Since the end of January, I have:

• Ran for 54 hours and covered 236.87 miles
• Biked for 57 hours and covered 540.86 miles
• Swam 23 hours and covered 45,492 yards which is 25.84 miles, and including 3 of those miles in a pond!
• Raised $1,367 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I still have $1,283 to go!

What have I discovered in all those hours and miles of training for the Grand Rapids Triathlon? I still love running the most, biking is a pain in the butt (literally) and swimming in a pond is one of the scariest and hardest things I have done! But I keep going back for more. Because of Andrew, who is fighting for his life, because of my best friend Sara, who fought cancer at 13 and won and because of all the stories I heard at my yard sale of children who had Leukemia, to a nurse that did a walk every year to honor a doctor she worked with who passed away due to Lymphoma. All the times I have wanted to quit, felt burned out, too sore, too tired, there always seem to be a story that reminded me why I am doing it all.

I have learned to have a greater appreciation for my health and my ability to compete in races. I have realized how lucky I am to have a healthy 8 year old, because I have heard of way too many stories of kids his age that spend their days in hospital beds and not outside playing like they should be.

In 2 weeks I will be taking on the greatest (craziest?) adventure of my life at the Grand Rapids Half-Ironman and I am freaking out! But I try to keep it in perspective- Team in Trainings motto is: If you think training is hard, try chemotherapy!

Thank you to everyone that has supported me so far by either donating money or cheering me on in my training! If you haven't donated, please consider doing so. Any amount you can do would be great!

It seems like every week, I worry about fitting my workouts in: do I have time to do it? Can I make it 40 miles on the bike? Will I have to run in the rain again? Why is the pool so cold? These are my biggest worries every week. All the while I am forgetting that I am also trying to raise money for cancer. Yesterday, I was reminded why that's so important.

Earlier this year, I met a young man named Andrew. He has Ewing Sarcoma, which just so happens to be the same type of cancer my best friend was diagnosed with when she was 13, and the reason I was inspired to join Team in Training. He has spent the last couple of years of his young life in the hospital going through chemotherapy and radiation. He's missed school, time with friends, all the normal things a 15 year old experiences. When he spoke to the team, a group of about 60 of us, the morning before the Anthem 5k, he was so well spoken and had such a positive attitude. He was nearing the end of his treatment, and it was preparing to throw a remission party! He told us about what he had gone through, the friends he made in the hospital, and unfortunately the friends he lost. He said that by running these races, we inspired him! His speech brought many of us to tears. Funny to see the guy that whoops your butt on the bike every week crying like a baby. He was a true inspiration and reminder of why were out there.

Andrew had his remission party- he was finally on the road to recovery. But a couple of weeks later he received some bad news. The tumors were back, and they were on his spine. Yesterday morning, I found out that Andrew's cancer is now considered terminal. It gives me chills to even write that.

No one, especially a vibrant young 15 year old like Andrew, should ever have to hear those words. He should be going on dates and complaining about teachers. I do pray that things will turn around for him. But even if they don't, I know that there are children out there that do still have a chance.

Every dollar you donate goes toward cancer research and helping kids like Andrew, and my friend Sara, have the life they deserve. Please consider donating so that no other child will have to hear the words "terminal" again. Every dollar counts!

Do some spring cleaning and get rid of the clutter!

I am having a yard sale Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th in an effort to raise more money for LLS. Although I already have lots of great things to sell, if you have anything you would like to donate, I'll take it!

Matt or I would be willing to pick up anything you'd like to contribute to the yard sale. Please have all items to us by Friday, May 18th. You can email me at: jcookie0723@gmail.com so that we can arrange a pickup of the items!

We'll take anything you need to get rid of: clothes, pet items, toys, baby items, furniture, household decor, holiday decor, small kitchen appliances, etc.

100% of the money made from the sale of the items will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My goal is to raise $1500 through this yard sale so we need as much to sell as possible! Anything that isn't sold will be donated to the Salvation Army.

Don't have anything to donate? Stop by and see if you can find any treasures! The sale will be at 4418 Bays End Court, in the Worthington Hills neighborhood. Saturday, may 19th starting at 8 a.m. and Sunday May 19th starting at 8 a.m.

It's really happening! I am officially registered for the Grand Rapids Half Iron Distance Triathlon!

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, I understand the feeling of helplessness. You want to take away their pain, calm their fears, protect them from this horrible disease.

I'm not a doctor or a scientist or a researcher. I can't create new pills or treatments. But I am a runner (kind of) and a swimmer (well I don't drown) and a cyclist (barely). I can train, I can raise money and I can bring awareness so that maybe one day, cancer won't exist.

This year, I am training for a Half Ironman in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 10th. I will be swimming 1.2 miles in the Thornapple River, biking 56 miles (!) and then finishing that off with a cooldown run of a hilly half-marathon (13.1 miles).

Last year, you helped me raise over $1600 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. This year, I think we can do better! I am more than doubling the distance, so I want to double the money! Your money helps the estimated 140,310 women, men and children diagnosed with a blood cancer each year live healthier, happy lives.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma society do awesome work and are making amazing strides against cancer!

• 40 years ago, a childhood cancer was a death sentence. Today, over 90% of children live!
• LLS fund 400 scientists worldwide. Not just any scientists – the best and the brightest at what they do!
• Raised over $1.2 billion to fund lifesaving cancer research. What's more, many of the blood cancer treatments LLS has funded have gone on to benefit patients who have other types of cancer.

We all do what we can to help. Not everyone can train for a race, but everyone can donate $5, right? That's one starbucks drink (if you get a small one!) Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. And come back to my page to check out how my training is going!

Thank you!