the increasingly
longer distances together. They run up to 12 miles
now and will eventually top out at a distance of 20
miles by late May or early June.
We asked how she handles the difficulty of the long
runs. Munsell cites the great stories her coaches
tell them as they run and all the encouragement they
provide. Ultimately though, she points out that what
they go through is nothing compared to what Leukemia
patients and their families have to deal with every
day.
Recently this was brought home when she found out
that a friend of hers from Gray was diagnosed with
Lymphoma. "Before it was something other people
had to deal with. Having a friend diagnosed with Lymphoma
personalizes it somewhat. It makes it less about "the
cause" when it is somebody you care about,"
Munsell explained. "It has re-inspired me to
do my best in both the fundraising and the run itself."
On Monday evening, April 25 she will be holding a
fundraiser at Maine Bean, Deli and Bakehouse from
4-7 p.m.. The restaurant, at the corner of Rt. 302
and River Rd. in North Windham, will donate 10% of
all proceeds during the three hours. There will also
be a raffle ongoing throughout the night, featuring
gift certificates donated by local businesses. She
invites everyone to come out and enjoy the great food
and beautiful restaurant, knowing that it will go
to a great cause.
She will also hold a May Day bake sale on Sunday,
May 1at the Northgate Shaws in Portland.
Visit www.active.com/donate/fundraiser/tntmaLMunsel
to make a donation online. You can also use the site
to track Laurel's progress or subscribe to the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society Newsletter.
