John Nesbit : Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraising

Hiking to Save Lives

Ever since joining Weight Watchers in 2006, I've been hiking regularly (and lost 117.6 lbs in the process)... but I joined Team in Training to hike for a purpose beyond personal health.

My Dad died a year ago in September after battling leukemia for a dozen years. Even though he lived most of his life in Illinois, he dreamed of returning to his birth state of Colorado after retirement. He never was able to do that but did celebrate his 80th birthday on the summit of Pikes Peak.

Last weekend was my turn.

I trained to participate in an endurance hike in Rocky Mountain National Park 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 completed this event in honor of my Dad and for 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!

Contributions still accepted. 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!

Note: In May my niece Damina emerged from surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA for a massive brain tumor, but she is not out of the woods yet. In fact, the odds are heavily stacked against her. But she continues battling with daily chemo and radiation treatments, a new immunization procedure, and with continued prayers and good thoughts from all corners of the world! Her manner and positive attitude are daily amazing the people she encounters.

This is a different form of cancer, but I am honoring Damina in this campaign as well. Latest word from my brother is hopeful, and it's possible that she could be an "outlier" in the research study she has inadvertently become part of.

Note: Never anticipated physical challenges, but had a couple before the hike-- a bike accident that knocked out a tooth and required a dozen stitches on my nose and lips, but was soon back to hiking routine. A few weeks later circumstances required another battery of tests with suspected prostate cancer. During weekend for Colorado hike, my urologist called to inform me of good news--will continue to be in monitoring mode since latest PSA test showed remarkable improvement (closer to normal range), so odds of having cancer now reduced.

The hike to Ouzel Lake went well, and I had no difficulty making the 10 mile route despite rugged Colorado weather that included cold rain, sleet, and snow. Here's hoping that those facing the obstacles imposed by cancer will likewise overcome them with similar ease.