Racing to Save Lives

The Team In Training Page of Rick Cox

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

Let’s face it: I’ve gone nuts…..again.

Some of you may or may not know, that in 2003 I ran in and completed the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington DC. 26.2 miles It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Let's face it, I was just plain nuts.

You know, when I was a kid I used to ride my bike everywhere. It was my only mode of transportation. Then I got a car. So, let's face it. I’ve gone nuts again. I mean what sane person would get up off a soft comfy couch and decide to do a triathlon? Maybe when I was younger, yeah, but at 53? And not just any triathlon but the SAN FRANCISCO triathlon. By TRIATHLON, I don't mean I’ll be riding a tricycle around San Francisco. But swim around San Francisco Bay for a distance of: 1.5 k or .93 miles. Then turn around and do a bike ride for a distance of 40 k or 24.6 miles. Then do a run of 10k or 6.2 miles. This will be a very challenging event, for Pete’s sake. What kind of idiot decides, “Hey, this sounds like a blast, let's do it”?

Well, yours truly, for one, and my teammates, for another several thousand. I have; once again, joined forces with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program. I have committed to raising $3.100.00 and participatin in this triathlon. In return, Team in Training will coach me and my teammates and give us the support we need to meet our race goal. Now I need your support to meet my fundraising goal.

Last year, members of Team In Training raised over $90 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in its fight against Leukemia, Hodgkin’s Disease, lymphoma and myeloma. These diseases affect blood-forming tissues like the spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow, and cause them to produce abnormal blood cells, preventing the production of normal cells. An estimated 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with one of these blood-related cancers, and every week 1,100 of them, die. Leukemia is the number one killing disease in children, and it affects 10 times as many adults.

It affects people like my friend Jerry Dyer, who was diagnosed with cancer 2 months ago. Jerry has been going through 2 rounds of chemotherapy a month and will continue going through them for the next 7 months. I will be participating in the triathlon in his honor and in memory of my grandfather Charlie Grossman who died when I was only 7. I miss him greatly. Like Audrey Duffy with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma on March 1, 2002. It affects children like 12 year old Jack Nichols, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on March 1, 2001 and 16 year old Monica Trent who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (all) on February 25, 2002. Luckily, all of the wonderful and brave people are in remission and alive today because of the treatments discovered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and I’m proud to be doing this triathon for all three of them, my Honored Teammates.

My training will be tough, but nowhere near as tough as the doctors’ visits, the months of chemotherapy, and the endless poking, prodding and the needle sticking that Jerry, Audrey, Jack, Monica and thousands have gone through. It will be nothing compared to the treatments that thousands of leukemia patients go through every day. I’m in for the long race, but theirs is longer. Every bit helps bring us closer to the finish line, and we’ll get there with your help.

%75 of every tax deductable dollar donated goes directly to research. If you are the parent, grandparent, a healthy child, or if you have a healthy spouse, please join in the race for a cure by writing out a check, giving whatever you can and mailing it back to me by September 30, 2008 or making your donation now by selecting your donation amount on the right. It is safe and secure.

Thank you in advance

Rick Cox

5716 Tujunga Avenue #17

North Hollywood, CA 91601

www.pages.teamintraining.org/los/treastri08/rcoxlsjjtk