JIM ASKER SETS GOAL OF RAISING $25,000 FOR LLS (LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY) AHEAD OF BERLIN MARATHON

On September 25, Jim Asker will bravely approach the starting line at the Berlin Marathon – his 10th full-marathon since recovering from stage four non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Before he takes part in one of the iconic Big-5 races, however, he has an inspiring goal of raising $25,000 for LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society).

The Berlin Marathon will actually be the avid athlete’s 20th full-marathon in his athletic career. Yet, when he crossed the finish line in New Orleans during his 10th marathon in 2006, He never expected his “flu-bug” symptoms that he was experiencing to keep him from running for the next three years.

“I was incorrectly diagnosed between 10-15 times; I am not sure because I have blocked a lot of it out,” Asker explains. “I was finally discovered by two great doctors who told me I had Lymphoma and that it was very advanced – it turned out that it was stage four. The next two-three years were hell on earth.”

Asker has not stopped fighting for a cure through challenging races since Chicago 2010. He has raised more than $100,000 in total for LLS through a fitness program, Team In Training, and funding has helped support over 37 drugs against blood cancers. However, considering his own treatment cost well over $1 million – he knows every cent counts. 

A donation will not personally support Asker or his trip to Berlin, but 100% of proceeds will be donated to LLS. At the moment, he is very close to $23,000. Please donate here.

“I so appreciate it,” Asker adds. “And finally, think of us on September 25 as we run Berlin, for all of the patients who are fighting for their lives right now.”