Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page!

As many of you know, this is my 2nd year of training to participate in America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, riding 100 miles around Lake Tahoe California on June 5th, 2011 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop all blood cancers from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling these cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

How was it last year and why am I riding again?

It's hard to put into words the emotion and true difference this ride and Team In Training had on me. I had some amazing teammates, coaches and mentors with my local Madison team, and we shared many laughs, frozen toesies, and even some tears (when crossing the finishing line).

Madison Team

I was lucky in that I had another team--Team Novartis. I rode with about 30 fellow Novartians and together we raised over $150,000 for LLS. I personally raised over $6,000 thanks to your generous donations and support.

Team Novartis

What truly made my heart full during the nearly 10 hour ride was biking alongside people who are currently battling cancer themselves, and having them thank me for doing the research I do at Novartis. Instant tears, I tell ya! I was truly humbled and amazed to see cancer patients on Gleevec (one of Novartis' drugs) doing so well to bike 100 miles and fundraise for the cure that is coming!

The emotional high I felt at the finish line is what I want to give a cancer patient when they hear they are in remission or when we do find a cure. I want to do everything that I can to bring hope to their lives.

So while the training was not always easy and while the pain was not very fun, neither is having cancer. A cancer patient can't just give up and have it go away. They need to be persistent, relentless and strong to reach their finish line. And I told myself, over and over and over again on the hills...Cancer doesn't quit and neither do I.

If you would like to see a video I edited and produced that captures Team Novartis' journey, please check it out at this link (click here).

So...why am I riding again? Easy--we don't have a cure yet! And I want to do every last bit to help us get closer to that goal. I'm happy to say that Team Novartis has grown and my parents will be riding with me as well!

I will be announcing my honored patients soon--so check back often.

I would be honored and grateful for your monetary donation in helping me achieve my fundraising goal of $4,000. You truly will be making a difference in cancer patient's lives. Please feel free to share in the comments your honored patient/survivor and the impact cancer has on your life--I would love to ride in honor of many people!

Thank you for your support!

Annika