Thank you to Intero Real Estate and all the Agents who supported me and this cause with your Corporate Donation!

Latest Update - Race Day Highlights! Thank you for support and donations and for checking back for my highlights -I had an amazing expirence - lots to share -

My recorded finish time was 5:01:11 and I placed 723 in my age group, 8,880 out of all the women, and overall 23,790 out of 35,628 finishers. There was a reported 45,000 people that were registered to run and as you can see only 35,628 crossed the finishline.

Some did not start at all and others started, just did not finish - It was a near record high for the heat AGAIN - so I feel blessed to have finished and with my fasted time yet..(still have to reach the sub 5, but that race is next).

I will share the most exciting news 1st!

Myself and my wonderful 6 TNT Rocky Mountain Chapter teammates raised over $17,000 - WOW 7 people dedticated to a cause - I am so proud to be a part of this elite team of athletes! In total there was 8 Team In Training Chapters that equalled about 500 TNT Chicago marathoners and TOEGETHER - we all raised $900,000!

Ok so lets do some math - In this one week October, The Rocky Mountain TNT team had runners and walkers entered into 3 Marathon's - see below for the impact that we all had TOGETHER in the fight against Blood Cancer:

Chicago Marathon - TNT raised $900,000 - 500 TNT runners

Denver Rock-N-Roll Marathon - TNT raised $216,000 - 80+ TNT runners

Nike Womens Marathoin - TNT raised 12.8 MILLION - thousands of TNT runners

That is 13,916,000 RAISED In ONE WEEK! THANK YOU ALL!

For those of you that do not know the Mission on The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

All TNT participants are involved in a life-saving mission: to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The money raised by Rocky Mountain Chapter participants has had an enormous impact in the lives of cancer patients right here in our community.

From my point of view - Chicago race day:

We were up and walking to the start so eary it was still the dark....as we got closer to the start the "Race Photograghers" were all about taking our photo - we had like 7 or 8 of them stop our team along the way and ask to take our pictures..so, I kinda felt really important - even though they did this to everyone and I would have to pay for whatever photo they took....Anyway , it added to the excitement for sure...major butterfly's in my tummy! My running BFF Jane and I walked around the start until it was 15 min to the start..at which time we could not find the gate entry to our corrall...either we could not see it because of all the people or we missed the cut off point to enter...SO we ended up climbing the fence to get into our corral! It was so croweded, we were shoulder to shoulder with othe runners. As we heard the start gun go off - we did NOT move...at least 5 min went by before we got to move and then it was only a few inches...it took us about 12 min to get to the startline....we had to watch our step as runners were already tossing their outter clothes to the ground...THIS FACT - let me know that the heat was already going to be a factor, as it was only 7:45am and it was getting hot. Sure enough, by mile 3 Jane and I both were feeling the heat and sweating! This set the tone for the rest of the race...I would have to keep an eye on my Heart Rate, try and keep my heart rate down and my body temp coooool! This fact will explain why my start - line photo and my finish line photo look so different! After mile 13, my stradegy to keep cool was to dump water over my head and run thur all hoses and sprinklers that were offered on the coarse!

The heat did not take away the thrill of the race for me, as you can see in one of the photo's I am looking up, and I did that for most the race - I really saw allot of Chicago and it was exciting! I loved that at every water stop there was thousands of people and major music - One of my favorite moments of the race was turning a corner after mile 13 and seeing my sister,Libby and my daughter Megan - cheering and yelling for me with signs and they were jumping up and down -WOW that was the best feeling ever! TWO more major moments that made my race so special, 1) Jane's Newphew, Zach lost his battle and became an angel about 2 months prior to this day, Zach's mom had sent Jane a post the night proir to the race and that said," Zach wil be with you, tomorrow,look for butterflys'" - well, your eye wonders at many things as you are running, but sure enough, Jane & I turned a corner and we were running by the Nature & Science Musuem, and then I saw them - ALLOT of them, there was banner after banner, with HUGE butterfly's on them advertiseing the Nature museum! They lined the street -and I yelled "JANE, LOOK BUTTERFLY's" - We knew Zack was with us! 2) The other moment was: as another runner was approaching me from behind,to pass me, I felt a touch on my shoulder and then a voice that said, " I will run this mile for Melina!" WOW - as she passed me she said it again - to make sure I heard her! I wasagain wearing my " I am running in memory of Melina bib the back of my race jersey, along with the 2 bib that are pictured above. I habe to say I am speechless to know My Angel Melina is with sooo many people, so many have seenher on th eback of my race jersey in the last 8 years! She carried me to that finish line I know it, as those last 3 miles were really hard- My heart rate was so high, my legs were like bricks and my body temp was way to high...many times I thought I should just stop before I fall and crash on the pavement...but yet some how I never stopped running, until I crossed that finishline - 5:01.11- so close - just 72 seconds away from my goal, but still a great finish in a great race,in a great town! After I crossed the finishline, got my medal, my recovery gatorade and my BEER, I was finally re-united with my TNT Team-mates,my sister and my daughter at the TNT finish tent,1 mile away from the finish line - OCCCCHH! We all celebrated and planned our Chicagp Pizza celebration night at Lou Malnatis - which was delicious!!! I also have to say, that I was blessed so much training and running this race with my dear friend Jane Upton, which made this race even better, and, in addtion to Jane, I was blessed to be cheered on and supported by Jane's friend Kari, Jane and I saw Kari "2 "times along the race route - Thanks Kari! and Thanks again to all of YOU!

UPDATE on Hero's: see above for the "Hero Photo" bibs I wore on raceday!

Max - is doing great - still in re-mission!

Alex - doing great,emjoying schoolwith his twin brother and friends!

Brad - The Docsaid" see ya in January! He is doing great as well!

Dave - See below for his latest news on his treatment for this latest relapse and keep him and the Doc's in your prayers.

I have finished "phase one" of my therapy, the eight weekly treatments, and other than being a bit tired, I'm feeling okay. I haven't lost any hair or anything! My white blood cell count has dropped from about 80,000 to 4,000; so it's now normal...for the moment.

We're going to M. D. Anderson again this weekend for an appointment on Monday morning, to see what my guru says we're going to do next. There are apparently many, many options, one of which "may" be the gene therapy stuff that was mentioned with great fanfare in August, after a study was published from Philadelphia. It turns out that MDA is doing their own study of this stuff so I may be in line for it in the coming year. But, I really don't know for sure. I don't really know if the gene therapy is ready for "prime time" yet.

What I think is likely to happen is that I'll keep doing more of the same chemotherapy for a while longer but less often (monthly instead of weekly), and then in the coming year, we'll try something else. That could be a stem cell transplant. We'll see.

Update #4 - Aug 24th 2011 - (please review the bottom post for my 1st posts and my story that started in 2004) - My latest photos 1 - Mascot Dave - 2- Alex and his sister Abby at the firehouse and 3 - Alex and my Hero Max ath the firehouse!

WOW - 6 more weeks to go until my Race day in Chicago! It is down to the wire now - training is at the longest it will get: I have a 23 mile run this weekend, and that will round out a huge 50miles ran this week!!! Then I have another 21 mile run on Sept 17th - and allot 6/7 mile runs in between! After Sept 17th, and then we let off a bit and rest up for race day! I am fighting a common running injury, Plantar Fasciitis, it feels like I have a pointy rock in the heel of my shoe, and with every step it pokes the heel..YET - THIS IS REALLY minor compared to what Cancer paitents have to endure and I remember that with each step take as well! So here is an update on my 4 heros that I am running for, best news is 3 out 4 are 100% in remission - read below for more info:

Mascot Dave: CLLSee the latest photo above of Me & Dave - Dave came to visit us from Texas ( to get a break in the from the hot weather) and see good friends! Dave's CLL is back - as you read below he has been in this battle for 9 years and this is not his 1st relapse. Here in the latest on what the treatment plan is FROM DAVE TO ME;

"I heard back from M D Anderson yesterday (I think I told you we were waiting on them to give us some lab results) and the news was not good. My disease has morphed into a much more aggressive type now, which is what this disease usually does with time. So, I start more, new, chemotherapy next Tuesday, aUG 23RD, for six months, but with only a 50% expectation that it will work. "

Please pray for Dave and the Doctors - that this treatment will be 100% successful, and pray for strong spirits of faith for Dave and his wife Kathy, their kids and grandkids.

Brad (CLL): His last check up was terrific and all looks good-don't need to see doc untilJanuary 2012. The Doc feels that Brad is going to live a good life. Encouraging words from Dr. Myint. So, we are happy to know that no treatment is needed for Brad right now!

Mighty Little Max (ALL): Just got to move out of Brents Place and back home to Ridgeway Colo. In the 3rd photo at the top of this page - you see Max with his cowboy hat on at the fire station with Brendon, he was just one week post last treatment - so he was a little shy and tired, but had fun with the kids at the station! His mom is so thrilled to actually say - "END OF TREATMENTS FOR US" Praise the LORD! Here is the post from his mom:

This past month has been a whirl-wind, but basically wonderful. There were some post-transplant work-ups, which max passed with flying colors, his last chemo spinal tap went as well as could be expected, and we are ALL DONE with those, and Max's lines got removed without complication. His counts were still lower than hoped for, but not lower than expectable. I'm just hoping they come up in time for him to go back to school in January. But with Mrs. Stone as his homebound teacher, I'm sure he'll do great regardless. I am absolutely elated about Mrs. Stone working with him!

Amazing Alex (NHL): Alex is in the 2nd photo, he has a blue shirt on and his hair in not yet back - as - this photo was also takin about 1 week form his LAST TREATMENT! Now the Doc's say his has NO TRACE of cancer - his scans are clear and the treatment worked - and it worked in 4 months time as opposed to 6 months time! PRAISE GOD! Alex started back to school with his class!

This is an update fromAlex's mom,Kim, from his latest caring bridge site - Pray for continued clear scans for Alex :

"Alex is doing well, though he did have a tummy ache today and was tired this weekend becasue he's fighting a cold. I of course am on edge, but am trying to restrain myself from dragging him back to the clinic, I'm giving him 24 hours! His white hair has fallen out and I can see dark hair begininng to grow back in, his eyelashes are coming in black and are growing about an inch a day, they are noramlly so long it actually obscureds his vision sometimes! He is relieved that his hair will not be light blonde, as he thinks only girls should have light blonde hair!"

YOUR DONATION DOLLARS AT WORK - funding treatments that WORK and equal cancer free patients - see below for the latest and THANK YOU for your donation!

Latest Leukemia News :

LLS-Funded Gene Therapy Breakthrough Reported

The encouraging results of studies conducted by one of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) renowned grant recipients, Carl June, M.D., of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, have received extensive national media coverage. The studies, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and Science Translational Medicine, demonstrate the use of gene transfer therapy to create T-cells that can kill cancer cells. The papers reported that two patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia achieved full remission and one achieved partial remission through this therapy.

The Two leukemia patients were cancer- free in three weeks after being treated with genetically engineered versions of their own immune cells, an early finding that could lead to a new approach for treating the blood cancer. The trial of three patients showed that researchers could reprogram enough infection-fighting T-cells to wipe out malignant cells. At 28 days after the first infusion, the cancer was undetectable. The patients have remained in remission so far. "You have to be careful using the word 'cure' because we're looking at a few patients," said Richard Winnecker, the vice president of research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society . He wasn't involved in the study. "We need to be careful until there's more data, but this looks really encouraging." The results suggest a similar technique could be used in other cancers, such as lung and ovarian cancer, myeloma and melanoma, according to the papers. The method also stimulates so-called memory T-cells, which may help protect patients against the cancer's return, the studies said.

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Update 3# - July 31st 2011 -

The summer is goin quick! I am heading into week 14 of my training- last week I ran a total of 44miles and this week I am scheduled to run 50 miles total- we have our 1st 20 mile run this week. I have the 1st signs of Plantar Fasciitis with major heel pain, but it is sooooo not comparable to what Max, Alex, Brad and Dave have to go thur everyday in the fight for their life! This is what keeps me going!

Dave (CLL): Is doing good - Still waiting to see what will come next in his latest relapse journey - keep praying for a clinical trail to come his way

Mighty Little Max (ALL): Will have his LAST chemo treatment EVER this week. Next, his lines will be removed, and next week he will get another IVIG treatment. Then... he get to go home after living at Brents Place since January. Its amazing how much things have changed. He will still have to wear a mask when not home for months to come (depending on his blood count recoveries), but life is returning to normal in many ways. His hair is coming in fast, thick, and to his dismay, curly. Max has been in his battle since he was 2 years old! What a fighter!!

Amazing Alex (NHL): Has been home from his last treatment for over 17 days now - with out spiking a fever - that is soooooo amazing - He is entering his next phase of treatment. Feeling stronger every day and even planning on starting back to school with his friends!

I also wanted you to know that your donated dollars are hard at work - funding clinical trials and helping all kinds of lives and all kinds of cancer disgonosis! See below for an update from the CEO of LLS - John Walter:

The science for a cure is THERE! We just don’t have enough money to support it! Every dollar raised works to help change that.

1. Clinical Trial of Celator to Treat AML (acute myelogenous leukemia) patients. AML is often a secondary cancer that patients are diagnosed with due to a previous treatment for another form of cancer (i.e. affects of radiation). These dramatic results would NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE without LLS funding!!!

AML PROGNOSIS BEFORE CELATOR AML PROGNOSIS WITH CELATOR CLINICAL TRIAL

15/50 (30%) went into remission 28/50 (56%) went into remission

16/50 (32%) died during treatment 3/50 (6%) died during treatment

11/50 (22%) were still alive 1 year after treatment 27/50 (54%) are still alive 1 year after treatment

2. 10 years later, how Gleevec has changed treatment for CML (chronic Myelognenous leukemia) as well as the broader cancer community.

CML PROGNOSIS BEFORE GLEEVEC CML PROGNOSIS BEFORE GLEEVEC

55% survived 5 years after treatment 90% survive 5 years after treatment with a HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE!

20% survived 8 years after treatment Data is still being collected, but the outlook is fantastic for long term survival.

TODAY, GLEEVEC HAS BEEN APPROVED OR IS BEING TESTED TO TREAT:

Skin Cancer Stomach Cancer Prostrate Cancer

Breast Cancer Brain Cancer Lung Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease

3. General LLS Research Updates and Blood Cancer Facts:

a. $68 million was invested in 320 research projects worldwide by LLS last year.

b. In the last 10 years, the FDA approved 39 new cancer drugs. Of those, 19 were first approved for blood cancer, and the LLS’s fingerprints were on all of them.

c. LLS is not only committed to finding new treatments, but also to improving the quality of life and reducing side affects. 9 new research projects are being funded in this area, and they focus on:

- Reducing & eliminating the affects of treatment on children including infertility, heart failure, bone density loss, learning deficits and obesity.

- Reducing graft vs. host disease and dangerous infections after stem cell transplants.

Update #2 - June 7th - 2011

Hello to all of you - Happy Summer! I have to admit I love the summer's early morning sunrise and running in the cool morning air! I am officially in my 6th week of training. Last week I totaled 33 miles! It is a harder running schedule than I am use to, BUT the families I am running for are facing a much more changeling daily journey and they do not have a choice!

So on to my Heros' that I run for:

Brad- Well, Brad is doing fine. No Bolder Boulder this year, see the photo above. They had lots of Acker family in town for the Memorial day holiday and went to Estes Park for the day. There is NO updates for now on Brad's CLL until end of July. The waiting game continues. ... BUT I am happy to report that Brad and Lisa were awarded financial assistance from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! SEE - YOUR donated dollars at work, helping patients! I know I have been involved with LLS for 7 years now BUT when Lisa showed me the actual paperwork - WOW - They need help and they have help- that is why I am here ! Pray for quick answers to what is next for Brad!

NEW PHOTO - Dave crossing the finishline - Dave completed the San Diego half Marathon on Sunday June 5th, his 7th event with TNT! He has been living with CLL (same diagnosis as Brad) for 9 years, and a month ago was told it was back. Now he is in the waiting game again too....pray for him - for the Doctors to again find the best treatment to give him another 9 years + see his story on his web page:

Dave'sWeb Page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntxok/rnr11/deckberg

NEW PHOTOS - 9 year old Alex Sherman ( AJ) relaxing on the couch & The Sherman Family

Alex's web page : http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexsherman/journal

In May- my friend Mary, called me and told me her longtime friend's, Kim and Jon, had just got the news that one of their 4 kids, Alex, was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodkins Lymphoma, one that has to be treated with the HIGHEST INTENSITY of treatments, lasting 6- 9 months. WOW - the treatments in this child "protocol" is un-real. Read his blog web above for all the details, but I cannot promise that tears will not flow, as you read his parents re-count what Alex is going through. PLEASE PRAY for daily strength and quality time during "off treatment days" with his family at home: See below for the latest post from his mom:

Monday, June 6, 2011 12:42 PM, CDT

"Well, we are hanging on by the skins of our teeth, but we are still home! We had a clinic visit scheduled for today while we were still in the hospital, and I told them, "well surely it should be earlier than that by Monday we will be in the hospital", I'm still crossing my fingers that I was wrong. His counts are very low right now so we're still in the danger zone. Took Abby and Jake to the pool while Lucky napped yesterday and left immediately when I called to check in and my mom told me his temp was up, still not a "temp" but def up. Got back and checked for myself and were a little lower. Lucky woke up and I took them all back to the pool. Mom Mom and Daddy were home with Alex. Last night temp was just on the cusp of becoming a fever so I called the hospital and they told me to keep him home, so I was extremely happy to tuck him in last night, though put the baby monitor in his room to listen for him if he didn't feel well. This morning, packed the car with all remaining items ( when we go in I take EVErYTHING from home) so we can feel as comfy as possible. My van is loaded to the gills, went to clinic, elevated temp still not a temp so the doc sent him home! He is cautiously optimistic about averting the hospital, not me, I'm still on guard but we'll see... Please, please, please, pray hard that AJ can at least avoid mouth sores, so far so good but I'm still waiting - wish us luck"

NEW PHOTO - Max in a cowboy hat - 7 years old - Last June his mom was told he had re-lapsed only 14 months after his 1st protocol of treatments that started when he was just 22 months ( original diagnosis Dec 20, 2005). He is now living at Brent's Place with is mom - to complete his 2nd round of treatments...not the life a 7yr old little boy should be living, I know as my son Ryan is 7 years old and he is NEVER STILL!

See more on Max here: http://mylifeline.org/maxsjourney/

Thank you again - for reading this update, please donate on this web site if your able - every dollar counts, $5, $10, $25,$50, $100 - PLEASE PRAY for all of these Blood Cancer Patients!

TOGETHER WE ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Update #1 - May 13th - 2011

Hello all!

This will be one of my five regular updates - I will update at the beginning of each month with Brad's current events in his journey against CLL and my journey in training for The Marathon.....Sooooo...We have our 1st "Official" training tomorrow- May 14th- We are set to run 13miles and end our week with a total of 30 miles! WOW - we are starting off strong....we have "3" 20+ milers on the training schedule, my 1st thought was REALLY?

But......this is the deal I have made...again every mile I train/run and every dollar I raise brings us closer to a cure and better treatments!

NOW MR.Mighty BRAD!

Here is his update - via his beautiful wife Lisa:

"I don't have a lot to report and I also may not use the proper terms as we are so new to all this medical jargon. So, here is what we know. We have been waiting on 3 blood test to come back to check for any other conditions that might effect Brad's condition. He had 2 out of the 3 that were in his favor which is good! His white blood cell count actually went down a few points from alst time. His genetics blood report was also good. There was another test called the IgHv (maker of CLL cells) that came back "unmutated" which is unfavorable. Could speed up the CLL. But we are not focusing on that, we are focusing on the good results and the strength that Brad has. We will update again when we know more."

A Blessing-my friend Dave Eckberg fromDallas has been living with CLL for the last 9 nine years, and he is able to reach out to Brad and Lisa and help them with some of the "jargon" and emotion that comes with this journey......see his story below:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntxok/rnr11/deckberg

That is it for this month...talk to all in June-unless it is urgent news!

GO TEAM- GOD BLESS!

Cathie

April 2011 - MY STORY - Original Post!

As you most likely know by now, Troy and I have been volunteers and fundraisers for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since Feb 2004, when our good friends baby, Melina, was 1st diagnosed with ALL, (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). About 18 months later, Troy's Fire Chief, Jim Ulrich, was diagnosed with AML, ( Acute Myeloid Leukemia ). As the word "Acute" means "progresses quickly", Both, baby Melina and Jim lost their fight against Blood cancer within 6-7 months of being diagnosed....which is why we have kept fundraising year after year, raising close to $20,000 for the funding of research for a CURE and to help LLS provide money to all Blood cancer patients!

Now, my life long friends Brad & Lisa and their 3 kids have been hit with this Battle.

Brad was recently diagnosed with CLL, (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). The word CHRONIC is the silver lining - meaning progresses SLOWLY! Brad has the best attitude, saying "it is what is", and has a very healthy lifestyle. Knowing he is on a different journey than what he had foreseen for himself and his family, he plans to take each day as it comes, follow the doctors instructions and provide and cherish his family as always...knowing The Lord has this, The Lord will caring him, The Lord has control and will provide for Brad, as Brad provides for his family.

So now, you know the deal, I am once again determined to help fund more research so that we can turn the word CHRONIC into the WORD CURE! As this blood cancer moves slowly, we have time on our side, and LLS is constantly funding and offering clinical trails on new treatments. The majority of CLL patients live with this for years and years and years, they just have to manage their health differently that you and I do!

As my dear friend Lisa, told me of Brad's diagnosis, she said to me, "look Cath all these years you have been running for LLS and now LOOK!" Through all these years..... Lisa and Brad have always supported me and donated to Troy and I, and NOW - they need the support, they will need the LLS patient services, the LLS patient co-pay reimbursement...etc....

I would like to raise $2,000 in Brad's name this year, and I will be running in his honor in the Chicago Marathon on Oct 9th, 2011.

Please make a tax deductible donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission and STOP BLOOD CANCER!!

I hope you will visit my web site often, I will update it with Brad's journey and my progress. Thanks for your support!

Cathie

cathie.nicholson7@lls.org