One of the reasons I decided to walk a half marathon and help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is because I have a fear...

I fear that one day someone close to my heart will be diagnosed with a fatal disease and there will be nothing we can do about it, but hope and pray that modern medicine is advanced enough to treat it.

I don't think that is a completely unfounded fear when every 4 minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer* and every 10 minutes someone dies from a blood cancer.* In 2010, about 447 children 15 years old and younger were expected to die from leukemia.**

I believe that with my help right now and with the help of thousands of other volunteers and donators these numbers can only go down. I believe by simply walking 13.1 miles, by raising at least $3000, and by asking you to do the same, we can find a cure for a disease that has stolen thousands of lives.

I believe that if I help save someone today, if it becomes necessary in the future, someone will want to help save my loved ones.

Right now it is estimated that there are 957, 902 people living in the United States with or in remission from leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, NHL, or myeloma.** These people are not just statistics. They are real and they're closer than you think. Some of them are right here in our blog world. I want to introduce you to them.

Today's guest blogger is Lisa from Love Heals Gage. Lisa's son Gage was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at 14 months old. This is their story...

To read Lisa and Gage's story please visit A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench.

Well, it's official!

We are officially training for the San Diego Rock N' Roll 1/2 Marathon!

Last Thursday was the kick-off party. We were able to meet our coach, Jim, and several of our fellow teammates. We also received our training schedule for the next 15 weeks. Hello, 8 AM Saturday! Actually, I didn't even know Saturday had an 8 AM, but apparently it does and we'll be meeting it at walking speed :)

Read more and see photos of our first training at our team page!

I'm not a fan of New Year resolutions. Apparently, 86% of Americans make resolutions and only 24% actually keep them. (Okay, I made that up, but it totally sounds legit....) Usually by February, on a good year, my resolutions are out the window. My sorta-kinda resolution for this year was to have a better year than 2010. Not something I really have to work on since the hubs and I took a mini-break in 2010 and as long as that doesn't happen in 2011, I'd say we've had a better year.

I heard an ad on the radio for this thing called Team In Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was curious, so my mom and I checked it out the other evening.

My 2011 New Year's resolution is to walk in the San Diego Rock 'N Roll Marathon event on June 5, 2011 and raise $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

To read more about my New Year's Resolution and how you can help me keep it, please visit my personal blog A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench.

TEAM PAGE

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!