16 year old friend needs our help!!!

Dear endurance friends!!!

Please take a few moments to sit down and read this letter, it comes
with a very heavy heart and one I have been thinking about for several days.


On Dec. 28th I will have my foot operated on. During my 2,500 mile run
this summer it broke and a tendon was torn. I have spent 6 months in a
boot or cast to heal it and it has not healed. The lessons continue. I
have been a bit stressed out this part week thinking about being put to
sleep, the surgery and the pain of the foot coming back. It sure is
different for most of us when we are on mile 200 and the pain is something we
can bare because we are the one in charge and in control of it.
We are the ones who allow the pain and know what is needed to "just deal with it"

ALL of you have done absolutely amazing endurance events, you have
endured what most people can not comprehend and what most people would
never even consider doing.

ALL of you inspire me and inspire so many to do and be better at most
everything life has to offer.

ALL of you have such talent to use your body, mind, spirit and soul to
move to places of the unknown.



My good friend Jim Simone who is one amazing endurance athlete
introduced me a friend of his Cheryl (a single mother) and her 4
beautiful daughters. They drove all the way from Chicago and spent a
week with us here in the Tetons.Needless to say if you met this
beautiful family you would fall in love with them as we did.

Balei, Cheryl's daughter who turned 16 on Oct. has been going through
the biggest endurance challenge of her life and she needs our help, her family needs our help..
On Dec. 4th, 2010 Balei complained on a headache and nausea. Hours later she was rushed to
University Chicago Corner Childrens Hospital. Balei suffered a burst brain aneurysm and was in a coma for 5 days
. In critical condition ICU Balie has gone through 3 brain surgery since then and the last one was today.
They discovered the fluid leaking from the brain was meningitis!


Balei nick name is Sassy, she is one of the most amazing, kind, giving,
generous kids I have ever met. She was the one at our home trying to
rally everyone to plays games, go on hikes, dance, sing and just live
life for the moment. I was so impressed with her ability to inspire and
get my 2 daughters to do about anything she ask of them!

The hospital staff says that Balei is the inspiration that keeps them
going right now...even when she is screaming in pain because her head
hurts so much anyone who comes into her hospital room she finds a place
to tell them she loves them, Merry Christmas.

Balie told her mother Cheryl "I tired of fighting but you know I will."


Balies voice is weak and most of the time very hard to understand her at all. I have spoken to her several times in the past few weeks even if they just put the phone to her ear so she could hear what I had to say. What I have said to Balie is that she is my hero, she is my courage. What she is going through and enduring is far greater then anything I have personally ever even been close to experiencing. A hero she is for her undying love, giving and inspiration to fight.

In the past few days, Cheryl, Balei's mother was fired from her job, she is about to lose the family's apartment and they have less then $100 to there name. Cheryl spends every waking moment with Balei and her other girls.

How can so much happen to one person and the family all at once? The
answer may never be known.

This morning I went for a walk at 2 am, I could not sleep thinking about my phone call the night before with Jim..the trials and struggles of Balei, Cheryl and their beautiful family.

It took me 40 min. to walk 1 mile because my foot is in so much pain and the limp has caused my hip to hurt.

Last night we got 1 foot of fresh snow, the sky was amazing. I fell to
my knees in the snow and just starting to cry. I thought about Mother Mary and Jesus...it reminds me of Mother Cheryl and Balei.

Sister Marybeth was the first person I called when I found out I have to have my foot operated on. Her words to me were short, sweet and full of wisdom, as always.

"Lisa, God has something else for you to do right now. Sit quiet and
listen."

It became clear to me this morning that my 2,500 mile run through the
USA was not over. Many more lessons to learn and so many children and
people to help.

I may not be able to run but I can sure continue to help and spread hope.


I am asking for your help! Helping one child at a time, one person at a
time. "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much".

Help Balei and her family win this endurance race, help get the word out to all your endurance friends. Helping Balei helps me, it helps you, it helps all who step forward.

It helps us all come to realize that we are in this together and that we all do make a difference, we can make a difference.

When it is your turn for me to help you...you know I will.

Consider sending this letter to all your endurance friends and ask them
to please consider making a donation of even $10 to help Balei and her
family right now.

The Balei Chinski Relief Fund
c/o
Peoples Bank of Kankakee
315 Main St. NW
Bourbonnais Illinois 60914
Phone 815.936.7600
Fax 815.932.5559
People can send tax DEDUCTABLE donations to the bank or contact them
for more info.

Or you can send a check to the Dreamchaser Foundation 100% OF ALL
MONEY WILL GO TO HELP BALEI AND HER FAMILY

po box 1200
Driggs, Idaho 83422
In the subject area write: Balei

Thank you for your consideration.

May your days be filled with love, joy, hope, faith and wonder

Lisa Smith-Batchen