Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page!

As many of you know, I lost a dear friend & mentor to leukemia in December of 2005. Leila was an amazing and strong woman who should not have had to succumb to this disease, but handled it with courage and grace. Since then I have been searching for ways to honor her and her battle. I've donated my hair, I've donated my money and now I am donating my "strength", so to speak.

On January 10, 2009, I, along with my friend Kristen, will be participating in Team in Training's Half Marathon in Walt Disney World. "What?!" you ask? Yes, I have become a runner at 34 years old and although I still cannot say that I "love" running, I have more importantly learned that I CAN do it. And the amazing feelings of confidence and accomplishment in completing a race are those beyond compare for my limited athletic experience! In fact, I ran my first 5K in under 40 minutes!

So now the training and the fundraising begin! Through Team in Training, I will work with a mentor and coach in learning effective running techniques, as well as participating in other seminars leading me towards a successful 13.1 miles! It is an extremely supportive environment and a program that I am thrilled to be a part of.

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this race in memory of my friend Leila, but I am also doing it to honor all of those who are still battling and to give hope to families who have endured the struggles of their loved ones.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress! Thank you for being my cheerleaders and thank you for all of your support, both emotional and financial!

Much love, Dyan :)

Below is a picture of Leila and her son Lex, in April of 2003, pre-diagnosis.