WE DID IT!!!

 

Dear Friends & Family......

I am SO SO SO SO grateful for the love and support of my dear friends and family. Somehow with a broken arm, and a torn muscle in my lower back, my body made it to the finish line of the 2019 KONA World IRONMAN Championships. So many people have contributed wonderful donations to this amazing cause to find a cure to Leukemia and related blood cancers. The mission continues as we seek to get to $50,000 before the close of the year. Thank you for making a donation no matter how large or small.

THE BIG DAY IS HERE -- WELCOME TO IRONMAN KONA

In just a few short hours the gun will go off and the race will begin. I am super nervous but very proud to be representing the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the World IRONMAN Championships. While I am swimming, biking, and running, I am hoping that my dear friends across the globe will take this opportunity to help us raise a significant total. Around the world adults and children are still fighting for their lives against various blood cancers. The money raised by TNT literally saves lives. EVERY penny you donate goes straight to research programs to fund the journey towards a cure. Already, many forms of blood cancer and indeed all kinds of cancers are being obliterated due to the incredible doctors and researchers who are doing cancer research because of funding that comes from campaigns like this one. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Wish me luck...... :) My pain will be temporary......for many children and their families the pain can be something harsh and real that can last many years and can all too often take lives. Let's team up to find a cure.......

WELCOME TO "TEAM GLENN"

HI EVERYONE! Let me introduce someone very special who has touched my life in incredible ways. Meet Mr. Glenn Markway, a dear friend and former student of mine. Glenn's whole story is laid out in a beautiful article below. Glenn was a member of Lindenwood University's National Championship rugby team and is a graduate of Lindenwood University. I had the honor and privilege to be one of his teachers and I miss him dearly. Glenn fought a courageous battle against AML and thanks to some amazing students at Lindenwood University his legacy remains alive.

Introducing Coach Paul

Dear Friends:

 

JUST 2 DAYS TO KONA!!!!!

 

Only TWO(2) DAYS Until the Big Day. Training has been very PAINFUL since the bike crash 10 weeks ago.....

BUT THE TRAINING CONTINUES........

 

Now with only a few days left until the WORLD IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS in Kona, I am reaching out to all my dear friends, community members, companies, colleagues, medical professionals, fellow athletes, armchair warriors, and those with BIG hearts. Everyday in our own community we have courageous children and adults fighting cancer. With this journey to KONA we have a chance to make a DIFFERENCE.

***A few of you had questions about where your DONATIONS are going? EVERY SINGLE PENNY is going to the LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY to help fund a major RESEARCH GRANT in GLENN MARKWAY's name. We have ZEROED out all of our savings to pay for the airfare, accommodations, food, and training costs for this event. AGAIN EVERY PENNY donated is going exactly where it needs to go -- TO FIND A CURE FOR LEUKEMIA and RELATED BLOOD CANCERS!***

 

I am COMMITTED to be on the start line of the most prestigious TRIATHLON on the planet on Saturday October 12th. I will line up with Olympians and the very best in the sport of endurance racing. We will SWIM 2.4 MILES, BIKE 112 MILES and RUN 26.2 MILES. My challenge this race is to complete the IRONMAN with a BROKEN ELBOW. Sometimes it is not about the time but more importantly GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE. For this cause, I am determined to grit my teeth through the pain and give my all to the IRONMAN.

 

I am asking for HELP (something that I am not very good at doing). Please HELP me raise money towards our goal of finding a cuase for LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOMA, and all RELATED BLOOD CANCERS. Through the years, I have lost my best childhood friend, family members, a beloved student, and watched as the disease stole beautiful children from the Earth during my time spent at Primary Children's Hospital. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting this effort.

 

With Love & Warm Fuzzies,

Coach Paul

***PICTURES FROM KONA JUST DAYS BEFORE THE BIG RACE***

When I showed up for my first ocean swim.......I was a little scared.......

But I looked up and I swear Glenn Markway sent me a sign to let me know that he was there with me and everything was going to be okay....

OUR GOAL IN THESE NEXT THREE DAYS IS TO RAISE OVER $20,000. WILL YOU HELP JOIN US TO MAKE COMPLETING THE KONA WORLD IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.....WITH A BROKEN RIGHT ARM.....SOMETHING TRULY AMAZING......AND GIVE A CHANCE OF LIFE TO COUNTLESS HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ADULTS and CHILDREN AFFLICTED WITH BLOOD CANCERS....

***NEW WORLD RECORD***

My St. Charles High School Cross-Country Team wanted to contribute to the Fundraising campaign. On Sunday August 18th they broke a WORLD RECORD. The team included: Brendan Martin-Hilker, Alfred Chan (my son), Dillon Ruble, Thomas Doss, Jon Lopez, Virginia Werth, Sally Werth, Sadie Upton, Jada O'Donnell, & Talia Sisomphane. These guys ran 24 hours and completed 222.5 MILES to beat the Co-ed World Record of 217.8 miles. AWESOME!!!! More importantly they added significant fund-raising dollars to the campaign.

WORLD RECORD

 

LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 2019 REC 362 CLASS

-- These guys were fantastic in their fund-raising efforts in the Spring 2019 semester. Some of the events included: Painting Party, Poker Run, Yoga Night, Spin Class, Cross-Fit Session, Corporate Picnic Volunteering, Table Tennis Exhibition, Bowling Event, Rugby Team Social, Gymnastics Event, and IRONMAN Strength Competition.

 

 

Some Background....

In 2017, I competed at the LavaMan Olympic Distance Triathlon in Hawaii and the Chicago Olympic Distance Triathlon. Alongside my students and my beautiful wife Anna, we raised over $10,000 in Glenn's name and memory.

 

In 2018, my wife Anna and I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. With the fund-raising support of the Lindenwood University students we raised over $25,000 in Glenn's name and memory.

 

 

 

In 2019, we have decided to take on the momentus challenge of setting our targets beyond the $50,000 mark. If we are able to raise this amount of money we can fund a research grant right here in the state of Missouri in Glenn Markway's name. Some of the most cutting edge research in oncology is happening right here on our doorstep literally saving lives of adults and children afflicted with cancer. So here we are for "TEAM GLENN - VERSION #3."

 

 

 

 

https://www.lindenwood.edu/about/news/details/glenn-markway-honored-at-december-graduation/

 

https://www.lindenwood.edu/files/resources/2016spring.pdf

(Pages 12 & 13)

 

It takes more than one person to make up a team and that’s why I’m asking you to donate to my TNT fundraising page for TNT!

 

By participating as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) TNT, I am raising funds to help find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients.

 

Your donation will help fund treatments that save lives every day; like immunotherapies that use a person’s own immune system to kill cancer. You may not know it, but every single donation helps save a life with breakthrough therapies such as these.

 

Patients need these cures and they need your support.

 

Please make a donation in support of our efforts with Team In Training and help get us all closer to a world without blood cancers.

 

Thank you!

Coach Paul