Racing to Save Lives

(and quickly....I only have until November!)

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives! I finally decided it was my time to give something back. I personally have been touched by the bravery that radiates from a person who is diagnosed with a blood cancer. My Papa has kicked Melanoma to the curb with a trade-off of his kidney, bladder, and prostate. I firmly believe that this disease can be beat! Think about a cancer free world where no one has to worry about losing organs, limbs, or their lives. There would be no surgeries to undergo for cancer treatment and no more long hours of chemotherapy.

Let that settle, grasp that idea. It sounds marvelous doesn't it?

Well if you know me personally or if you don't there is one thing you should know: I DON'T RUN. Sure I have ran once a month when I'm bored or feeling inactive, but now I'm dedicating myself to a 13.1 mile run in San Antonio , Texas. Between work, school (I'm a Michigan State University Junior), and training this will be quite the adventurous feat.

"Why would you do something like that Meghan?"

Because I know how I'm going to feel when I cross that finish line after 3 months of training. I'm going to feel like I just endured something for a greater good, and that the only thing that kept me running was the constant reminder of the pain endured by everyone affected by cancer. Secondly, I will know that I just raised over $3,500 to help eliminate this awful disease for good! And saving the best for last my Papa's face will be all I see on the race to the finish line, and he will also be the first one I make a phone call to when I cross it.

So, this is only the beginning. This amazing adventure begins now. Training starts today, and San Antonio, TX happens in November. I have set a personal goal of $5000. $3500 gets me to Texas and I'm determined to raise that amount! This is where you come in. I need all the support I can get. Together we can beat this! I laugh in the face of cancer, because I know our efforts will eventually turn the lights off on cancer for good....

....And that sounds like a pretty cool world, doesn't it?

P.S : Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress, and I can't thank you enough for your support!

Update: Lately I've realized that sometimes people prefer to give through the mail instead of online. That's awesome and perfectly fine! If you would like to help in that way my address is as follows...

Meghan Nystrom

533 Albert (Upstairs)

East Lansing, Michigan 48823

checks can be made payable to : The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Thanks so Much!