UPDATE: OCTOBER 9, 2014 - Thank you to EVERY SINGLE PERSON that supported me in my first season with Team in Training! I hope that you'll continue this journey with me and donate to my next season with TNT!

On May 2nd, I met a Team in Training team member at the expo for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon. She was so enthusiastic, happy, and genuinely excited to tell me more about Team in Training. Immediately, I felt like we were cut from the same cloth - the shameless cloth. I love running, but if I can do anything in my power to make my running matter to someone, then I'm going to do it. Right now, that means I'm shamelessly fundraising (yes, that means asking you to skip a Starbucks or pack a lunch one day) to donate to help people fighting cancer. Will you join me to make my miles count? 

Here's what I wrote when I started my Team in Training fundraising page back in June of 2014: A lot of you probably got sent to this page in a flurry of excitement (either in person, or in an email with several exclamation points), so let me start with a big WELCOME! Thank you so much for taking a few moments of your day to come and visit this page and learn more about Team in Training.

Team in Training (TNT) is not just a group of people running together. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's TNT is an organization that helps to raise funds for research and to ensure that blood cancer patients can receive treatment. By making a donation, YOU are helping to fund treatments that SAVE LIVES. YOU are helping patients receive the treatment they need to live. YOU are giving up your morning Starbucks, your next shopping trip, or your next night out to help someone else. Is there any better feeling? I don't think so! 

My first TNT race is the Nike Women's Half Marathon in sunny, hilly San Fransisco. On October 19th, I'll lace up my shoes for all those who can't and head out with my TNT family (because trust me, it's a family!) to run the streets of San Fran for a cure. 
 

I would love for you to help me on my journey by donating. I know, I know - you might be thinking the same thing I often think when I'm asked for donations and that's simply that I don't have the funds to swing it. But, scroll back up. By donating, you are helping save lives. You are giving someone out there hope that they will receive life saving treatment. So please, skip that morning Starbucks or that dinner out, and give what you can to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I promise you, it's worth it.

Do you have questions? Get in touch with me! You can find me on Twitter @melissdelong or send me an email. I would love to talk to you more about TNT and all things running!

Thank you again! I can't wait to go on this journey with each and every single one of you!