I DID IT!

March 17th 2012

Hazel met me at the finish and crossed the line with me.

Kristin Taylor - member of Team In Training

As you know, I am a very passionate person. When I find something that I love or really care about I go for it all the way. Well, I have found something that has inspired me to be even more passionate!

I recently became a Bone Marrow Donor for a 59-year-old female Leukemia patient. I had been on the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry for nine years and got the call that I was a match. I had to go through many tests to be sure that I was the best possible match, and that I was healthy enough to donate. I also had to receive Neupogen injections, which make your body make extra bone marrow. This process made me feel achy. These injections happened over the course of a week and then I was able to donate by apheresis on September 23, 2011. The donation was completely anonymous. I have received notification that the recipient of my bone marrow is doing well enough to be discharged from the hospital and that my cells are grafting in her body. I will receive another update at six months post transplant and again at one year.

Through the process of donation, I learned a lot about Leukemia and other blood cancers. I also learned that the cost of a bone marrow transplant is over $500,000. So, I searched for more things that I could do, and found the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), whose goal is to fight blood cancer and find a cure! The LLS offers a great program called Team In Training (TNT), which is the largest charity endurance sports training program in the world. The TNT program provides training to run/walk marathons and 1/2 marathons, triathlons, century rides, hikes and snowshoeing.

I have joined TNT and am currently starting my training for a 1/2 Marathon in Canyonlands, Moab, Utah on March 17, 2012, Yep you read that right….. I am going to do a half marathon, that’s 13.1 miles! So not only will I be helping a GREAT cause I will be getting my butt into shape! Double bonus!!! My commitment to LLS and TNT means I need to raise funds to be able to participate and with the great support of my friends I know that I will be able to reach my personal goal of $3,000. The faster I can raise my funds, the faster I can concentrate fully on my training.

With your help I can get into shape and help find a cure for all blood cancers! Your donation to LLS is completely tax deductable. EIN tax #135644916.

THANK YOU!

Love,

Kristin

December 29, 2011

Brian and I were discussing my fundraising for my 1/2 marathon and how much more I need to raise before the January 10th re-commitment to the team. Hazel runs to her room and comes back with a handful of money, and says "here Mommy, I want to give money to help people with blood cancer like Emmy too!". Brought tears to my eyes! I love her!

Here is a picture of me, the kids and dogs out training! If you see us - either give us money, get out of the way, or join us!

January 19, 2012

Here is a story that tells the other side - Very cool!

A guy that is preparing for a bone marrow transplant and the work it took to get a match! This is why I am doing what I am doing!