Our friend, DeShon Marcelous, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and will begin treatments shortly. To honor DeShon's cancer fight, I have a mission: to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I am participating in the Rock 'N' Rock Half Marathon in San Diego on Sunday, June 2, 2013, as a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Team in Training has raised over $1.3 billion dollars for blood cancer research in the last 25 years. Please consider making a donation to my fundraising campain in support of my efforts with Team in Training to help advance the research for cures.

Nearly 985,000 American are battling blood cancer. I am hoping that my participting in Team in Training will bring them hope and support. My husband, Joe, is also running in support of DeShon and in his honor.

For any donation over $250, I will wear on my race jersey (with your permission) either your name or the name of somene you wish to honor. All donations are confidential and every dollar helps!

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

My father, Charlie Miller, died from acute myelogenous leukemia on August 29, 1988, at the age of 45. Since my father died, on my bucket list was to run a marathon or half marathon in his honor. Through Team in Training, I have accomplished this goal!

My sweet daddy lost his fight with leukemia but I have a mission: to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in San Diego on Sunday, June 2, 2013, as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. All donation amounts are confidential and every dollar counts!

The tragic Boston Marathon bombings yesterday made me question the safety of racing and whether I wanted to continue to run bigger races. Then I stopped and remembered why I run – in memory of my dad and to help find cures and treatments for blood cancers. In 7 weeks (6.2.13), I will complete my fourth half-marathon in less than a year and I am running in memory of my dad. As of today, I have only reached 15% of my personal fundraising goal.

MY STORY

My father died from acute myelogenous leukemia on August 29, 1988, at the age of 45. Since my father died, on my bucket list was to run a marathon or half marathon in his honor. But, with my personal weight struggles, I simply could not physically do it. Every year I would research the Team In Training website. Every year I would dream of fundraising in my dad's name. Every year I would watch as the deadlines to sign up came and went. Not anymore! Since June 6, 2011, I have lost over 135 pounds and over 80 inches and, because of my training with Team In Training, I have completed three half marathons - two fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

Through Team in Training, I completed the Philadelphia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (9.16.12) and Aramco Houston Half Marathon (1.13.13). I also finished the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2013. None of these races would have been possible without Team In Training. The guidance, support and training I have received from my coaches, mentors, fellow teammates and TNT staff have been overwhelming. Team In Training truly changed my life! In May 2012, when I fearfully attended the informational meeting on upcoming events, I truly did not have any idea the impact that Team In Training would have on all aspects of my life including my confidence, my health, my endurance and my physical and psychological strength. As a life-long non-athlete, I was skeptical that in a few short months, I could go from a couch potato to running a half marathon. But I did! The accountability to my coaches and teammates, my desire to support others in their training efforts and my aspiration to honor my dad kept me getting up for those early, hot, humid Houston summer training runs. On days that I couldn't imagine how I was possibly going to run further or faster, I was encouraged and supported by my coaches and achieved runs I never thought possible. On the morning before my first 10 mile run, I cried on the way to training because I just did not think it was possible I could finish. My coaches were there to assure me, run with me and motivate me. That day was a breakthrough day for me because, after accomplishing those seemingly insurmountable 10 miles, I knew any goal I set for myself I could achieve. When I crossed the finish line in Philadelphia (at the age of 44), I jumped up and down with glee, clapped my hands and turned to my loyal training partner (my husband) and exclaimed, "I want to do that again!"

For 2013, my running resolutions are simple: run more races in memory of my dad through Team In Training and raise more money to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. Through Team In Training, I know that I will accomplish my 2013 resolutions!

I'm improving the quality of my life by participating in Team In Training and through my efforts I know that I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

Please consider making a donation to my fundraising campaign in support of my efforts with Team In Training and to help advance the research for cures. Every donation amount is confidential and no amount is too small. Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Nearly 958,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support. For any donation over $250, I will wear on my race jersey (with your permission) either your name or the name of someone you wish me to honor.

Thank you very much for your support.

Amanda