Join Me While I TRI to Save Lives

Another update (7/21/10):

Lately I have been a little distracted. For one thing, it took me nearly a month to finally update my website with my Tavern triathlon results. Yeah, I've been training and working and planning a wedding. And on race day I was so close to meeting my fundraising goal, but instead I used my distractions as an excuse to let it go and say "Oh well, I've got too much going on."

This morning something changed. I found out my friend and triathlon teammate Robin, with whom I trained for the Ironman 70.3 Augusta race last year, has cancer - again. She is a cancer Survivor for 30 years, but ironically the radiation treatment she had 30 years ago is what has caused this cancer today. This time, though, she will need to have her leg amputated (or her femur removed) followed by 6 months of chemotherapy.

What a humbling experience. My complaints didn’t seem to matter as much, and my busy schedule didn’t seem quite as busy.

Robin is an athlete, a wife, a mother, a career woman, and a fighter. Robin will not give up, so why should I? I have a few things going on in my life, but who doesn’t? I will do whatever I can to support LLS and their mission whether it is through TNT events and fundraising, volunteering, or making a donation.

FINAL UPDATE (7/20/10): I did it!

It has been nearly a month, but on June 27 my Team in Training teammates and I raced and finished the I Love the Tavern sprint triathlon in Richmond. And we raised over $20,000 for LLS to further their mission to find a cure for blood cancers. What a fabulous day!

The day started early, and I mean EARLY! I woke up at 4am so I could get ready and meet my coaches and teammates at 5am. It was already in the mid-70's - a little taste of what we were in for during the race. You would think starting the race with a swim in the river would be refreshing, but the water temperature was 87 degrees! If you haven't already guessed, the theme for the race was HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!

Besides being a little warm, the race went great. I felt comfortable and relaxed for the swim and bike. My run was a little slower than I would have liked, but I was still recovering from an injury.

Although any pain or discomfort I was feeling during the race was nothing compared to going through chemo. One thing that kept me going through the race was thinking of one of my teammates racing with me that day. Only months ago he was diagnosed with a melanoma on his foot. As a result he had to have two small toes removed. Even on race day, he was still taking treatment drugs for his latest cancer, but he was out there racing! What an inspiration!

UPDATE: I'm going Totally Baldacious!

Okay, I’m doing something a little bold and crazy. I'm showing my love and commitment for people with cancer by going Totally Baldacious and helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society find cures!

Just about everyone knows someone who has had cancer. I had a grandmother who died of lung cancer (and she never smoked!), a great-aunt who died of leukemia, an aunt who is a breast cancer survivor, and an uncle who is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. And in my 10+ years of volunteering with Team In Training and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I can’t tell you the countless number of amazing people I have had the privilege and honor of meeting who were touched by cancer.

So in honor of all those people, I’m going Totally Baldacious!!

Here’s the deal. I’m seeing how much money I can raise by this Friday, April 2. And here is where it gets a little crazy (at least maybe for me):

If I raise a total of at least… Then I will…

$300 : Go “virtually” bald

$400 : Get my hair colored (I’ve always wanted to be a redhead)

$750 : Get my hair colored and add purple streaks

$1,000 + : Going purple and green, baby! Go TEAM!

The rules (I just made them up):

- all donations must be received by 9pm Friday, April 2

- fastest and easiest way is donate on my website! You are here so just click on the right.

- if you want to write a check, make payable to LLS and get in the mail quick!

- Cash donations are also accepted

- All donations are 100% tax deductible

By the way, I already have $160 towards this goal, so I’m over half way to the first one! And no, I’m not actually going to shave my head and go bald. I do have a wedding in October.

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Welcome to my Team In Training home page!

I'm excited to let you know that I am once again training and fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This year I'm training to participate in the I Love the Tavern sprint triathlon in Richmond, VA on June 27, 2010 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT).

By now, most of you probably know that I can't get enough of TNT and the awesome and amazing people I have met along my journey. This latest endeavor will mark my 11th event in as many years with TNT.

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 triathlon in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. And really, everyone battling cancer. All of us have been touched by this disease, whether personally, family, or friends. These people are my heroes - and my teams heroes - 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!

Thank you!

Sarah