My Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for visiting our Team In Training web-page. Lauren and I appreciate all of your support over the past couple of year with our new found athleticism. We both have different reasons for getting started with TNT, but we both have the same passion for the cause.

My story starts n 1998 around Valentine's Day when my fiance, Carollynn Messinetti, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). It was one of the worst days of our lives and was the first of many long days in hospitals and doctors offices. Carol was a fighter from the start, always keeping a positive attitude in even the scariest of situations. She received a Stem Cell Transplant at Duke Hospital and after 8 months we were grateful to move home with her family in New York.

Carol did everything she could to keep life moving. We got married in January of 1999. She was able to go back to teaching elementary music, which she loved. She was able to spend time with her nieces and nephews. She fought and lived her life to the fullest. But in January of 2003, she became sick again. She battled for several months, but it was too much for her body. She passed away in May of that year.

Through it all we were extremely lucky to have an incredibly supportive network of family and friends to help us get through those tough years.

It was the summer of 2003 my friend Sue Kulvicki McGuire introduced me to a group called Team In Training. This was an organization that would help me get my life back. It allowed me do something to honor Carol. I trained for my first marathon that year and raised $9,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Lauren started with TNT to get in shape and do something good for others. One day she received a letter from her Aunt and found out that one of her favorite Uncles as a child died from Leukemia. Her Uncle Charlie was a wonderful individual, a loving husband, father and Uncle.

Lauren and I have since been involved every year and will not let up until a cure is found. We have raised over $40,000 for the Society and completed around 8 events each.

This year has been challenging for us though. We have seen many of our honored patients come out of remission and battle cancer for a second and even third time. We recently attended the funeral of a young girl, Katie Fitzgerald, just 17, who was on her 3rd battle with Leukemia.

We knew at this point our work was not done and we needed to continue the fight. Lauren and I have signed up for another marathon in memory of Katie, Carol and Uncle Charlie.

The money we raise goes to Patient Care, Patient Research and Patient Aid. I can promise that the money reaches the people it is supposed to reach. Carol and I had help from all three areas over those five years. LLS prides itself that 75 cents of every dollar goes directly to their mission.

Please help us find a cure by making a donation. No amount is too small! If you have someone you would like us to run in honor or memory of, please let us know. We recently completed a marathon for TNT and Lauren has signed up for a second event. She will be doing the Latta Plantation Triathlon this summer.

We appreciate all of you love, prayers and support.

Thank you,

Elliot & Lauren Blue