Racing to Save Lives

UPDATE 3/24

Off to Hawaii with 4 days until the race! We made our goal with just our gift matching left to be recorded. I can't thank everyone enough for all your love and generous support. It's a very humbling feeling to know just blessed we are.

Kona here we come!!!

UPDATE 3/22

I can't believe I'm les than a week away from particapting in the Lavaman Triathalon! Crazy!!! Five months of training 3-5 days a week and counting. Tonight is my last Seattle swim pratice and the last I'll see my team until were in Kona on Thursday.

It's also the official last day of fundraising. I'm only a little short of my goal which feels so great compared to where I was a month ago! Your doantions help make a difference in the fight and and I hope you'll consider doanting to my efforts to eradicate this disease that has torn too many families apart. I'm only $380 away from my goal and I hope you'll consider giving today.

I'm racing in honor of my grandfather, Don, who lost his battle with Leukemia a few years ago and for every family that has been effected by this disease. I want thank everyone that given their time and made donations to LLS on my behalf. Your kindness has touch me deeply.

Thank you all for your support. Be on the lookout for a race day update next week and GO TEAM!!

Much love,

Chris

UPDATE 2/15/10:

Kathy & I are in full blown training mode! The runs are getting harder, the rides longer, and the swims, well let's just say I've never been much of a swimmer but I'm starting to feel more confident in the pool.

The race is coming up in a little less than six weeks!! Can't believe I'm going to be completing in my first athletic event since grade school! Well, I guess that's not entirely true, I did do the 5K Resolution Run on New Years Day. I know it's not the same as a Tri but every little bit of training helps:)

On a fundraising note, I want to personally thank everyone that's made a donation to Kathy and I's LLS pages, it's so wonderful to see all the support you've given us!

Right now we're gearing up for our next big fundraising event. On Friday, February 26th we will be hosting a Silent Art Auction and Raffle to be held at Sole Repair Shop on Capital Hill. It's not actually a shoe repair shop but an open events space. Our event will feature a full bar with complimentry food, providing by the Coastal Kitchen, music by three different Djs, a great raffle with lots of prizes and of course some fanastic art donated by local artisians. So if your in Seattle, please come out and join us for this one night only event!

Go Team!

-Chris

As one of our first adventures as a married couple, Kathy and I are training to participate in the Lavaman Triathlon as members of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. We'll train for the next five months in the wet, cold Seattle winter. Then in March we'll head to Kona (the birthplace of the triathlon) to swim 1 mile, bike 26.2 miles and run 6.3 miles. Together we've committed to raise $12,000 to help LLS fund research and patient care.

My reasons for taking on this challenge are varied - I'm excited to push myself both pyhiscally and mentally ; I've definitely never done anything this physically demanding before. And after recently discovering I have high cholesterol, I am committed to taking the steps to get healthy and in shape.

But much more importantly, I'm competeing in the triatholon and raising funds for cancer research in honor of my grandfather, Donald J. Hammer, who sadly lost his battle with leukemia.

I'm training and rasing funds in his honor to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

All of us at Team in Training are completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support our participation in Team In Training - every dollar helps so please give and together we can find a cure!! Our fundraising pages are linked so you can donate to either one of us.

Be sure to check back frequently to see our progress. And again, thanks for your support!

Go Team!!