Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page. If you found your way here that is great and you are one step closer to helping save a life.

January Update

Hey Everyone,

So the holidays are done and I hope everyone enjoyed them about as much as I have, but I figured it was time to give everyone an update on my training and fundraising.

My training is going great. I have my first 16 mile run coming up this weekend and even though its set for the temp to be in the teens, I am looking forward to it. I did my first 14 mile run in probably about 6 years last week and felt great, so lets hope this one goes as well. I just may grow my beard to help deal with the cold.

Alright, so my fundraising is going great also. I am only a few dollars away from the $2000 mark and really appreciate everyone's help that has donated. It is really great to know that I have such great support out, especially since some of my best donations come from some of the most random places. Nevertheless, I am having my first fundraising event this Friday (16th) which is a Happy Hour down at the Public House. This promises to be the first of many great nights at the Public House. I am also working on putting together a Beef-n-Beer and some other fun ideas.

Well Everyone stay warm out there and enjoy the winter festivities!

~Pat

Welcome Everyone!!!

A few weeks ago, I proudly joined Team in Training to train for the Rome Marathon, which raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through endurance sports events. I have committed to raising at least $6,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society while training to run a full marathon (26.2 miles) in Rome, Italy on March 22nd, 2009. I am reaching out to you because most of us know someone who has been affected by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, myeloma, or any kind of cancer.

The mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is to cure these diseases and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The funds raised help to support the families, fund new research, and fund treatments.

I strongly support the mission of this organization, but that's not my only reason for joining the cause at this time. My passion for fighting cancer began during my time at Penn State where I became involved in fund raising for Pediatric cancer. I have had the honor of meeting many of the people that cancer can affect and I have heard their stories of pain and sadness but also their stories of strength and perseverance and it is because of these people and their strength that I am running. Personally, I had a friend in grade school and high school that was a very nice guy, a good runner, and a great spirit. I always enjoyed racing with him until one fall running season when I found out he had been undergoing treatments for Leukemia. Thankfully, he had been responding very well to the treatment and only a year later, I was honored to run next to him. I chose to become a part of this group because of people like him. His strength and courage is inspiring and I want to show my support for others in their fight.

Will you join me in supporting Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by making a donation to my fundraising campaign?

The easiest way to donate is here through my secure online fundraising page.

If you would prefer to donate by check, please make it out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and mail it to my address below. Check to see if your company matches donations. Ask me for more information about matching gifts. Please have your donations in by January 31st, 2009.

One last thing to remember, all donations are 100% tax deductible!

On behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I thank you for your support for my Team in Training. Feel free to leave comments and check up how my training and all is going. I know this is going to be a great experience and I hope you can join me.

THANK YOU!!!

Happy Holidays!

Pat Taggart

To see more of how I came here read below.

I will be honest when I was growing up charities and fund raising was not really part of my life, but then something changed when I went to Penn State. I became involved in the PSU dance marathon (THON) which helps to fight against pediatric cancer. Now, normally most people when they hear Penn State, they think football, but the true spirit of the University is not in football its in THON. Here is a little bit of the story that changed it all for me.

Now , THON is a no-sitting, no-sleeping, high energy celebration of life, strength, courage, and perseverance. It is a 48hr event that demands the utmost physical and mental strength. This initial experience with THON was simply life changing because throughout weeks and months leading up to the event you were able to meet the children and the families you were helping. Even during the 48 hour event you play with the children and hear the families tell their stories. It was because of these children that have the strength to fight each day of their lives I decided to help others in anyway possible.

A year later and now a college graduate, I had the opportunity to participate in something completely new for THON, the Thon Express. Now, I have been a runner all my life and done plenty of races that benefited various causes, however, it was in this new event I realized that it was through my gift and my love of running (and other endurance events) that I could really start to make a difference. Thon Express was a 135-mile relay run from the Children's Cancer Center in Hershey, Pa to PSU Thon at State College, Pa. During this event, I made amazing new friends that gave me the love and support to push through the night, the snow, and the mountains. Some of these new friends were parents of children with cancer and the stories of their children’s strength and courage still bring tears to my eyes. Surprisingly, I found out that many of the same people who were in this event with me were also part of Team in Training. Obviously, this Team in Training peaked my curiosity and soon enough I was hooked on the idea.

"Living with a purpose" is a phrase I learned from a good friend and it is one I have taken to heart.