Richard W. shared a post on March 19, 2026

Your Generous Donations Helped Me Raise Half of My Goal in a Week!

Let's keep the momentum going for the Big Climb!

Estimated reading time: 0 minutes, 52 seconds

A week ago, I began raising money for my participation in the 2026 Big Climb to Conquer Cancer, scheduled for April 25, 2026, a tribute to my cherished wife, Jan, and our dear friends, as well as everyone touched by the harsh reality of blood cancers.

In just seven days, my friends, family, and neighbors generously helped me raise half of the funds needed—$2,652 in direct contributions, along with promises for an additional $500 in checks. In response to these donations, I also made an additional matching contribution.

I am happy to announce that, as of today, the total amount raised or committed, upon deposit, will be $6,152, representing 51% of my overall goal.

Since I am matching every dollar raised, we need to raise only $2,848 from donors.

Can you help me reach my goal?

By raising $12,000 in this year’s Big Climb, we can open up a world of possibilities for those affected by blood cancers, making a significant impact on their lives.

Click Here to Donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, I thank you for your support!

Big Climb

My Big Climb to Conquer Cancer on April 25, 2026

Please join me in making a difference! No matter the amount, your contribution can have a meaningful impact. As I do every year, I will match every donation made. Thank you!

Richard W. Brown February 9, 2026

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My random thoughts on love, grief, life and all things considered.

My Big Climb to Conquer Cancer on April 25, 2026
Please join me in making a difference! No matter the amount, your contribution can have a meaningful impact. As I do every year, I will match every donation made. Thank you! […]
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My Apple Fitness app shows that I’ve averaged four miles daily over an unpredictable month, which might be my new normal. As long as I can walk every day, my streak will continue. Today marked 1,555 days and counting. […]
Living and Grieving
I am believed and seen. I believe in others and recognize their true selves. Though I may reside in my home, I live, grieve, and thrive within my community. […]
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I focus on being good, rather than feeling good, and living a life my wife would be proud of, rather than letting sorrow overshadow my remaining days. […]

The Jan Lilien Education Fund!

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A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck

Read: December 2025

A Marriage at Sea

by Sophie Elmhirst

Taut, propulsive, and dazzling, A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst combines an adrenaline-fueled high-seas adventure with a poignant love story. The book examines our fascination with challenging individuals and how we grow under extreme conditions. The book was one of Barack Obama’s favorite reads of 2025. Additionally, it has been featured in The New York Times’ Top 10 Books of 2025 and has received accolades as a Best Book of 2025 from NPR, Vogue, Time Magazine, and The New Yorker.

Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He is a loner—awkward and obsessive—while she is charismatic and ambitious. Despite their differences, they share a dread of wasting their lives and, like many of us, dream of escaping it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away?

While most of us only daydream about such adventures, in June 1972, Maurice and Maralyn actually set sail. For nearly a year, everything went well until a breaching whale struck their boat, sinking it in the deep Pacific Ocean.

What follows is a jaw-dropping fight for survival in the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn must find ways to stay alive while also coping with each other as their inner demons emerge. Their marriage is put to the ultimate test as they realize that, although they can run away from the world, they cannot escape themselves. A Marriage at Sea is a mind-blowing tale of obsession, survival, and partnership.

Sophie Elmhirst is an award-winning journalist who writes regularly for The Guardian Long Read and The Economist; her work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and Harper’s Bazaar, among other places. She’s the winner of the British Press Award for Feature Writer of the Year and a Foreign Press Award. She lives in London and is the author of A Marriage at Sea.

Discover your next favorite book and dive into a world of curated, exciting reads by purchasing through my links. You’ll have access to a diverse selection of books that I’ve personally vetted to ensure quality and enjoyment. Additionally, by supporting these selections, you’ll help me continue to provide you with more personalized recommendations. I earn a small commission from your purchase, which allows me to buy and share even more books with you. Your support truly makes a difference!