Who would have thought that picking up a prescription would change a child’s life?

Amy Opperman didn’t.

The junior special education major was picking up a prescription when she saw a brochure advertising the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s participation in marathons across the country to raise money to fight the terminal illnesses.

According to the organization’s Web site, “the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families.”

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society sends groups of runners called Teams in Training to various marathons and competitions across the country, including the Suzuki Rock `n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, the Chicago Marathon and the Santa Fe Century Ride, a cycling competition.

“I just saw the brochure when I was picking up medicine, and I called the number on it. The woman I talked to on the phone ran the Anchorage marathon and lost her daughter to leukemia,” Opperman said. “I went to the kickoff celebration the following Saturday, and I found out all about it.”

Opperman was inspired at the celebration to enter to run the 26.2-mile Mayor’s Midnight Sun Run in Anchorage, Alaska on June 22 to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“The whole kickoff celebration with the Honored Teammates (children being treated for blood related cancers or in remission) made me want to do it. I love kids, and being able to have a dramatic effect in their lives made me decide to do it,” Opperman said.

In order to participate in the marathon, Opperman must raise $4,300 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. More than 75 percent of the money raised by participants is used for research for the Society, programs sponsored by the organization, and for people who are affected by the disease.

The remaining money is used for travel expenses and fees of the marathon participants. If participants raise enough money, his or her honored teammates are flown to the site of the marathon to provide support and inspiration for the participant.

In order to raise her contribution to the Society, Opperman has organized fund-raising projects which range from running food for the club seats at the Savvis Center, selling Avon products, raffle tickets, and writing letters in hopes of reaching her goal.

“I’ve done about seven games at Savvis, and I’m working at the playoff games also. I’m selling Avon, working road blocks, and selling raffle tickets for a custom made bike that’s worth $4,000,” Opperman said. “Also, I’ve gotten generous donations from organizations like Alpha Phi Omega. APO has been so much help, I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

Opperman’s fund-raising efforts seem overwhelming, but in reality, fundraising is the easy part of getting to Alaska. Opperman is involved in a rigorous training program which requires not only great amounts of time, but incredible discipline and dedication.

Not only is this Opperman’s first marathon, this is her first taste of competitive running.

“I’ve done multiple sclerosis walks before, and I always played sports like soccer and softball in high school and in college rec programs, but I’ve never run a marathon,” Opperman said.

“It’s a very structured (training) program. We work with personal running coaches, mentors (individuals who have run marathons), we go to nutrition clinics, and we go to injury-prevention clinics,” Opperman continued. “We have a training schedule that goes from January until the marathon in June, and we go on two group runs every month with people in the St. Louis area who are running also. Right now I’m up to about four or five miles per day, and the last group run we did was 17 miles.”

With such an intimidating training routine, Opperman looks to others to stay focused on her goals.

“My aunt had Hodgkin’s disease and is in remission, and a family friend has Hodgkin’s and is going through treatment,” Opperman said. “My Honored Teammates are a five year old and a 15 year old who are in remission from leukemia. (Training) takes away some time, but it structures my day more, and it keeps me balanced. It keeps me exercising and eating right since I have a goal in mind. I have a purpose.”