I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the Tufts 10K race on October 14th 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.

For me, this mission is personal. On December 26, 2000 my mother, Roni O'Brien, passed away after a painful and debilitating battle with Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma. Lymphoma robbed my mother of her strength, leaving her in a wheelchair with limited use of her arms and legs. But through it all her light remained bright. A nurse recalled the following interaction in our family physcian's office: My mom was coming in for a check up and a little boy with Downs Syndrome -a former student in my mom's special needs classroom- was leaving. He stopped and stared at my mother, aghast. The nurse tried to intervene but my mom told her it was alright and she said to the boy, "Come here and squeeze my hands as hard as you can." He did and she said, "Wow! You are strong! Now I am going to squeeze your hands as hard as I can. Are you ready?" He nodded in assent and then laughed, saying, "Come on, Mrs. O'Brien! You aren't even trying!" My mom said, "That is as hard as I can squeeze. That is why I have to be in this wheelchair and it is why I am at the doctor today. My body is sick and trying to get better." She was a teacher her entire life even in sickness she was designed to teach. In death she has continued to teach me: that I am stronger than I know, that no battle is too hard if you face it with your head held high, that God loves me through everything, and that family is the most important thing. She has continued to teach everyone in my family as we prepared for yet another battle with cancer - this time my father's. In the spring of 2005 my father was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocitic Leukemia. He is still battling this slow cancer today. The treatment they've been using has stopped being effective and they are looking at new options. New options only become available through research.

I've never run a full mile in my life. Ever. I run on the elliptical but that is not the same. I do intervals when I jog outside. This commitment will be a challenge and a half. I am committing to run 6.2 miles on October 14th for my mom and my dad and every other person out there who would run if they could. I will run in the hopes that each step I pound out will inspire others to stand up and make a difference in this world.

My personal fundraising goal is $800 - that is $100 for each year my dad has fought Leukemia. Please make a donation and/or offer a prayer in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.