(Three Musketeers just about 20 years ago)

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

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

My name is Caitlin Sullivan Hurley; I am a twenty one year old senior psychology major at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. I grew up in the gorgeous town of Cape Elizabeth, ME and currently reside in the beautiful town of Swampscott, MA with my Mother Joanellen Sullivan, my Nana, and my brother Sean Hurley.

On September 15th 2010, just about a year ago to date of my acceptance into Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the 2012 Boston Marathon my single mother Joanellen Sullivan was diagnosed with AML Leukemia.

I had never been in such close encounter with a loved one suffering from a potentially terminal disease. My world as I knew ended. I did not know if my mother was going to live or die, and never asked because I was afraid of the answer. I knew little of cancer and specifically Leukemia. I had previous notions that Leukemia was a cancer only children got. I also was misinformed in that there was no cure for cancer.

However my mother is living proof cancer can be beaten. She is in remission and back to work part time, at an unprecedented rate of a year since diagnoses and just about nine months since her bone marrow transplant. If she stays cancer free for five years she is cured! The good news is my mother is alive and well and is feisty as always. She as well as my whole family has a newly restored appreciation for life. We know every day we are given is a gift, and we are to make the most out of our days.

There were so many people involved in helping contribute to “Team Joanellen” in our time of need. Special thanks goes to my family and friends who were there by our sides through it all. My admiration goes out to all of those employees, volunteers, and patients at Mass General Hospital (hotel MGH as mom and I like to refer to it as). The doctors and nurses are angels sent from above. As well to all those who may not have physically been present but emotionally were a huge support and contributed to our success we must now celebrate! So in return to give thanks to all involved in saving my mothers life I have committed and agreed to run the 2012 Boston Marathon and raise a minimum of $4,000. Everyone who donates and supports me will be along side me running the course with me physically or in spirit. I run for all those who have ever had to face cancer, their loved ones, and especially to those patients currently fighting.

The funds raised will help support others in times of need and allow for the research to be done finding a cure for all. Without advancement in technology and medicine from amazing fundraisers like this my mother would not be alive today. We must give hope to all and help to create a cancer free world. My mother is living proof cancer can be beaten. My dream is to allow others to experience the joy of life and to live a long, joyful and healthy life.

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the 2012 Boston Marathon as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support; I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

Thank you all and God bless.

With much love and gratitude.

xo Cait

(Sullivan family at Mom's screening of The Help!)

(Mom & I at Marblehead neck, having a Bagel World picnic, one of our favorite things.)