My Fundraising Page

(Tasha) Siew Tan’s Commitment to Fundraising to Fight Cancer!

Racing to Save Lives!!!

Welcome to my Team in Training page, my family, friends and co-workers!

This year, 2008, marks a crucial point in my life… Unfortunately, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. After some thought, I decided I would do something special: raise funds to fight cancer by participating in half marathon. I have decided to join forces with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT) to run the Nike’s Women Half Marathon (10/19/08-13.1 miles) to help raise money towards cures for blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Team in Training is giving me the perfect opportunity to do this. They will be providing me with support and training as I work towards my goal of running the Nike's Women Half Marathon by the end of this year. I hope to raise $2,800 in honor of my Mom and all individuals who are battling cancers.

So how serious is blood cancer? Every five minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or myeloma. Every ten minutes, someone dies of one of these cancers. Leukemia claims more children’s lives than any other disease.

Did you know most cancer patients are forced to cover many unanticipated personal costs? For instance, gas, parking, transportation, and special dietary needs are not covered by health insurance. Team In Training helps raise funds for families to help cover these costs when a loved one is ailed with blood cancer. Please help me achieve my goal of raising $2,800 for blood cancer patients by making a donation through this website. Any contribution counts, no matter what the amount, with 75% going straight to the cause--and don't forget it’stax-deductible.

Donations can be made quickly and securely on this page or offline by check. Make checks payable to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society and mail them to:

(Tasha) Siew Tan

4848 San Felipe Rd. #150-328

San Jose, CA 95135

One day we will find a cure, and the dollars that you contribute will have helped make that happen.

Be sure to check back frequently to read about my progress and find updates on my training and fundraising. I hope you’ll visit often.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you in advance for all your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.

Please relay this message to as many people as you can to encourage them to support and donate to help others as well. Thanks again!

To our journey together to help others, help yourself and help the world

**************************************

Training Update

June 7th-Saturday 8:00AM-First Weekend Training at Los Gatos High School. Goal: 4 Miles Run. Start Time: 8:41am Finish Time: 9:27am Total Mins: 46

June 8th-Sunday After 4 miles run yesterday, I am feeling sore this morning. This isn't going to be easy, but feeling happy that I have completed my first weekend 4 miles training with Kristy Schmit running side by side, my mentor from TNT.

June 9th-Monday I do Bikram Yoga with my buddy Amy. My exposure to Yoga or Sauna wasn't new to me, but Bikram Yoga is. Thanks for my buddy great idea! :) Bikram Yoga is an intense 90-minutes class in 105-degree heat. I do so many different Yoga poses and sweat like crazy. After the 90 -minutes work out, I really feel great and it helps me build my inner strength.

June 10th-Tuesday Run 2.96 miles with 57 minutes at the Los Gatos High School Track Team Training. We start off with stretching or doing the core workout. Then, the warm up running with Kristy and Brianna, and follow by the relay part (4X400m relay per person) of the workout with Lisa and Jack. I feel quite a challenge when running on the track. The feelings is so competitive, but actually nobody that we're trying to compete or impress with during the relay part of the workout... seriously!!!. It's all about your own conquer. Feeling physical powerful, happy, peaceful, & fulfilling within yourself! And, it's crucial to support each other to finish the running practice as a team. It have been a while since I run on the track and it brings back all my childhood sweet memories that I once used to be a competitive runner. Feeling great and happy that I have the opportunity to run on the track again. :)

June 11th-Wednesday After the 2.96 miles run at the track yesterday, my body is telling me to rest. I am taking today off and sleep in.

June 12th-Thursday Run 4.2 miles with 47 minutes at Hellyer Park Trail with Kristy, Tonni, Joanna, and Melisha, nice and slow. I really enjoy the run with my teammates.

June 14th-Saturday Run 4.1 miles with 57 minutes at Los Gatos Waffle Fest Run with Mentor Kristy and buddy Sally. Our support TNT team cook us waffle for breakfast. :) We eat the waffle with strawberry, blurberry and banana after the run. It's fantastic and feel so rewarding after a great work out... Go Team! Go TNT!

June 15th-Sunday Walk and run 4 miles with 90 minutes up and down hill at Page Mill Trail with my buddy Arlete. I feel like it takes forever to complete the trail, I really take it easy tho. Thanks for her great suggestion to explore the new trail at Palo Alto. It's an awesome & beautiful Sunday! :)

June 17th-Tuesday Run 2.5 miles at the Los Gatos High School Track Team Training. I start off with warm up running for 10 minutes with Kristy and Brianna. After that, we have divided into three groups for the relay for beginner runner (300m relay), intermediate runner (400m relay) and advanced runner (500 relay). I really enjoy the 400m relay run with bunch of teammates and feel happy to be able to complete the track training on m own pace and with the entire TNT team. It's such a gorgeous sunny day to be out there after work to get a good work out and stay in good shape.

June 19th-Thursday Run and Walk 4 miles with 50 minutes at Hellyer Park Trail. Another great OYO (on your own) training with my mentor Kristy, her boyfriend and other teammates the same trail to support each other. Way to go, Team!

June 23rd-Monday The run at Calero County Park on Saturday June 21st was tough! It was a very difficult and advanced run. I felt like I completed the 26.2 miles marathon. Actually, I personally had planned to run 6 miles with my mentor Kristy and the other TNT teammates, this did not happen. With the hills and the heat combined I was managed to run 4.5 miles (It was equvailent to 6 miles or so on a flat run) with 70 minutes and half of that was walking/hiking. Anybody that finished the run can consider themselves a tough athlete! I am a tough athlete because of my mom, all my supporters, TNT Team (GO TEAM!!!) and cancer patients. You encourage and inspire me to keep running! Thank you for all your support! I will never want to disappoint all of you and I want all of you to remember that you're always on my minds when I am running out there. We need to constant remind ourselves to stay healthy, happy and strong to enjoy our life journey. Thank you for helping and thinking about others! The world is a little nicer because of special people like you. :) Love'ya all! God bless you!

June 24th-Tuesday Run 5k time trial (12X400m) with 34.21 minutes at the Los Gatos High School Track Team Training. I run on my own pace and feel really good about it.

June 25th-Wednesday I went to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital tour at Standford with some of my TNT teammates for a purpose. I want to meet with blood cancers patients. It was very fruitful visited as I got the chance to meet one of the blood cancer patient face to face. Her named is Destinee Rose File, a junior high school student. She has been admitted to the hospital since June 7th. It really melt my heart to see her battling blood cancer. In addition, I also gained an overview of how our funds raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s donated to the hospital. Peace & Love to Destinee! May god bless her to cure the blood cancer soon!

June 28th –Saturday Fundraising Multi-Family Garage Sale to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Sports Basement Parking Lot Sunnyvale, CA – I have raised $110. I have sold some of my old running shoes, Sun glasses and bunch of my handmade Sterling Silver gemstones jewelries. Thanks Margie Boyce for hosted this event. I met great gals like Patty Juanes, Vivian Cummins and Mary Ann Walenciak. They’re sisters, just so warm, sweet and sincere. I felt right away connected with them. Patty’s daughter Jennifer Juanes was diagnosed with Leukemia in September 2006. Since that time, the family had become involved in raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I felt great and to be such an honor that I could be part of their life indirectly helping their daughter Jen who is courageously fighting blood cancers. May god bless Jennifer and she is in my prayer as well as my mom! Please help us to cure and fight cancers by making small donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society thru my website. Together we will find a cure! Thank you very much for all your support!

July 5th – 6th Saturday & Sunday walk with my mom & Denise sister for about 400 meters around the neighborhood for each day. We walked together slowly as my mom leg was inconvenience due to the stroke from past couple years ago that paralyze her left hand and leg. She used her cane (Walking stick) to walk slowly as I kept her accompany. She’s a very strong and amazing woman. I was very proud of her that she was so discipline the whole time we’re with her. She did not give up her life and she tried her very best to keep herself strong and to stay healthy by exercising as much as possible. She really amazed me for being so strong and thinks so positively to hope for feeling better each day passes by to continue living her life to enjoy everything the universe could offer to her. Way to go, Mom! I’m extremely proud of my mom, for her dedication and discipline for exercising and showing me her strength of continuing to stay healthy for not giving up her life. Go Mom! Go Mom! My Mom meant everything to me! I love you, Mom, as always no matter where I am in which corner of the world that I will be settled. I want you to know that you are the most precious person in my life that nobody could replace you. You’re always on my mind. Love you from the bottom of my heart, Mom! Kisses & Hugs & Lots of Love from your #9 daughter! Keep it up and never give up! Enjoy every minutes of the things that you love to do and be happy with it! Go to Genting Highlands to play Rollete! To play lottery as you wish, I hope you hit the jackpot one fine day! If these are the games and hobbies you love to play and make you happy and stay stronger each day, then go for it! Love what you do and cherish as you only have one life to live. Enjoy and be happy, Mom! Yen Bro, please take mom to Genting as often as possible since she really enjoys it very much. Perhaps, it can cure her sickness. You never know magical thing can happen to you when you least expected, especially Mom loves it so much. May god bless Mom and Yen Bro as always!

July 12th-Saturday run (3 x 500 meters) and walk (2 x 500 meters) with my dad. It was a great time spent with my dad super early in the morning and to see him tried to stay healthy with exercising regularly as well. It’s mind-blowing to get the opportunity to spend quality time with my parents, especially being with them on a workout routine and kept my dad accompany every morning for about two weeks before 7am for breakfast. Honestly speaking, I could hardly wake up before 7am in US to go for breakfast and I was so proud of myself for being so discipline and managed to do it just for my precious dad. My parents meant everything to me and they’re the most valuable person in my life. They supported and raised me since the day I was born. They provided me an education and they gave me the freedom, love and the opportunity to lead a successful life. Without my parents love, moral support and values, I guess I am nobody. I love my dad dearly. My dad meant the world to me! Life is so beautiful because of having the most precious parents that meant so much to me in this world. My parents have taught me well and I would never let them down. Those past experience thru out my life when I live in US of difficulties and struggle are not spurred on to avoid the bitterness of failure. The obstacles I encounter mould my character, strengthening me to face later challenges and making me fearless of hardship. I think one fine day when I finally succeed I will learn that, though money is important, it is not the be-all and end-all of life. Love, happiness, spiritual and moral values are ultimately primary. To my dad and mom, my love for both of you is priceless! I am extremely happy that I made it home to spend three weeks with both of you. The precious time that we spent together remain sweet memories and still vividly in my mind. Thank you for everything, my dear loving mom and dad! Thank god for all the blessing gifts that you brought into my life and continue to bring into my life! I am so grateful and treasure every minutes of it. Thank you!

July 15-Tuesday Laguna Redang Island Resort Run 1.03 miles with 11:18 minutes along the Laguna Redang Beach, the beautiful island in Malaysia with amazing blue sea and white sands. Right after my running, I was waiting at the beach to watch and enjoy the most beautiful sunrise with Irene, Denise, Debbie and Cheney. In addition, I spent beautiful time with Janise, Daniel, Edric, Caden, Connie and Fiona. Wish we all could get together again some times in the near future. What a perfect day to be in an island to run and spent quality time with my family members!

August 3rd-Sunday Walk and run on treadmill for 2 miles walk with 28 minutes at the gym. It wasn’t the best, but at least I could enjoy indoor running and walking especially I am still encountering the jet lag after I got home last week.

August 4th-Monday walk and run on treadmill for 1 mile with 12 minutes at the gym.

August 6th-Wednesday walk and run on treadmill for 2.6 miles with 33minutes at the gym.

August 7th-Thursday Swim for 14 laps. I did not feel exhausted at all after 14 laps of swimming non-stop. It must be the stamina that I have built from the past few months thru TNT. I believe the TNT program work great so far. And, I really hope that by the time I have completed my TNT program I am so ready for the Nike's Women Half Marathon on October 19th. :) Go TNT!!

August 10th-Sunday After 8 miles run and walk (1 hour 44 minutes) with Danielle Marrow side by side and Sheryl half-way from TNT Teammate yesterday at Portola Valley trails, I am feeling my legs are a bit sore this morning. I can’t believe I made it this far since I have been gone for three weeks vacation. I thought it's going to be a challenge, but good come back. And, it's amazing feeling that I managed to run 8 miles goal to accomplish without a bit whining from my end. I am extremely happy with the result and also, thank you for Danielle’s accompany-she is such a positive, fun, sweet, cool and strong teacher/teammate to run with the entire 8 miles up and down hills and flat trails. Without her, I probably would be struggled thru the up hills trails. When you least expected it... :) Just do it & Enjoy the ride!!!

August 11th-Monday Taking advantage of my an hour lunch break from my IT full-time job to swim for 15 laps. Feel great to be able to do that to give my mind and body a small break. :)

August 12th–Tuesday TNT Hang With The Gang (HWTG is a chance for everyone to get to know each other better and get some good food fast and at the same time supporting each other in our fundraising) after track at 8pm to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Los Gatos High School Track, CA– I have raised $145 with prepared good foods, such as home made delicious fresh salad, King Eggs Roll, King Fry Rice, Vegetarian Tofu, Water Melon, Cantaloupe and beverages to our teammates to enjoy. Plus, to make it a fun HWTG, I have provided 10 pieces of my handmade natural gemstones earrings sterling silver jewelries with all my love and positive energy in honor of all blood cancer patients for the raffles for participant in support for my fundraising. We really had a great time and a blast! I would like to thank you great buddy Amy (I have known her since college and she is always there for me) for her fruits tray, support and time to help me set up everything together. In addition, I would like to thank you Simone, my TNT captain, for the table and utensils, Kristy (My mentor), and all TNT participant for joining us to enjoy the foods, drinks, raffles and also, helping me slowly to meet my fundraising goal! And also, I would like to thank you myself for doing a great job, for my commitment and time devotion to support LLS, in honor my mom and all other cancers patients. Together we will find a cure! Go Team! Go TNT! God bless everyone! :)

August 14th-Thursday I swim for 17 laps at the gym after work. Great cardio work out! I felt so tired after that and helped me to sleep very well :)

August 17th – Sunday Race Thru the Redwoods 10k at Felton, CA (Near Santa Cruz) at 8:30am (http://www.racethrutheredwoods.com). I have completed in 284/427 place with time 1:04:18. I felt like I have already completed my half marathon on this race seriously. This is a great 10k race, but some really tough hills tho. Well, the rewarding part after the run was a killer breakfast made by the Felton Volunteer firefighters, such as eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice & coffee. Yummy! :) Really enjoyed the breakfast with Joyce, Bob and Vicky. Plus, received a cool 10k race t-shirt for my collection. Proceeds from the race go to the Felton Business Association, San Lorenzo Valley High’s cross country program, local charities and the Felton CA State Parks. I had a great time with some of my TNT teammates, such as Padmini, Adam, Megan, Rich and Simone and my sincere buddy who has shown up at the race to surprise, support and watch me crossed the finish line. Thank you, Joyce! You go girl! This 10k race is a surprise bonus dedicated to all my supporters to show my appreciation. Thank you for all your support, for helping and thinking about others! The world is a little nicer because of special people like you. Luv ya all! God bless you! To our journey together to help other, help yourself & help the world to fight cancers! :)

August 20th – Wednesday- I run 3 miles at Clubone gym treadmills.

August 23rd-Saturday I run total of 4 miles from Eagle’s point to Mile Rock Beach and Baker Beach. It was one of those decision based on instinct that never get you to the wrong direction if I could say. Since I got up really super early like 6am and left my home at 7am to drive up to the city (San Francisco). It took me an hour to reach there, but I have missed the exit to Lake Merced. It was a beautiful Saturday morning in San Francisco and I ended up in Baker beach. Not to waste my time to keep driving and finding the Lake Merced, my instinct told me to run on my own today. My experience was awesome especially with all the unexpected beautiful trails along the running journey at Coastal Trail by the Presidio Park. I saw a couple seals swimming together very playfully together out the beautiful blue sea. Don’t you think it’s amazing? Don’t you think it encouraged you to get out there more often to run and get strong and healthy to enjoy all the beautiful nature that offer to us on earth. It’s absolutely worth while for being out there to experience the beautiful day. I hope all of you get out there to experience it. Please enjoy your day with a walk or run to stay in a good shape and have a blast.

August 26th – Tuesday – Run 5k (12 X 400m) with 29 minutes at Los Gatos High School Track with Team in Training.

August 31st – Sunday I run total of 9 miles from Marina District (Presidio, Crissy Field) to Golden Gate Bridge with 2 hours. That considered a pretty good improvement after almost a 3 month with TNT training. My endurance has been improved drastically. I was quite impressed that I managed to motivate and run on my own through out the entire 9 miles confidently without a companion. It sure feels tough some times. Oh well, I have learned a long way to understand in order to focus on your own happiness you JUST DO IT and always make it a priority to DATE YOURSELF FIRST. You will be amazed at the transformation that starts to occur within you. I am so happy that I make it happen for myself and for all my supporters who love and care about me like their family. Thank you! Please take care of your health by eating well and exercising. Go Go My Supporters, Go Team!

Sept 4th – Thursday, I swim 20 laps at Clubone gym at Silver creek. 20 laps, wow! I can’t believe I have done it. As I recalled three months ago, when I was at the same pool, I could barely make it to 7 laps non-stop. Thank you, TNT and all my supporters! Please get yourself out there to start walking, running or swimming to stay healthy and build your endurance slowly. You can do it just like the way I do it! Good luck! :) Love ya all!

Sept 6th – Saturday I run 10 miles at Coyote Creek with TNT. Go Team! I felt so awesome after completed the run with 1 hour 40 minutes. It’s incredible to have 10 minutes per mile running pace. I was extremely happy with the result. I think I am almost there, running the half marathon 13.1 miles. :) Yeap Yeahhh!! :) It have been so long... I was so out of touch with running competitively, I wasn’t sure that I could ever get back in shape so quickly. Now, I do believe that once you’re a runner, you always will be a runner. :) Thank you, Mom! for all your inspiration to drive me to start running again. God bless you with love!

September 9th-Tuesday I run 2.8 miles at Los Gatos High School Track Team Training. I started off with warm up running for 20 minutes with the entire Team. After that, I run on my own pace at the track and enjoyed it every minutes.

September 11th – Thursday I swim for 20 laps at the gym after work. Great cardio work out! I felt so tired and it helped me to sleep very tight. Dream Sweet Dream! :)

September 14th -Sunday I run 3 miles with 34 minutes on Treadmills at the gym. It's good to stay in door some times when you don't feel like driving to anywhere else. :)

September 16th –Tuesday I run 3.2 miles with 32 minutes at Los Gatos High School Track with Team in Training and Mentor Kristy. It was an intense work out, but really made me felt great afterward. Coach Doug has done a great job leading us for the whole training for that evening. Go Coach, Go Team! This will be the last seasons for Coach Doug to be with TNT since he will be moving to Austin, Texas with his wife. His wife found a great job there. Let’s wish Coach Doug and his family all the best! May God bless Coach Doug and his family!

September 18th –Wednesday I swim for 15 laps at the gym after work. I was all by myself inside a big swimming pool. I felt a bit lonely, but very peaceful and quiet. It's good timing to enjoy and reflect on the things that were truly important to me. It's all good and very positive!:)

September 19th-Friday I gave up to watch the A's game with friends to swim for 30 laps at the gym tonight. I felt so tired after the great work out. It's time to sleep so that I can get up early to run tomorrow. :)

September 20th-Saturday I run 8 miles with 1 hour 30 minutes at Campbell park with Mentor Kristy, Hans (Kristy boyfriend), Thorpe-Critten, Jessica and other TNT Teammates. It was a very pleasant and fun run especially with such a beautiful weather this morning. I think running with Mentor Kristy is a blessing! Thank you! Every time we run together we have a great time. We respect each other very much. Awesome work out! Go Team! Life is so beautiful if you can find the other half to share the same passions with you through your live journey together! Where is my other half? Still right here waiting with my sincere heart and prayer... :) God bless you!

September 23rd-Tuesday I run 4.75 miles with 52 minutes at Los Gatos High School Track with TNT Team and Mentor Kristy.

September 25th – Thursday I swim for 30 laps at the Gym. Another great cardio workout! :)

September 30th-Tuesday I run 4.5 miles with 50 minutes at Los Gatos High School Track with Mentor Kristy, Gabby, Victoria, Jessica, and Mareike. This is the best run ever at the track and we have so much fun. GO GO GO, GO Team!

October 4th-Saturday I run 12 miles with 2 hours and 10 minutes along the pacific grove to 17 miles drive at pebble beach. The entire run was an incredible experience with beautiful blue sea and green golf course.

October 7th-Tuesday Mentor Kristy and I partner up to do relay run for the last practice at Los Gatos High School Track. It was a blast! :) Go Team!

October 19th-Sunday Thank you to all of you for an amazing Nike's Women Half Marathon (13.1 miles) journey (A race to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) that I have accomplished with Victory in honor of my mom, Carlos Hernandez, Doug Booth, Ellen Cirigliano, Jack Aiello, Keith Newman, Kelly Harris, Kristen Laidlaw, Maureen O'Sullivan, Mike Heinaman, Patti Rodriquez, Peter Idiart, Tood Moore, Zeeky Trujillo, Jennifer Juanes, Destinee Rose File, Don McIntyre and all other cancer patients.

The race time result is 2:20:43 with 10.44 pace minute per mile.

**************************************

Race Calendar/Result:

10/19/08: Nike Women's Half - 13.1 miles

Help others, Help yourself, Help the World ~ (Tasha) Siew Tan