Stori is Racing to Save Lives

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is making important progress in the fight against blood cancers. I am helping in this fight by raising funds and racing on behalf of blood cancer victims in northeastern Ohio.

Current News: Awesome! Awesome!! Awesome!!!

Get your swim suit! Slap on those biking shorts, and lace up your shoes! You CAN do a triathlon! You have that opportunity on Sunday, April 11th at 8:00 a.m. at Splash Zone! That's right! Splash Zone is holding a triathlon to benefit LLS where you have 30 minutes to swim what you can, 30 minutes to bike (spin) what you can, and 30 more minutes to run (or walk) what you can, all indoors! If you've always wanted to try a triathlon, now you CAN, without the worry of having to go a certain distance, owning a bike, or transporting cumbersome equipment! What a great way to introduce yourself to the sport, to get in shape for summer, and to see how wonderful it feels to accomplish completing a triathlon!

Here are some details:

What? Indoor Triathlon, Individuals and Relay Teams

When? Sunday, April 11th at 8:00 a.m.

Where? Splash Zone, W. Hamilton Rd. Oberlin, Ohio (Register before March 31st by visiting SZ or by calling 774-5059)

How? 30 minutes each of swimming, cycling and running, indoors- it's all about what you CAN do!

Why? To raise money for LLS- $20 registration fee (all goes to LLS) and $10 if you'd like a T-shirt, and of course to have fun participating in a triathlon!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this. I want to see so many people out there for this tri on April 11th!

I have started a training blog so that you, my supporters and honorees, can follow my training progress and adventures. Please check it out and sign on to follow me at

http://train-for-a-reason-race-for-a cure.blogspot.com/

My training is becoming very intense, so you might find it interesting to follow my efforts.

Quick fund raising recap: During the last week of December my friends challenged me to take a dip in Lake Erie if I could raise $1,000 between Monday and New Year's Eve. And guess what???? We did it! So, at noon on January 1st I plunged (with my daughter, Yana,) into a freezing cold, 36.7 degree Lake Erie! It was snowing and 19 degrees outside! We did this to show our support for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and for our friend, suffering from lymphoma, and for my sister-in-law, Christina, a leukemia sufferer! We have seen first hand what cancer does and we will FREEZE to help find cures! Thank you supporters!

I am lucky enough to be blessed with the time and energy to support LLS's mission to eradicate lymphoma and leukemia, by training for an Olympic-length Triathlon, while raising funds to put an end to blood cancers. I am racing in honor of my friend in Oberlin and my sister-in-law, Christina, both currently in remission from lymphoma and leukemia, respecitively.

Here is the bad news...

* There is no known cure for blood cancers.

* Leukemia remains a leading cause of cancer-related death in children (scary, very scary).

* Leukemia and lymphoma are the leading fatal cancers in young men under 35.

* Every 5 minutes someone is newly diagnosed with a blood cancer.

* Every 10 minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from a blood-related cancer.

* 823,000 Americans are presently living with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease or myeloma.

Here is the good news...

* Today the 5 year survival rate for children with leukemia is 84%, but in 1960 it was only 4%.

* LLS's research with the life-saving drug, Gleevac, has led to a 74.8% five year survival rate for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

* People like you are contributing every day to eradicate blood cancers, and are making a HUGE impact.

There are so many things you can do to help!

* Firstly, please make a donation to help advance LLS's mission through my web page. You can do this online, right now if you'd like! It's safe, secure and easy! Or, you can write a check to LLS and mail it to my home at 288 S. Professor St., Oberlin, Ohio 44074 and I will forward it on. Remember, your contribution is tax deductible!

* Secondly, support my training efforts and encourage me to continue training! Be creative; you know how I love creativity! Offer to take a brisk winter run with me, or offer to watch the girls when my husband is out of town so I can get my training in. Follow me on my blog at http://train-for-a-reason-race-for-a-cure.blogspot.com/

The triathlon course is grueling and I need to be prepared for the 1.5k open water swim, the 40k mountainous cycling, and the challenging 10k run up hills before the May 2nd race date in Monterey, California!

* Thirdly, support me with fund raising events and activities. Help me generate ideas, plan one, work at one with me, or attend one! Keep me balanced and head-strong in my fund raising goals! There are several opportunities for you to participate in very soon. February and March possibly bring a Soup Supper, Gold donations, and Pancake Breakfast. I will post details and dates as the events approach.

* Lastly, share my web page and mission with your friends and family! Encourage others in our community to make a contribution to uphold the mission of LLS! Feel free to forward my web page to anyone or post my page as a link wherever you think it may be helpful. I would like to be at 100% of my fund raising goal by February 26th, but the last day to make a donation through this web page is April 15th.

I hope you will visit my web page often to check up on my progress and the journey I am making with TNT.

Thanks for your support; it means so much to me and to so many others. For more information on what LLS is doing and how your donation will be applied to blood cancer research and to those in financial and/or emotional need suffering from blood cancers please visit: http://www.lls.org

Be Well,

Stori