I did it!! I LOVED it!! This experience was everything I had hoped for it to be. I had a GREAT team. Not only was Team Temecula awesome but the whole TnT staff was amazing! I had coaches from every state and even Canada cheering me on. I never felt so supported. I whole heartedly recommend the TnT experience to everyone! I was moved, to tears, at the number or people with "survivor" tags and shirts on. How inspiring it was to see them!

So again, thanks for your support, my friends and family! Your support gave me an experience of a lifetime!!

OMG!!!!!!!!! We did it!!!!! With all your generous donations we made the fundraising minimum! $2200 in less than 2 months! Thank you all so very much, I cannot even begin to tell everyone how much this means to ME! All your support, prayers, well wishes and happy thoughts lift me so high! I really do have the BEST family and friends EVER!!

After this most recent donation that made my goal, I received an email from the LLS. Here is a portion that speaks volumes to me:

In these tough economic times, charity could not be more important. Your determined fundraising will allow us to invest in our critical mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. We cannot thank you enough.

With gratitude,

John Walter

President & CEO

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

WOW! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL!!

Cancer has struck again. Barry's sweet Aunt Marcella gained her wings yesterday. My heart is broken. She was rather young, younger than my mom. She has 1 child, a daughter named Brooke (sound familar?) Her cancer wasn't a blood cancer but does it really matter? I think not. Please pray for the Paul family as they are hurting and having a rough year.

Onto other things, I am so touched by all the outpouring of donations. I cannot begin to thank you all enough. As you know, this is all for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Please feel free to pass this on to your friends...... Those that have been touched by cancer and I thank you!

The training is getting better. I'm getting stronger. Although I have finally come to the realization that deep down I am lazy and would rather do nothing, lol! Luckily I have a pretty good routine down. Running 3 times a week, cross training 2 times and yoga at least once. Yoga is more my speed but I LOVE the feeling after a good run. I'm doing the method of run 3 mins then walk 1 min. This way my muscles don't get tired too fast. Surprisingly my joints and the feet I had surgery on are just fine!

Again thanks for checking in, please remember all those affected by cancer in your prayers and I better go before one of my kids deletes my post AGAIN (hence attempt #4)

:)Melissa

So when I got the "kooky" idea that I was again going to attempt a half marathon I think I was still on the emotional high of that beautiful shiny Tinkerbell medal I limped my way to. Surely if I could limp my way to a beautiful medal I could rock n roll my way right? Right?!?! WOW this training is making me realize that this is IT! I need to just tough it out. I've got a great coach who is a cancer survivor herself. She is INSPIRING. She can kick my bootay in exercise. She is awesome!! I am finidng that I am looking forward to the training. It's actually FUN! Who knew that was possible? So I'm finally doing something for ME. Yup, me. Even though I may curse a little and count down the miles that I'm running/walking I am having fun.

So enough about me. I think I may have tapped into something here. I'm kicking my bootay while raising money for a great cause. Really, think about it. I bet you know SOMEONE who has had cancer. In fact, I can guarantee that you know someone or of someone who has lost their life from cancer. I know I do. It's not fair at all. Cancer is not nice. I was rereading over Yvette's facebook notes when she was going through her treatments. She wrote, "The fact of the matter is that Cancer is mean and it’s ugly". She's right, it is, it really is. Wouldn't it be great if we could find a cure? I hope, pray and dream that we find a cure and that it is soon before people have to embark on that journey of chemo, scans, and radiation.

Did you know that 76% of all money donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society goes directly to research for finding a cure and to help improve the lives of those with Leukemia or lymphoma AND their families? That's more than any other organization!! Amazing!!

Please consider donating today, no amount is too small! It's a great cause and it's tax deductible!! A special thanks to my Tia Ana who donated this past week. Love ya!

Have a great week everyone :)

Hello! It's been almost 2 weeks since I updated so I thought I'd fill ya'll in.

I've raised almost $400 to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers! So excited! Everytime I get lazy and would rather chill out on the couch I think of a few things to get my butt moving: If Yvette and many others could fight their battlles I can run a few miles, I'm raising money for a GREAT CAUSE, and finally, I'm lapping everyone on the couch! Plus, I'm getting healthier in the process, It's a WIN WIN situation.

I do need some help, please consider making a donation, no matter how big or small. It's a tax deduction and supports my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. Tell your friends too!

Also, a big THANK YOU to all my Tias who have donated! I so appreciate it! Another big THANK YOU to Marina, so excited to train in Yvette's honor, your daughter is an AMAZING Inspiration! Love you all bunches!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!