Team Jenna was born in 2010. Specifically it was started on January 19, 2010 at 3:10 am. That was when Jenna Laumer passed away from Leukemia at the age of 27.

Jenna was a childhood friend of my daughter. She had her whole life in front of her. But Leukemia took her away and so quickly and so sadly.

Jenna was diagnosed with Leukemia less than a year before she died. So we started Team Jenna.  To make a difference. To do something to change outcomes and experiences for others.

Team Jenna was founded in Jenna Laumer’s name. Its purpose is threefold.

1. Honor a young vibrant beautiful woman taken from us at much too young an age.
2. Create a legacy in Jenna’s name that will remember her and become a source of hope and encouragement for so many others who battle these diseases.

3. Create a funding mechanism that can be used to help others who desperately need it.

In my talks with Jenna’s mother, Michele, it is clear that it is time to do as much as we can for others through Jenna’s memory. In that spirit, we are raising money to support specific causes in the Cincinnati community. In order to do that we are asking that donations be made to an awesome charitable foundation started by Karen Cosgrove called Miles That Matter.

The Miles That Matter Foundation will fund the causes and all of the money raised will go directly to the causes. This maximizes the money donated locally.

Two specific causes this year will be:

1. A special purpose fund at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital that will fund the specific portion of Children’s A5 South, where Jenna spent her time. “They are an amazing collection of caring human beings.”

   This fund will have a dual purpose:
   a. Nursing staff support and development
   b. Funding in hospital for young adult patient quality of life

   The needs of patient’s Jenna’s age are SO different from the needs of children. Everything from making the bathroom more user friendly to providing ways to store personal items that you bring when you stay at the hospital for months at a time.
   
   
2. Donations to Clark Montessori Foundation and Clark Athletic Fund: Jenna was a star soccer player at Clark for 4 years and just recently had her #99 jersey retired, in honor of her life and spirit that she so selflessly gave every day.

This year we want to raise as much as we can to help these local causes. We need you and your generosity.

On November 19, I will participate in the Tour de Tucson. Many of you know through past requests, that I have done this event 11 times before. I have done it for Annie Myers (who passed away in 2007) and for Amanda Neyer, as well as in honor of great heroes like Carmen Langenkamp, a friend and mother of four beautiful children, Sister Marianne, a bundle of energy and for Bill Baker, a close friend.

This year Bill Baker will ride side by side with me and Team Jenna over the 109 miles. This is a gift from God that I can share this day with him. I will tell you that he is training hard. My son David is also riding. He was a classmate of Jenna’s sister.

Please think of us on that day, but mostly think of Jenna and the legacy we can bring to her and her family.

Please be generous. Please help make a difference.

As a tribute to Jenna, new 2011 bike jerseys have been designed. Our team will be wearing them and for a donation of $300 or more, we will send you a jersey.

If you are making a contribution of $300 or more, email your jersey size (men’s or women’s), as well as your mailing address and contact information so that we may send your jersey.

mschuster@msaarch.com.

Make Checks Payable to:
Miles That Matter

Donate Now!

Mail donations to:
MSA Architects
316 West 4th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(if you are making a contribution of $300 or more, be sure to include the completed Jersey Order Form.)

Thank you for all your incredible support.

Her legacy was to help others. Let’s keep it going for her and all it will touch.

God Bless you.

Mike