Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find 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.

We all know someone who's been diagnosed with cancer, my personal connection to cancer began in 2001 when my family and I lost a beloved family member to melanoma cancer. He was my cousin Albert. From that point on, cancer was becoming more familiar to me as it developed in the lives of close family and friends. In honor of those who are battling cancer or have beat cancer and in memory of those we've lost to cancer, my family and I started a team (Albert's Angels) and have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life since 2002.

In 2009, my childhood friend Susy was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 23. Although we had lost touch throughout the years, the sense of closeness never lost its value. After months of chemotherapy and radiation, Susy is winning the battle and doing well. The strength and courage it takes for Susy to pull through these difficult times continues to be a great inspiration to me.

Most recently, on January 4, 2011, we lost Alfonso Hernandez (my grandfather) to pancreatic cancer after a 9 month battle. Again, we experienced first-hand the emotional and physical hardship this dreadful illness has on the family as a whole.

I am determined in doing my part to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Susy, and I kindly and respectfully ask for your support by donating any amount you wish. With every dollar raised, seventy five cents goes directly to reasearch, patient services, and education. So please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. Every donation is sincerely appreciated!

Warm regards,

Nicole

Update: March 24, 2012

WHOA! 11 mile run today in La Quinta. Late start. Warm sunny day. But nonetheless, exhilarating! So alive and well. Thank you to my dearest family and friends who are supporting my efforts in raising funds for the Leukemia ad lymphoma Society. Training is going so good! And I look forward to my race day. With so much love! Thank you.

Update: June 12, 2012

A week from today I will be landing in Anchorage, Alaska to run my first marathon and it will also be my first time traveling alone! Haha. Although I am nervous to fly, more than anything, there is so much to look forward to... Summer Solstice Festival (22 hours of daylight!), Inpirational Dinner, Mayor's Marathon, Victory Celebration, Botanical Gardens, Bike/trail rides, wildlife, and endless photo opportunities!! Most importantly, I acknowledge my reason for this endeavor. My participation in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training has been such a blessing. In exchange for training and support, I get a great opportunity to raise money towards cures for blood cancers, making a difference and giving hope for cancer patients and their families. I keep in my mind and heart my childhood friend Susy, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 23. I honor her in this endurance event for her INCREDIBLE strength and courage in her battle against cancer. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been very supported and loving through my training and fundraising. Soon I will be off running in the eastern foothills of Anchorage!

Update: June 23, 2012

I have completed my first marathon and life is so great! Sure I may lose a toenail or two and my legs feel as if they're going to fall off, but man! you can't forget why you're doing what you're doing when you're out there running. Whether it's for your own good or in honor/memory of a dear friend or family. Through the pain and discomfort you find peace and strength through God, and it's AMAZING! I couldn't help but laugh and smile through my entire run at how great of an adventure this was. I took my time (I even stopped to take photographs haha) and enjoyed every minute of the race, even through those challenging last 6 miles where I felt I was going lose a limb. Haha. How can you not be happy when you're running for a great cause, running with such a energetic community, and surrounded by nature! I'm so grateful! We are all on a journey. We are all on our own adventure. All of the same importance! Cheers! Now a victory celebration and perhaps... A drink :)

Update: June 28, 2012

Several years ago, traveling alone would have been out of the question. I was being totally robbed of life from this paralyzing anxiety and irrational fears. I have always adored nature and being outdoors, but it wasn't until a couple years ago when I realized how powerful and healing these natural environments can be. A bit of green calmed my frayed nerves! And I gradually freed myself from this mental trap. I made it a habit to go outside everyday and get an adequate supply of fresh air and natural sunlight and reestablish a healthy connection to the natural world. From that, I began a relationship with God, I became stronger, and a healthy sense of self began to settle in. My life took a turn for the better and I began to venture off and explore. This has been one of my ultimate experiences! The marathon was a goal I had set for myself about a year ago. One day I got a brochure in the mail for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and I immediately went online and visited the website. One step lead to another and next thing I knew I was registered for the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. I started training in February and raising funds. I hadn't even landed in Alaska and this endeavor was already one of the greatest experiences. When time had finally arrived for me to go to Alaska and run, I couldn't believe how much I had accomplished already and what I was about to accomplish. The run was incredible! The marathon course was awesome and the entire event was so well put together. It was a great place to run my first marathon. Although I might lose some toenails and my legs were nearly dead, I cannot wait to run another marathon again and again.