Racing to Save Lives

Hi! I'm training for the Nation's Triathlon, on September 13th, as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. Team In Training raises funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. It provides funding for grants for research to identify new treatments, and education, and financial aid to help patients and their families.

If you are reading this letter, you probably already know that I enjoy challenges... While I have completed several sprint distance triathlons before (and I will be completing several more this summer as a part of my training), this race is of Olympic Distance - more than twice that of any of my prior triathlons. It includes a 1.5k swim in the Potomac River, 40k bike course through DC, and a 10k run through Washington, DC...however, this is but a small part of my reasons to participate in Team in Training and in this event.

An estimated 138,530 people in the United States alone were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma this past year. Over this same period, these diseases account for the deaths of an estimated 52,910 Americans. Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. This statistic represents nearly 145 people each day, or six people every hour. While there have been dramatic improvements in the treatment of blood cancers, more research and new more effective treatments are needed.

Please make a donation to help advance the efforts of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to find a cure.

As you may know, I have committed my career to healthcare and improving patient care - and more recently, specializing in oncology services. I have witnessed the impact of these diseases on patients and their families, and their heroic battles against the illness and to continue on with their lives. Their stories and their endurance are certainly inspiring...and are more than enough to move me to make this commitment to train, to donate my own time and money...and to honor them here.

Please join me - make a donation to support my participation in Team in Training.

Yet, like many of us, I have a personal story. A little more than 18 years ago, just a month before my daughter was born, my mother lost her battle to leukemia. Now, 18 years later, my daughter is graduating high school and will be attending college in the fall. How my mother would have loved to be a part of this celebration, as well as each and every other milestone before. And so, I embark on this challenge in memory of my mother, Trudy Sternberg. For those of you who knew my mother, she was someone who was always ready to reach out and help others - whatever it took. I think it is a fitting tribute in so many ways

Make a donation in honor of your own personal story or the story of someone you love.

In Honor of Bill and his Triathlon

I have also chosen to race in honor of someone who has just begun his own triathlon of chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant and recovery. A friend told me about Bill who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He spent 6 plus weeks in the hospital battling his cancer, and entertaining the nurses and his colleagues with his irrepressible sense of humor. Bill has dedicated his life to helping others – he is a physician whose patients have nicknamed him "the wizard" and who has been an incredible role model and friend to generations of colleagues. He is also a big-hearted family man who, while not prone to bragging, knows he's blessed with the most beautiful wife, two talented sons, and a grandson whose smile is powerful therapy. Bill has shown incredible stamina in his own triathlon: he's just completed 2 rounds of chemotherapy, has entered remission and is gearing up for his bone marrow transplant while his family, friends, colleagues and patients cheer him on. Please join me and support the cause to help Bill and others in the battle back to health.

Thank you for your support!

Scot

P.S. Be sure to check back to my website to see progress (and special offers or events).

Training Update: This past weekend, I added the Witch City Tri in Salem, MA to the sprint triathlons this summer - Cohasset Tri and Powow Tri. I shorten my time from last year by 18.5 minutes. Good training for The Nation's Triathlon which is more than twice the distances. Next sprint triathlon is Aug 9: Gloucester Tri.

Special Fundraising Events:

Glassblowing Demonstration/Sampling of Wine & Cheese Fundraiser: last weekend was a success - Special Thanks to Diablo Glass School for hosting and donating resources and time. Thanks to the artistry of Chris Watts. Thanks to The Wine Gallery of Brookline and Select Wine Imports for donating the wine. And thanks to StopnShop Boston for the cheese n fruit. Thank you to businesses for donating prizes for drawing including Bobbles & Lace, Tavern in the Square; Baja Betty's; Trader Joe's: Starbucks; and UNO chicago grill. Lats but not least, thanks to all who attended and made donations.