Irene Berner, principal of Berner Financial Services in Poughkeepsie, is planning one of the biggest events of her runner”™s life. Every week, the financial planner is adding a few more miles to her workout in preparation for the mother of running events: the New York City Marathon.
While she counsels others on planning for retirement or how to get a return on an investment, Berner has set a new goal for her own golden years ”“ to become a long-distance runner. In the process, she”™ll help raise funds for a cause near and dear to her.
Her interest in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (leukemia-lymphoma.org) struck a personal chord when her nephew”™s wife was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 20. “She fought the odds; my nephew married her while she was still in the hospital recovering from her treatments. She was in remission for 10 years, but we lost her when she was only 30 years old. I”™ll never forget her. It”™s in her memory, and for others I”™ve lost to blood cancers, that got me to take up running again.”
The Leukemia/Lymphoma Society is a wonderful resource for people who are serious about raising funds to find a cure, says Berner. Its Team in Training (TNT) program offers several venues to raise awareness of the fight and raise funds to find a cure. “They have different marathons, whether walking, running, bicycling or rowing; when you join, you get the benefit of training,” said Berner. “Every week, I run with a group. The society provides the support, lots of advice, coaching and keeps in constant touch through email. In return for the training, 75 percent of the money LLS fundraisers gather goes to help people stricken with the disease.”
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Berner ran her first marathon at 55 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Florida”™s Disney World. LLS provided a hotel room and transportation for the event. “They train you; they bring you there; they put you up,” said Berner. “If you ever watch marathons, if you see anyone in purple, that”™s the LLS team and training color. You”™ll know they are running for LLS.”
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Now, Berner is getting ready to run her second significant race, the 26-mile New York City marathon, which takes place the first Sunday in November. She”™ll be among 42,000 runners, with more than 2 million spectators along the route (not to mention the national television coverage.) “It makes me feel good that I”™m raising money for a fantastic cause and bringing awareness to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The more recognition they get, the more likely people will get involved.”
Berner lived most of her life in the Big Apple, working on Wall Street, before moving to New Paltz in 1986 and has never looked back. “I love living here, but it will be nice to have family and friends down in the city along the marathon route cheering me on. I did some running in my younger days in the city, but stopped for 20 years until I got involved with LLS. Now, my goal is to raise $10,000 for the Society in the New York City Marathon.”
For Berner, it doesn”™t matter what time she crosses the finish line. She just hopes she”™ll be crossing and meeting two goals, financial and personal: bringing in the $10,000Â she”™s pledged to raise and making a difference.
