HIking to Save Lives

Hiking to Save Lives

Welcome to Jenn's Team In Training home page! Click here to see pictures from the outstanding Hoop For a Cause Jam from 4/17. Click here to see pictures from training hikes and other events!!

I'm currently training to participate in an 18 mile Grand Canyon hike 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's lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

Danny De La Cruz, our honored teammate, is a 10 year old boy who just spent the last 2 years of his life in a hospital battling Leukemia. He is now doing better, but currently undergoing another round of chemo. I have also just recently gotten in touch with an old schoolmate and found out that one of her sons has leukemia and has been fighting his uphill battle for a while as well. Please join me in the fight to cure these cancers and give individuals like Danny and Cole a chance to enjoy life to its fullest for years to come.

In addition to those I'm hiking in honor of, I am also hiking in memory of the following individuals: Kevin "Buffy" Hatch, Rosemary Aronson, Noah Swenson, Dick Stoner, and Lindsey Anderson. Each year, 50,000 individuals will, like those mentioned above who so bravely fought, not survive their battle with blood related cancers.

~~ FUNDRAISER EVENTS ~~

ONGOING ~ Cookie sales ~ I have "spring" sugar , chocolate chip , white chocolate cranberry oat, oatmeal raisin, oatmeal chocolate chip, peanut butter, and peanut butter dark chocolate chip cookies for sale at $10 a doz, with all monies going to the LLS.

Email me at danzenjenn@gmail.com for info on events!!!

*** Update ~ 5/12/09 ~

Event day is almost upon us!!! The past two weeks have been filled with amazing activity. Thanks to your generosity, I made it past my minimum fundraising requirement of $3900 and am not very far from my personal goal of $4200!! We have found out that my team has raised over $60,000 this season for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. I'm so proud! It makes my heart smile when I see everyone working together to help out for the greater good.

Training has been harsh the last two weeks as well, gearing up for the Grand Canyon hikes on THIS WEEKEND!!! I can't wait to finally get there and meet all the other teams that have been raising money together and do this!

More pictures will be up soon from my second to last training hike at Mt. Baldy, a beautifully scenic hike just outside of LA. My hike group went up to 10,000 ft, gained over 6000 ft in elevation, and hiked 11 miles. With my wacky breathing I never thought it was possible, but I did it! The last training hike's pics are all up, and it was a perfect way to end training together. A relatively short (4.5 miles) that all groups did together, down to a glorious little waterfall and pool area.... and then a canyon simulation back up. WHOA.... just a taste of what we're in for. Hiking up at the end of the hike, with the sun blazing down on you. It's all for the cause!!! Thanks again for all your amazing support!!

*** Update ~ 4/30/09 ~

This past week has been riddled with good and bad. I found out that another two people lost their battles with blood cancer this week. One was a close friend of an acquaintance of mine, who died of lymphoma - and the other was an honored teammate from the 2008 TNT cycle team. Although many people are able to live longer and more fruitful lives with these cancers, it still bears fact that there IS NO CURE! Those afflicted battle every day, and some don't win.

The good news was how close all my teammates and myself are coming to our goals, which means wonderful amounts of money to be dedicated to research and patient services!! Keep it coming!! We still have a long way to go to get to a cure!!

Training this past weekend was also about giving back to the community, by helping to repair part of the PCT down near Lake Morena. This was a wonderful addition to our training, because helping others is what it's all about!!!

***** Update ~ 4/20/09 ~

I was unable to attend this past week's team training hike due to car troubles, but what a fantastic event we had on Friday evening in OB!!! Friday the 17th in Ocean Beach we took over the little park at the end of Newport Ave with hoops and love. Through the raffle, bake sale and flat donations, we raised $400!!! Much love and thanks to everyone who donated their time to help/come out, thier baked goodies for the sale, or their goods for the raffle. Check out the photos here!!

I'm now about $1000 shy of my goal, and although final minimum fundraising is due by May 1st, I have no doubt that I will be able to achieve it!! Please continue to spread the word to friends and family, and we will be able to find a cure in the very near future!!

***** Update ~ 4/13/09 ~

This past Saturday's team hike was a true test of how the Grand Canyon will go. We drove to the top of Palomar Mountain (in the middle of a large cloud) :-) and partially simulated the Canyon hike. We went from about 6000ft in elevation where it was snowing gently, to 2000 ft at the bottom of the trail.... and then back up. It was about 13 miles total, and BOY was it a different adventure!! It took a great deal more energy out of me, and I was a little sore the next day.... but it made me that much more excited for the Canyon!!

Our coordinator let us know that as a TEAM we've now raised $40,000!!! This is incredible!! Thank you so much for your generosity and support that you've given so far. Our assistant coach, Dan, whose daughter is a blood cancer survivor, says that we should definately see a cure this lifetime!! We couldn't accomplish this without you!

***** Update ~ 4/1/09 ~

The 8th team hike was a short one for me, as I had a work obligation to take care of, but such a wonderful experience. I was able to take it slow for a change and enjoy the beauty of the Cuyamacas and Stonewall peak. We caught a herd of 25 - 30 deer galavanting through the forest in all directions around us, as well as view some wild turkey. We learned of some wonderful advances in medicine coming about because of the previous money raised by TNT volunteers and it was a wonderful thing to hear. We are only about 6 weeks away now from the Grand Canyon, and its coming down to the wire. I'm still $2000 short of my goal, so I need all the help I can get!!! Thank you for your glorious support!!!

**** Update ~ 3/24/09 ~

Our 7th Saturday team training hike was the most rewarding yet!! We hiked at between 5000 and 6000 ft in altitude, did 15.5 miles and gained 3100 ft in elevation during the hike. The view from Garnet Peak at 14 miles in was breathtaking, and sooo worth it!! And the best part was I felt amazing afterwards!!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In

Training and help advance LLS's mission. Feel free to forward this page to all of your friends and family, heck ~ everyone you know!!

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back

frequently to see my progress.

Thanks again for all of your support!!

Luvs and Hugs,

Jenn