Because I know how much Tanner's story impacted and moved me, I wanted to share it with you. But I would never do it justice, so I asked Beth, Tanner's mom, to share just a little bit about Tanner and her story. Here it is. I hope you feel more connected to the cause after reading and choose to give to help find a cure.

Hitting the Wall

By Beth Page, Tanner’s Mom

This is Tanner at five years old. She was a happy, healthy kindergartener riding bikes, playing soccer, taking dance lessons. But, within a few days of this picture being taken, she started complaining about back and leg pain, which is pretty odd for a five-year-old. Within the week, her school had a one-mile fitness test at Pinkerton Park and Tanner came in dead last, limping across the finish line. Our pediatrician agreed that she had probably strained something at field day or her dance recital. Several weeks after this picture, she woke in the night screaming inconsolably that her back hurt. This started the two-day process of determining that our spunky, sassy girl had leukemia and would only live a few more weeks without chemo intervention.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer, and Tanner’s low risk factors made her situation the best case scenario for treatment. Even so, she would go on to endure two-and-a-half years of chemo, the standard protocol for a girl with ALL (boys do an extra year). It is truly the marathon of cancer treatment.

The first six months of treatment were brutal. She had weekly IV chemo, and other chemos delivered any which way you can imagine: 19 lumbar punctures with chemo delivered into her spinal column; chemo injected in her to thighs through simultaneous, painful shots; oral chemo; massive high-dose steroids; chemo we brought home and nervously administered through her port, and on and on. Her body went through incredible changes. She gained 15 pounds in the first month from steroids and was, literally, unrecognizable. Then, over the next few months, the weight fell off of her, along with her hair, and she became emaciated, pale and frail.

But, Tanner never gave up. She never stopped dancing and singing, and playing with her brother. Just like a runner hitting the wall, she kept going, even though her body begged her to stop and she, eventually, triumphed and came to a better place.

After six months, Tanner entered the maintenance phase of treatment for nearly two years. She was able to go back to school during this time, although she still missed a lot of class and I found myself at school often, bringing painkillers or anti-nausea medicine. Maintenance was easier, but still no picnic: daily oral chemo, monthly IV chemo and steroid pulses; and the dreaded lumbar punctures every three months.

About a year into chemo, when her school once again had their one-mile fitness run, Tanner asked on the way to school that morning, “Mom are you and Dad coming to my fitness run?”

“Of course, ” I replied, then added, “You know Tanner, you don’t have to run if you don’t feel like it. We could bring pom poms and cheer on your friends. “

“I want to run,” she said.

“Okay, well just know that if you need to stop, that’s okay. You just run as far as you can.”

“Why wouldn’t I run?” she said, confused.

I paused for moment before answering, “No reason. Go for it!”

And she did. She ran and didn’t finish last despite a year’s worth of chemo in her small body. That spirit and resilience continue to serve her well today.

Tanner is now a healthy, active ten-year-old. August 6, 2013, marked two years off of chemo for her and she is playing soccer, loving 5th grade, acting in local children’s theatre, singing and being her spunky, silly lovable self.

We are so grateful to people like Emily, who choose to use their passion for running to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They have been a vital force behind Tanner’s survival with the research they have sponsored in the past. LLS continues to sponsor promising research to improve outcomes and find ways to treat leukemia with less side effects. We hope that you will consider donating so more kids can ask,“Why wouldn’t I run?”

Watch this video. It's amazing. Could the cure to cancer be found in the HIV virus? While it's in the very early stages of testing, it does look promising. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was the first organization to invest in the research!

I love being involved in an organization like LLS. LLS is making a difference in cancer research. 30 years ago the survival rate for children with Leukemia was less than 10%. Today the survival rate with treatment is around 90%. A lot of the progress is because of LLS and the millions of dollars they donate to blood cancer research.

Someday cancer will be cured. We have to believe that. And I know lots of people think about donating to organizations like LLS - someday. Someday is today. Help me fundraise so more money can be donated to research for cancer and the cure for cancer will come far.

The official color of Team in Training is purple. Pretty convenient, because I adore the color purple. For race day we will have purple tanks, purple temporary tattooes, and a purple sweaty band or visor to wear. I keep saying I'm going to get purple shoes to wear. But as I struggle to find just the right shoe on a good day, I'm not entirely sure that is a good idea.

However, I want to do something over the top and a tiny bit extreme (yes, yes I can see that you are very surprised) for the race. I've decided that when I hit my fundraising goal, I will have purple streaks put in my hair for the race. My hair stylist, Kenya, is going to be so excited. She loves bold hair colors. I can't claim orginality for this idea. My dear friend (and fearless Team in Training leader) had purple in her hair a couple years ago when we went to Dublin.

So who wants to see me with purple hair? Make a donation today! Or if you think it's a terrible idea, very large donations could persuade me otherwise.

The Nike Women's Marathon is 10 weeks and 2 days away! But who's counting? My long runs are now longer than a half marathon, which is pretty crazy. As I run more miles, I realize my fundraising needs to be kicked up a notch too.

Can you imagine a world world without cancer? Can you imagine your reaction the day a cure is found? Click here to watch a PSA LLS recently developed. It gives me chills and makes me proud to know I'm part of the cure.

My goal is to raise $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Approximately 80% of your donation will go directly to funding the mission - to curing blood cancers and supporting patients. Please consider making a donation in any amount.

Someday is today.

I've been involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for over 5 years. When I first started I was a candidate for their Woman of the Year contest. I signed up because I liked the idea of giving back and it looked like a fun way to do it. I had no idea the impact LLS would have on me. When I started I didn't know anyone who had a blood cancer, at least I didn't realize I did. On the very first day of fundraising I got a moving email from a friend and Realtor I knew telling me how grateful she is to me for being involved and that her husband is a survivor. I teared up and knew that what I was doing mattered.

Since then, I've chaired the Man Woman of the Year campaign twice, ran my first marathon with Team in Training and I'm now on the local board of LLS. Serving and fighting for a cure has become a passion. And I'm reminded of it's importance often. When Mark and I fundraised for our first marathon, we did it in honor of Tanner Page. A sweet, sassy, spunky little girl with Leukemia. I fell in love with Tanner instantly. But it was her mom's real, raw and heartfelt blogs about her struggles that really touched my heart. You think of the way cancer hurts your body, but often we overlook all the other aspects of your life it changes and harms.

At the inspiration dinner the night before our first marathon, my friend and Team in Training teammate, Jim, shared his personal struggle of battling blood cancer as an adult. Hearing him say that when he was sick he would have given anything to be able to run and vowed when he got healthy again not to take his body for granted really moved me. I'm so impressed with his spirit and glad to be his friend.

Just this week I found out that a friend & coworker's mom has been diagnosed with Leukemia. It sucks. I cried. I've never met her mom, but I know it's a scary place to be. I also know that by fundraising and running a marathon I am making a difference. Research and drug therapies for blood cancers have improved significantly since LLS started providing research grants. Additionally, LLS provides patient support by offering support groups and copay assistance among other things.

Help me find a cure and put an end to blood cancer.