Welcome all of my family and friends,

I am so excited to have the opportunity to run in the NYC Half Marathon in March!  The race will be quite a challenge since the longest race I have run is a 5K.  However, I will have plenty of inspiration to keep me motivated during my training. 

Like most people during the holiday season, I find time between traveling and Christmas shopping to reflect on the people and activities that bring meaning to my life.  While considering charities to run for during the NYC Half Marathon, I stumbled upon Inheritance of Hope and knew it was the perfect fit.  When I was young, my father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given 6 months to live.  4 years later the cancer finally won, but my father had lived 8 times longer than expected, and my family had the opportunity to grow closer.  My father, mother, and older brothers demonstrated courage, strength, integrity, humility, compassion, and love while facing the ups and downs of the terrible reality of a loved one’s terminal illness.  I fondly remember all of the support from friends in the form of hot meals and open arms.  Those 4 years were the most formative and inspirational years of my life.  Because of the wonderful support from family and friends, this became a very positive, driving force in my life. 

However, without the family support and shared experiences, a terminal family member can be a very destructive experience for children and spouses.  Inheritance of Hope’s mission is to improve well-being in the lives of children and families with a terminally ill parent.  This mission is reached through life-changing retreats (at no cost to the family), books and literature, and ongoing individual and group support.  Since the retreats are shared with several families, the retreats are especially important in showing the family that they are not alone and in developing a support group.

I have committed to raising $1,000 for Inheritance of Hope and hope to far exceed the goal.  Please help me to exceed my goal in memory of my father, Allen Davis, my grandfather, Howard Gorenflo, and all of my friend’s loved ones.  A donation of any amount will be greatly appreciated, and I will personally match all donations up to a total of $5,000.  Additionally, every donation I make will be matched by my employer, ConocoPhillips.  Take advantage of this opportunity to triple your donation's impact for a great cause!

Please read more about Inheritance of Hope at http://inheritanceofhope.org/

Mike Davis

As a member of Team Inheritance of Hope, my participation in the NYC Half Marathon on March 21, 2010 will raise funds and awareness for Inheritance of Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving families with children who have a parent with a life-threatening illness.  Help me meet (or exceed!) my goal of $1,000.  With your contribution, we can share together in the joy of helping to build legacies for families who are facing a tremendous challenge in their lives.