West Milford woman finishes New Jersey Marathon

WEST MILFORD — Earlier this year the West Milford Messenger profiled Joan Darnsteadt, an ICU nurse at Newton Memorial Hospital and West Milford resident, who was raising money to run in the New Jersey Marathon and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Joan ran and finished the race, held on May 6, successfully raising $3,300 for the society. In total, the runners raised over $950,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"It was a great experience and enjoyed this journey so much I registered for another marathon to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," said Darnsteadt. "I will be running the Marine Corps. Marathon that takes place in Washington DC on October 28."

Darnsteadt chose the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of her cousin Leslie Minutti, a 15-year lymphoma survivor.

“I was drawn to leukemia and lymphoma because of my cousin and because I thought her story could benefit other people,” said Darnsteadt earlier this year.

Minutti was diagnosed with the disease when she was just a sophomore in college. She battled the disease, finished her education and is now married with a daughter.

Darnsteadt's goal once again is to raise $3,000 for the society. She had several fund raisers earlier this year to get community support for her goal - including partnering with local businesses who then donated a share of their sales, auctioning off Broadway show tickets, a garage sale and a candle sale - which worked out well since she exceeded her $3,000 goal. Her fund raisers are not set up yet for her October run, but they will be soon. Her Web site for those who want to make donations for the Marine Corps Marathon is http://pages.teamintraining.org/nj/corps12/jdarnsteadt.