We are now in the month of the race! April 28th I will be running the streets of Washington, DC, thinking about the people we have lost from leukemia and lymphoma. And holding close to my heart those who are fighting.

I ran 13 miles last Saturday in prep for April 28th. It was a great practice run for me to test out a new fuel and get an idea of where I am at. I was thrilled when I finished the run in under my best half marathon time! Hopefully on race day I will feel even better and cruise to a new PR while running for others. Couldn't think of a better way to do it!

I am now under $1000 from my commitment and am asking you to consider donating now if you have not already...or even donate again if you are able. There are just 14 short days until the donation period ends. Please help LLS today!

Living in a house of all boys we own very few pink and purple items. I have a few girly colored shirts, but blue and green dominate my wardrobe as well. And the last time a tutu was in my house was, well never! Nonetheless I'm happy to share another fundraiser by my friend Rachael of Too Tutu Cute! Her shop is filled with adorable children's items and this month 20% of the sales from the Purple Reversible Tutu will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in support of my Team in Training efforts!

Now don't feel left out if you are only a kid at heart and have to have your hands on one! Rachael says she can make them in ANY size. For an adult size, Rachael gives these instructions:

• she will need a waist measurement (it's an elastic waist so doesn't have to be exact).
• she charges $1 per inch after 23" (the largest children's size she sells).
• you could also order it in a plain purple which starts at $25 for the 23" waist and $1 per inch after than.
• 10% still would go to LLS!
• you can contact Rachael at tootutucute@live.com or on Facebook about this special order.

So hope on over to her site and check it out!

I'm all giddy about a penny today! Yes, I did say a penny. I do realize I am in the process of raising thousands of dollars and a penny is a fraction of that. Let me explain.

My two older sons (who are 8 and 6 years old) know that I am doing some fundraising to go along with my running but don't know many details. Thursday morning at breakfast they were asking questions about why I was doing it and how much money I needed. They had helped me count some money from the donation jar at VA Runner and asked what they could to do help. I told them that they would be able to help me ask for donations one day at VA Runner. The boys were thrilled with that idea. And also decided they were going to donate all the coins they find on the ground to LLS.

Fast forward to pick up after school. My 8 year old jumps in the car and excitedly hand me this:

I was confused about why my son, who saves every last cent to buy Legos, would be handing this to me. The he told me what it was. "It's for your donations, Mom."

I thought it was very sweet he was keeping good on his word from that morning. Until he told me that it was from his friend "who wanted to help people with cancer but that's all he had."

<insert me trying to hold it together with 4 just let out of school kids in the minivan>

So that penny, while it might not look like much, is a life saving coin. That 2nd grader gave all he had so someone he doesn't know can get the support and care they need to battle cancer.

Wow.

Dela shared with us what LLS and TNT means to her and now it's my dear friend's turn. Lara is an oncology nurse and is helping me spread the word! See my personal blog here for the details!

Throughout my training thus far, I have come across many people whose lives have been touched by blood cancers. Either themselves, a dear friend, or family member has battled these cancers. It's heartbreaking to hear their stories, to know that their world is different because of those 3 traigc words, "You have cancer." I know Dela through a friend. This is Dela's story:

February 20, 2013

I am Dela and on 3/4/09 I was diagnosed with “ALL” Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It was a shock, considering I thought the pain and side effects were due to a major ear infection. “ALL” is one of the top cancers that affect children and has about 90% recovery rate. Unfortunately for adults, it is less common, with a much lower recovery rate.

My doctors and nurses gave me a notebook full of “ALL” information from the Leukemia & Lymphomia Society. It gave lots of great information, including how doctors and research centers are working together to cure all the Blood Cancers. Also included were programs that raise awareness and donations. The frightening part is that it can come back, even if in remission. The researchers can find a way to stop this, if they have the funds needed to do it.

Team in Training program works diligently, not only to raise important funds, but to spread awareness. Last year, I stood at the finish line of a race, congratulating each of our runners. It was an experience I will remember forever. For several months, before the event, participants and coaches met early each week and worked out, held info shops and helped each other with ideas to raise donations. On the day of the race, each coach and manager kept in close contact with each of our runners, by radioing the locations, how they are doing and if help is needed.

Each Team in Training member was so dedicated to finding a cure for blood cancers and always went above and beyond. As I went through chemo, blood transfusions, sickness, I knew that they were out there fighting for me!

If you talk to a Team in Training member, shake their hand and ask how you can help them. This is not a job to them. This is their passion, to find a cure so those of us who can’t run will be able to, again.

Dela Hight, “ALL” Survivor since 3/2009

Dela in April 2009

Dela in June 2009

Dela in July 2012