Racing to Save Lives

Welcome

to my Team In Training home page.

Hey!! My name is Becky and I will be participating in The Rock and Roll marathon in Seattle on June 26, 2010. I have just recently decided to become as active as possible for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Earlier this year a very special friend of mine, "my favorite little Landon ever" was diagnosed with A.L.L.(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) Watching him battle this disease has been such an eye opener and inspiration to me. Everytime I see him he is always in such a great mood and never complains about anything. I have known Landon for about 3 years and he has always put a smile on everyone's face that he comes into contact with. I cherish every moment that I get to spend with him. I have decided to put a few things on hold for a while and really focus on raising this money and training for this event in honor of Landon so maybe one day there will be a cure and no other child or adult will have to experience any of these unfortunate illnesses and the treatments that go along with them. Landon is an extremely lucky boy. He has a HUGE support system and a very wonderful and loving family. They are phenomenal people!

I never thought that a 5 year old would be my hero but I can't think of a stronger or more amazing person to idolize. I have to raise $4500.00 and everything will go to research for LLS. Any donation would be GREATLY appreciated. I am starting my fundraising early to hopefully surpass the minimum goal. Thank you soooooo much for the support! I will keep everyone updated with my progress :-) If you prefer to send a check or money order you can make it out to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and mail it to

Rebecca Murphy

3632 Flat Rock Rd

Kershaw, SC 29067

I will mail you back a receipt and all donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!!

I'm training to

participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In

Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin

lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in

honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are

the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the

ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a

donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance

LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often.

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your

support!

Thanks,

Becky

February 2, 2010

So, I have officially kicked off my training. I have never been a runner so this is a HUGE change in my lifestyle. I have been running everyday and it is getting MUCH easier and I discovered that i actually REALLY enjoy it and my body feels so much better. I never thought I would say that(I used to think that people who ran all of the time were crazy). I am averaging 5 miles a day but do push myself twice a week to run 7. That is a FAAAARRR cry away from 26 miles but you have to start somewhere. We have our first team run this Saturday and we have coaches and mentors to encourage us and push us along. We got the pleasure of meeting them last Tuesday! I have also started brainstorming on many different fundraising ideas. I have a lot of things in the works. I have my fingers crossed. I have spent hours writing letters and emailing different organizations and companies for support. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a GREAT organization and I am absolutely ecstatic to officially be an active member of The Team in Training and am hoping that my fundraising ideas will be a success. I have a long way to go on the running and fundraising goals but I have until June and feel extremely motivated and excited to be a part of this team!

February 7, 2010

Hey everyone! Just a quick update. First of all, the Make a Wish Foundation sent Landon to Disney for his birthday!! I got to talk to him for a little while on his birthday and he sounded sooooo excited. I can't wait to go and see him and hear all about his trip. I was so fortunate to have a sleepover with him before he left. We had so much fun.

I had a meeting today with the team . I didn't realize it but I sat down for dinner next to a very special person. Our team's honored hero. He is such a nice boy. He is 12 years old and has been in remission for 3 years. He is so funny. I had the best conversation with him and his dad. His father is running the half marathon in San Diego. I am really looking forward to getting to know them both. Just a bit more of inspiration to push me along in my training. I don't think that anything that any of us do is harder than chemo. We have another honored hero who was diagnosed with A.M.L. in September. Unfortunately we did not get to meet her tonight. We did get to see a picture. Her name is Lauren and her nurse came to the meeting. She found out today that she has to get a bone marrow transplant so please keep her and her family in your prayers. I am going to be sending her a bear first thing in the morning. She was so excited to come and meet us and it broke my heart to pieces that she was not able to.

I am holding strong at 7 miles a day and will attempt 10 this Saturday. I did pull a muscle in my leg so I am praying that the pain subsides some before then. I also have a huge benefit in the works. I am ironing out all the kinks and then will post all of the details. I do know that it is going to be a Trio in Charleston on April Fools Day. I met with the owner last Friday. He is very nice and I am so greatful that he is letting me use his venue to do the benefit.

Once again, thank you to everyone who is supporting me. It really means a lot. I am so proud to be running for such a great cause!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

Becky

February 25,2010

Hey everyone!!!! So....... I did it!!!!! I ran 10 miles STRAIGHT!!!! For those of you who know me you know what an accomplishment this is. I was not even winded. I had to stop though because my legs felt like jello. My poor muscles are working up to all this strain that I am putting on them every day!! I just entered my first race. It is a 5k on St. Patty's Day in Columbia. This should be a piece of cake. My goal is to finish in 25 minutes. I am hoping that my teammate Jeff is going to run it with me. Jeff is Clay's, our AMAZING honored heroes father. He is such a nice guy! I also have a HUGE benefit planned. It is on April 1 at Trio. There are going to be 2 amazing bands from Columbia playing! Maywater and Deleveled. I am so thankful that they are playing! I will post a link with the event invitation!! The more the merrier! On Saturday I will be at the Columbia half marathon holding the fort for the Team in Training tent. Come and see me for information about joining such a FABULOUS organization!! I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to all of our supporters. I also want to say a special thank you to some people:

-Landon Pertuset for being my hero, my inspiration and my life saver

-Bright Parrish for being the most AMAZING mother I have ever seen and allowing me to be a part in Landon's life

-my family for ALWAYS being there and never giving up on me

-Clay and Lauren for being soooooo brave and our honored heroes

-Robbie from Trio for being such a wonderful person and allowing me to host my benefit there

-Christie from Trio for being so supportive and spreading the word around Charleston

-Bayne for being such a magnificent campaign director and not getting irritated at all of my emails

-my team members and coaches for pushing me along

-Daniel Roberts, my aunt Sharon, Justin Trakas, Susan Snipes, Neil Scott, Chris Sellars, Betty G. McFadden and Stephanie McCoy for believing in me and donating to such a great cause!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=325915501026&ref=mf

March 18, 2010

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is having a good month of March so far!! I have encountered a little set back in my training. I have an ankle injury that has prevented me from running for a week. I ran my first 5k on Saturday and paid for it dearly afterward. Apparently according to an x-ray I had taken last week the tendons in my ankle are mad at me for pushing them so hard. There is good news though. The doctor said by Monday I should be able to start again slowly. I have to incorporate more cross training into my schedule.

I have sent out my fundraising letters! I recieved a few donations in the mail so far. I also recieved the nicest most unexpected thank you card. It absolutely made my week!!! I love that there are still so many people who care so much about great organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you did not recieve a letter and would like to read it I will be more than happy to post it or mail you one. I spent a lot of time on it.

Once again, the benefit that I am hosting at Trio nightclub in Charleston is in exactly 2 weeks!!!! I am getitng so excited about it. I really hope to see everyone out there. I have some special things planned like a reverse raffle, a "whats your status" theme, and neat door prizes. It is a $10 cover but all that money goes to the LLS. There will be great drink specials and the owner and bartenders are AWESOME!!! If you have any questions feel free to email me at Rebecca.murphy@usc.med.sc.edu.

Landon was named boy of the year for the western part of North Carolina chapter of the LLS. I saw a few pictures on Bright's blog and they are adorable. His gorgeous red hair is growing back and the "peach fuzz" as he called it the last I saw him is gone. I can not wait to go and visit him again soon. Every trip I make to see him literally makes me the happiest person ever and reminds me that life is so special and we take so many things for granted.

I hope everyone had a great St. Patty's day!!! If you get bored this Saturday I will be helping out at the St. Baldricks fundraiser at Jillians in the Vista downtown Columbia. I will have plenty of Team in Training brochures to pass out for anyone who is interested!!! Thank you to everyone that has donated so far and continues to support me during this journey!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

4/26/10

Hey everyone!! Training is going SUPER!!!! I ran another race on Saturday April 24th. It was a 10k and I finished 3rd in my age group!!! I think I ended up running a 12k though because they forgot to have someone at one of the intersections giving directions. The marathon is in exactly 2 months from today!! I am getting extremely excited and nervous. I am so ready to cross the finish line and recieve my medal:-)

I am going to be appearing on WACH FOX 57 news in Columbia tomorrow night at 7:30 and 10 promoting Team in Training and awareness about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I promise I will sign autographs after! LOL I am soooo just kidding. I told the reporter that "there is no need to worry, I will not be going to LA anytime soon to become an inspiring actress." I am participating in another race Saturday morning with my friend Kendyl. I am trying to do as many as these smaller races as possible so I can experience different road courses and distances. We are running the 5 mile Heart and Sole race in Columbia to raise money for Providence hospital. I am really looking forward to it!

I got to spend time with Landon about a week ago. We had so much fun. We spent most of the time running around playing Spiderman and Venom. I got him a glove that spits out Spiderman's "web." He put "his web" on me, ohhhhh, about 175 times. These kids just amaze me everyday and make me so thankful to be doing what I am doing.

I want to thank everyone that has continued to support me and for the recent donations!!!

http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/video.aspx?id=449500

May 19, 2000

Hey everyone!! Well I am down to the final stretch now!! One month until I see 26.2 miles of the west coast on foot!!! It has been a very long road to this point. I started to add up the total miles I have run so far training and stopped attempting when I reached 500. I have encountered numerous running injuries and have had a tough time with the fundraising but I have kept on going and it is all working itself out! Obviously someone is looking out for me. I am so thankful for all of the support I have had so far. I have the most amazing family and friends. I have a 20 mile run this weekend. Yikes!!! I ran 18 last week and I am still alive so that is a good sign!! I feel like I am ready for this.

I am hosting another benefit the week before the big race!!! Save the date. June 18th at Red Hot Tomatoes in Columbia, SC!!! I made an awesome new friend at Riverfront one day. Scott Linaberry is the best. Not only is he letting me host my benefit at his nightclub but he also turned around and donated $500.00!!!!! I am pretty sure my friend Tracey had to scrape my mouth off of the floor when I saw it. It is by far the nicest act of charity I have seen so far!!

I haven't not seen Landon since the last time I updated my blog but he is doing EXCELLENT!!!! He is by far the most incredible person I have ever met and he literally amazes me everyday. I do know that he is Rock Hills honored hero for the Light the Night walk this year. YAY!!!! It seems that he has been handling his treatments really well also. I am going to try to go and see him before I go to Seattle. Anytime I doubt myself in this journey I just think of Landon and the other people diagnosed with blood disorders and cancers and it pushes me right on along.

I will blog one more time before the big day!!! I am soooooooooo excited and sooooooooo nervous about it. People dream of running marathons and here I am actually trained and ready to do it!!!! I have NEVER been in such great shape, mentally and physically. I have also never felt so proud to be a part of something like Team in Training. It is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I followed through with it. July 4, 2009 changed my life around completely and for the better!!!! I look forward to run for all of the real heroes!!! The patients and families living their lives day by day with cancer. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO