Wow...race day is almost here! I'm so excited that all of you have been sending in photos and messages of support--Byron is kicking a lot of butt and you are helping each and every day by being your awesome selves.

For race day...my bib # is 6468 and I will be trying to PR on this marathon, meaning sub-Boston qualification pace (for me, that's sub-3:35:00, or sub-8:12-per-mile pace). You can follow the race by signing up here: http://www.marinemarathon.com/Community/Social_Media.htm or check out my facebook page for split times. I hope to achieve this and represent Byron well!

For those of you in the Jacksonville area, Byron will be out supporting Be The Match (a national bone marrow registry) at the Loggerhead Oktoberfest Swim Meet at 350 Plantation Club Parkway, Saint Johns, FL 32259 this Saturday, October 26 from 8-11am. I wish I could go, and I know he will be thrilled to see you there!

If you haven't donated yet and would like to sponsor me in the final stretch, consider showing your support for Byron by supporting one dollar for each mile run (that's $26.20!) Team Byron wristbands are still available and look great.

Thanks for your support--go #TeamByron and go #TeamUSA!!!

Hey guys. Guess what? Byron just completed his first week of workouts.

That's right. He not only completed the last, nasty round of chemo and pushed through a few tough weeks after, but he's kicked so much butt in treatment that his medical team actually used the R word. (That's a pretty big one in the cancer world--remission.) It may not mean the end of all the treatments he'll go through for this, but it means that he has done amazingly well and can now start getting back to getting after it in all his regular ways!

From the official blog: "Byron's oncology appointment last Friday went very well. The results of his re-staging tests last week were great...no sign of cancer! He's been in remission since he finished round 2, but confirmation of continued remission at this point in treatment is extremely encouraging. The other great news is that his maintenance treatment will be out-patient, rather than having to be admitted to a hospital multiple times in the next 2 1/2 years.

He'll spend a little more time here in Jacksonville, getting some additional medical things resolved, and plans to have his first maintenance therapy here at Mayo Clinic before returning to Alabama, probably in early October. Once back at Ft. Rucker, he'll work with his Army commanders and medical support staff to determine treatment locations going forward. As a major cancer center, it's not uncommon for Mayo Clinic to handle initial intensive treatment, and then provide a longer term treatment schedule to be performed closer to the patient's home. Byron's Mayo Clinic oncologist will continue to follow him and consult as needed during the remainder of his treatment.

We're so incredibly grateful for all of your prayers and the many ways our family and friends have supported us for the last many months. Although Byron and Sarah still have a long road before reaching the end of this cancer journey, we're thankful that it appears the worst is over. Most of all, we give praise and glory to God! He has been faithfully with us every step of the way and has shown us innumerable blessings in this difficult valley!"

A huge thanks to all of you who have donated, sent messages of support, visited Byron, and sent prayers and love. Team Byron support packages started going out last week--hopefully you've received yours or will soon! Don't forget to wear your wristbands for an extra boost in whatever workouts, races, or events you have going on this fall.

If you want to send Byron a congrats, you can post it in the comments here or on his CaringBridge page. He's pretty awesome, so you probably should. :)

Thank you guys again for sending so much support. Marathon training is underway and the Marine Corps Marathon is just over a month out! Keep spreading the word so that we can keep raising money and awareness so that everyone affected by this disease has a chance at hearing the R word.

Go Team Byron!

-Esther

Wow, you guys are amazing. I look at the list of people every day who are pulling for Byron, and I know what a difference you are making for him and for those kicking blood cancer's butt across the country.

You guys powered through my initial fundraising goal, and I was asked to set the bar even higher. Undaunted, you have continued to donate, and I'm blown away by your generosity and support for Byron. You rock!

Byron starts his last round of chemo today at the Mayo Clinic. He continues to top all expectations of how fast a person can beat this. Thank you for supporting him, and please keep it up!

Thanks to the generosity of Boathouse Sports, donors will be receiving Team Byron athletic wristbands so that you can stay sweat-free and show your support while competing in your own athletic pursuits! Please be sure to leave your address so I can send you yours.

Keep pulling for Byron! Please donate, leave a message, and/or visit his CaringBridge site to leave a note of support!

We're in the home stretch. Go USA and Go Team Byron!!!

Hi! I'm Esther Lofgren, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist in Rowing for the United States. For the last several years, I've been focused on one goal: rowing against other countries to help the USA win every possible race. But this year, I have a new goal that's extremely close to my heart, and I would love if you would support me in pursuing it.

My cousin Byron, a recent West Point grad who was just beginning his Blackhawk helicopter training in Alabama, was suddenly diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a highly aggressive variety of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a few months ago. Byron is an amazing swimmer, too, who was nationally ranked in high school and helped the Black Knights' swim team to four successful seasons during his time at the USMA.

Byron is currently undergoing several rounds of extremely intense chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. In researching non-Hodgin's lymphoma, I learned that blood cancers--leukemia and lymphoma--are the #3 cancer killer in North America. But I also learned about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), which has been funding research for cures--most blood cancers cannot be detected early or prevented--for more than 60 years and is the largest private research funder of blood cancer research in the U.S. and Canada.

To support Byron, I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon this October for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

I've committed to raising $1,500, but I know that with your help, we can raise much more than that! Please make a donation in support of Byron--to get him back swimming and flying helicopters in support of our great country--and to help advance the research for blood cancer cures.