Hello Friends - Saturday morning I woke up at 3:45 and my adrenaline promptly surged in anticipation of the start of the Tour de Cure.  No more sleep that night!  Rob picked me up at 5:45 and we headed to the starting line in Cary.  I started out way too fast, carried by my adrenaline along at a 20 mph clip with Rob and the Cheetahs, a riding club that rides the TDC every year.  I kept up with them for about 25 miles at that pace, then ran out of gas and slowed to about 15 mph for the rest of the day.  

Renee met me at the finish line, and after a shower at the Holiday Inn Express, we motored up US 1 back to Raleigh for a wedding.  Kenyon then picked me up from there at about 9, and drove me back to Southern Pines.  Sunday morning, of course!, I was really sore, and decided that playing the tortoise was my only chance of making the second 100 miles.  My mantra was "take what speed the course gives you and give it all back on the uphills - just keep pedaling".  I met up with a rider named Cedric near the midway point and we rode 40 miles or so together.  I crossed the finish line at about 3:30, just shy of 8 hours from the start.  200 miles in 2 days - consecutive Centuries.  And the second leg of the Triple Play is checked off!

Now I am turning my attention to the final phase of the TP - the Yosemite Team in Training event. I have signed up for the longest possible hike, about 18 miles.  I fly out to California on the 11th of June and the event takes place on the 13th.  I plan to stay for another several days to do some back-country fishing later that week. If all goes according to plan, I will actually set foot on the JMT (John Muir Trail) twice during this trip. Thanks for all your support.  I believe that I will reach my fundraising goal soon, with your great support.  FOR THE CURE!!!!  Best - Dan 

Hello Friends and Family!  Well this update is overdue but the big news is that the first leg of the Triple Play is successfully completed!  I “ran” the Raleigh Rock and Roll half marathon in 2 hours and 25 minutes.  I was able to run through the halfway point, but somewhere around mile 8 or 9 I found myself walking up some of the hills in downtown Raleigh.  I didn’t make a conscious decision to walk, my body just stopped running and started walking!  All in all, I think I ran about 10 or 11 out of the 13.1.  Not bad, all things considered. 

The inspiration dinner the night before the race was wonderful, and I was fortunate enough to be honored as the top fund raiser for the Team in Training!  All thanks to all of you!!! 

Well now my attention turns to cycling.  It took me a few days to work out the stiffness and soreness from the run, but by Wednesday I was back on my stairmaster, 40 minutes a day.  Today will be my first cycling workout since the Half.  I will be riding today with Rob Allan, a fellow Tour de Cure participant and my team captain.  The Tour is going to be upon me very soon – 3 weeks from Saturday, so I need to train intensively.  I will keep you posted.  Thanks for all your encouragement and support!  GO TEAM!!  Dan

                                               After an early spring training run 

 Greetings and Happy Easter!  

Well it has been an auspicious beginning to the 2015 Triple Play.  Since my kickoff on February 15th, 27 people have donated an astounding $14,550, putting us within $450 of the half way mark towards my goal of $30,000.  Pretty amazing, and I am deeply indebted to all of you!  Renee and I watched an episode of 60 minutes last Sunday in which a groundbreaking treatment for inoperable and typically terminal brain tumors was featured.  The treatment used the polio virus to directly attack and destroy the tumors!!  Later in the week we watched Ken Burns' latest documentary - "Cancer - The Emperor of All Maladies".  One of the featured treatments in that series was the re-engineered T-cell therapy that Carl June pioneered - the one that cured young Emily Whitehead of relapsed acute leukemia when she had no hope left that any conventional treatment would keep her alive.  Dr. June has been directly funded by LLS for many years and your contributions may directly contribute to the perfection of this treatment so that it can be brought to hundreds and maybe thousands of children.

Well the half-marathon is only a week away.  I have increased my running distance from 3 to 7 miles.  I have been running once or twice a week, while I intersperse those workouts with bike rides, long walks on the golf course (about 7 miles), and stairmaster routines of 40 minutes.  When I want to quit or skip a workout I think of the people who are facing blood cancer diagnoses - especially the children, as young as a year old - who need us to work hard to find a cure.  This is my way to help.  I would be honored and deeply grateful if you would join me.    

Finish line of the Fletcher Flyer, June 2014

              Greetings friends, family members, associates, and all supporters!  3 years ago this week, I was released from the care of the MD Anderson Cancer Center after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant.  Many of you know the story of my miraculous healing and recovery.  In 2015, I plan to continue to 'push the boundaries' of what is possible for leukemia and lymphoma survivors to accomplish in our lives after cancer.  Leukemia and lymphoma continue to devastate lives, but progress continues - and with your help, will accelerate until a cure is found.  Leukemia and lymphoma are the #1 childhood cancers, striking children even in their toddler years.  I plan to do something I've never done before in 2015 - maybe something no Richter's survivor has ever done - in part, to inspire you to join (again) with me in the fight against blood cancers.  I also hope to inspire and encourage patients who are currently battling these treacherous diseases - that they can also fight and win against cancer.

So - *DRUM ROLL*....I'm calling this year's fundraising program my "2015 Triple Play" - I am going to run the Raleigh Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon on April 12th.....bicyle in the North Carolina Tour de Cure (100 miles each day) on May 16th and 17th, and do a 20 mile hike on June 13th at the TNT event at Yosemite National Park.  It hurts my feet just to type that!!  

I've already begun training and the RnR half marathon is only 2 months away.  My goal for that first event is to.....FINISH.  I have not been any kind of runner since the last century, so I will be the poky little puppy that day I am sure.  But, I will be running (and walking) with my teammates from Team in Training to save lives and drive for a cure.  Will you join me in this great cause and ambitious quest?  Thank you!!!!!   

Summit of Mt. Whitney, September 2013