Racing to Save Lives

February 26, 2012 & One Mile

After approximately a 20 year break from running I decided on February 26th, 2012 to go out and run one mile. Little did I know how big of an impact that one mile would have. I competed in a total of 10 races, suffered a stress fracture in my femur, completed my first half marathon and finished out the year with a total of 625 miles. So far this year I’ve competed in 4 races, completed my first ever marathon, and I’m on pace to run a total of 1,000 miles for the year. I also plan on running the Philadelphia Marathon as a member of Team in Training. Looking back at all that I’ve been able to accomplish over the past year and a half or so I can honestly say the 26.2 miles I plan on running in Philadelphia will mean the more to me than any of those previous miles I’ve run and I’ll be proud to say I did it with Team In Training.

What or who is Team in Training?

Team in Training (TNT) is a fundraising arm of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and was started in 1988 by Bruce Cleland. He assembled a NYC Marathon team to raise money in honor of his daughter, a leukemia survivor. 38 runners raised $322,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) work to discover new treatments for blood cancers. During the next 25 years, LLS's Team In Training (TNT) has become the leader in endurance sports training for charity, funding significant therapies like chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, which have a significant impact on blood cancer patients.

You can read more about it here: http://www.teamintraining.org/

Why is this so important to me and why will those 26.2 miles mean more to me than any of those previous miles I’ve run?

Some of you may or may not know this, but back in 1998 my mother was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood that progresses quickly without treatment. It affects mostly cells that aren't fully developed. These cells can't carry out their normal functions. That's one reason why it's important to get care and treatment as soon as possible. With treatment, people who have AML continue to see improved results. However, AML can be a difficult disease to treat, and researchers are studying new approaches to AML therapy in clinical trials. She spent the following year at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York battling for her life while enduring chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and a variety of other treatments, even a trial drug. Thankfully through her strong will and the many advancements in treatment options she is still with us today. Unfortunately this does not mean everyone else diagnosed will have the same outcome. This is why I chose to join Team In Training. I want to help make a difference in someone’s life and through Team in Training I’m able to do just that. This is my way to contribute and I hope you can support me.

This is Where I Ask You to Donate and Share Some Important Facts

Please Help Me Meet My Goal

So please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team in Training and help advance the research for 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. I know times are tough but every dollar counts (see below) and even in these hard times if you cannot contribute financially you can still help by spreading the word and passing along my website and emails.

Some important facts to consider

• 75% of each dollar is used to further the Society's Mission
• This year it is estimated that 148,040 new cases will be diagnosed
• Treatment costs can be upwards of $4000/mo. for a patient
• Since 1988, TNT participants have raised more than $1 billion

How even the smallest donation can help

• Approximately $1000 Assists in the organization of 47 support groups and education programs for patients, and contributes to Society sponsored blood cancer research.
• Approximately $750 Provides a leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma patient with financial aid to support medical treatment and to travel to medical appointments for one year.
• Approximately $500 Allows (10) patients to logon to a webcast and hear the latest information in treatment for their disease.
• Approximately $250 Provides a Family Support Group for one year.
• Approximately $150 Will train (6) survivors to make First Connections with a newly diagnosed patient.
• Approximately $100 Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• Approximately $75 Average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.
• Approximately $50 The cost of a co-payment for a CT scan.
• Approximately $40 Will educate (4) school employees on how to ease the transition back to school for a child with cancer.
• Approximately $35 Will purchase (12) Charlie Brown DVDs to explain cancer to pediatric patients.
• Approximately $25 Covers a single prescription co-payment.
• Approximately $5 The cost of sending a newly diagnosed patient a packet which includes information about their specific disease and support.

Any Amount Helps! Every Single Dollar Helps Move Us One Step Closer to Putting Cancer Out of Business!! No Donation is Too Small - It All Adds Up!!

This is When You Click Over on The Right Side of This Page and Show Your Support by Making a Donation. Remember ALL DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Even if you cannot donate, please pass this information onto your friends, relatives and colleagues as every dollar counts and you never know who may need the support of the LLS as someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 5 minutes.

I hope you can lend some support and be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.

Thank You,

Kevin