How serious is blood cancer? Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes, someone dies.
Four and a half years ago, I went to Phoenix, AZ to cheer my friend on as she ran the Rock and Roll marathon in memory of her mom. Rewind a few months from that marathon.
My friend asked me if I would go to a Team in Training (TNT) Kickoff meeting with her and sign up to run marathon with her. I said, “Um. I’ll go to the kick off with you, but no, I won’t run. I WILL cheer you on and support you however you need me to.” My friend had given me a brief synopsis of what TNT is and stands for.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. Team In Training (TNT) has grown to be the world’s largest and most successful endurance sports charity training program. Since its inception in 1988, TNT has prepared more than 500,000 people to complete a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, 100-mile (century) cycle ride or hike adventure. Those participants have raised a remarkable $1 billion to support blood cancer research and patient services.
My friend was drawn to TNT because her Mom had been fighting a form of blood cancer for 3 years. One week after she started training for her marathon, her Mom passed away.
While my friend was training, I called on her long run days and cheered her on. I went out along some of her long run routes to jump and cheer and hug her. One day, I think it was on her 19 mile run, I found her and we talked for a few minutes. Her coach came up to me and said, “When are you going to do a marathon?” I said, “Um, ne-ver.” He said, “Well, TNT also does triathlons and century rides.” I said that I wasn’t so sure about my knees and back (I’ve had a few issues with them in the past). He responded and said, “Thanks for being a cheerleader!”
Well, as the old saying goes, “Never say never!!!” In 2010, I signed up to do a century ride (100 mile bicycle ride) around Lake Tahoe. I fundraised and the event took place in 2011. For the 2012 season, I was asked to be a mentor to the cycle team. I decided to be a non-fundraising mentor. This was a fabulous experience, and you bet! I’ll do it again if asked! Together the entire TNT team (throughout the US who participated in this event-I believe 3,000 people) raised $5,000,000 (yes Five Million dollars)!
Did you know that:
• A gift of $150 will fund a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society researcher for one day
• A gift of $500 will allow The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to reimburse one patient for medical expenses for a year through our Patient Financial Assistance program
• A gift of $1,000 will fund a patient education program on topics such as coping with chemotherapy and healthy cancer survivorship
Which leads me to my next adventure. As I said, “Never say never.” I have decided to raise funds and run a half marathon with TNT.
Here’s where you come in. Would you please become part of my team by taking just a moment to write a check to LLS or make an online donation at my fundraising website?
· Initial fundraising deadline of $3,550.00: October 19, 2012
· Tinker Bell Half Marathon: January 20th, 2013
· My Fundraising Website:
· Make checks payable to LLS (or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and email me for my mailing address
Because of Team in Training fundraisers, one of my friends has a treatment for his form of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. When he was diagnosed, there was no treatment. This gives me hope for other friends that I have who are currently fighting, but their form of blood cancers do not have a treatment yet.
It seems there are few people whose lives have not been touched by cancer in some way. If you have a loved one who has battled leukemia or some other form of cancer, please send me that person’s name and story along with a picture. I will run in his or her honor and, with your permission, post the story on my blog. In addition, I will pin your loved one’s picture on my back while I complete my half marathon in January.
Thank you for partnering with me as I partner with TNT and LLS.
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