Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page. You can make donations here or you can go to me & Anna's Team page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/lavatri10/TeamNordstrom .

We are training to participate in a triathlon as members of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 in honor of all individuals who are battling cancer. Sadly, we know too many of them. In particular we are training & raising money in honor and memory of:

Erik's grandmother, Alice Nordstrom, one of the most beautiful and loving people we've ever known. She was diagnosed with Leukemia (CML) last summer. No one deserves such a fate, but least of all her. We would gladly take this on for her in a heartbeat if it were a possibility. Thankfully, she is energetic and responding well to treatment. Those of you that know her, know how amazing she is and just how fortunate we are to be able to have our lives intertwined with hers.

Erik's cousin, Art Hanna, who we met on a trip through Calgary and who, along with his wife Gwen, welcomed us into their home with a generosity typical of the Nordstrom relatives. Unfortunately, Art lost his battle with Leukemia in October of this year.

Ray Fair, the father of one of dearest friends, Andrea, and we have come to know him through her and Andrea's sister, Amy. Each of our interactions with Ray have left us feeling light, warm, smiling and usually laughing too. He is an amazing person with a passion for life that we admire greatly. Unfortunately, he is also battling cancer. Please take a moment to visit Ray's Blog here: http://raysmelanomapage.blogspot.com/ .

Jeff Berkman, one of Anna's fellow rowers with whom Anna has shared many a laugh or joke about her lack of rowing dedication, and who is currently undergoing treatment for Leukemia and waiting to find a bone marrow match.

Jared Boeschoten, whom we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting. Erik has gotten to know his story through his father, Paul, and through his Caring Bridge Journal, which is used to update friends and family on his treatment for a rare form of Leukemia. Some of it can be hard to read, given that it's happening to a young boy that should be climbing trees and getting scrapes & bruises instead of undergoing chemotherapy. But his is a reality that all too many face and if he has to live it we feel that the very least we can do is read about his experience so that we can try to understand and appreciate his path the best we are able. Please read Jared's Journal at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaredboeschoten/journal .

These people are the real heroes, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please help us help those that we love by making a donation and spreading the word to anyone and everyone that you can pass this along to. You'll be surprised by just how many people that you know have a connection that you were unaware of.

We hope you will visit our web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see our progress. Your help really does have a very direct impact. Thanks for your support!

Much love,

Anna & Erik

I hope you will visit our Team web site often.

Be sure to check back frequently to see our progress. Thanks for your

support!