Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

My name is Laura and I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on May 11, 2012 at age 25. After six months of surgeries, biopsies, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I was declared cancer free in October 2012! However, I am one of the lucky ones. Many people do not have a happy ending. If it wasn't for the research, hard work, dedication and sacrifice of many cancer fighters and healthcare professionals before me, I might not be here today.

There is still so much we don't know about lymphoma and other blood cancers, and far too many instances of secondary cancers and diseases related to current treatments still exist. We can do better. There's no way to change that without increased research funds and awareness.

While I was still going through cancer treatment in September last year, a good friend of mine sent me a video from the Stand Up to Cancer celebrity fundraiser. One of the speakers was the actor Michael Douglas, who recently fought and won a battle with stage 4 throat cancer. His words are pictured in the banner below and really touched my heart. They have become a personal mantra for me: Cancer didn't bring me to my knees; it brought me to my feet.

Rene (my husband) & I at Light the Night, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual fundraiser & awareness walk, in November 2012.

I am now making another stand against cancer. I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in the Rock N' Roll half-marathon in San Diego on June 2, 2013 with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team-In-Training (TNT) program. The race takes place just three weeks after the one-year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis.

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’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

I have pledged to raise $3,200 by the race, but would love to raise at least $2,000 by March 22 to secure my place on the team. The sooner I can raise my goal, the less stressful my training will be.

In addition to running for myself, I’m also running for several “honored heroes.” My good friend and fellow Louisiana-transplant living in Austin, Megan LeBleu, decided to support me and participate in my team-in-training. We are now running and fundraising for Team Jackie, in honor of Jackie Sharp. Jackie was the sister of Peggy Sharp (another teammate), and she passed away last year after a long battle with Chronic Mylegenous Leukemia. Together, our team has pledged to raise $150,000 to form a grant in Jackie’s name to help fund research to fight this disease.

My other honored heroes are:

Grant Hebert- My cousin, Mary’s, boyfriend who passed away from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2009 at age 20.

Dell Justice- Megan's uncle who fought and survived Lymphoma.

Brent Mesquit- A young husband, father, and airforce serviceman who is currently fighting multiple myeloma.

Jeannie Wannage- My friend, Katelyn’s mother, who fought and won her battle with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but who sadly passed away in a car crash a few short years later.

If you would prefer to mail a check, please email me at laura.w.ybarra@gmail.com for more information.

Any donation, no matter how small or large, will help further our mission.

Other ways you can support cancer patients is through blood and platelet donation. To find a donation center in your area, visit www.americasblood.org. You can also register to become a bone marrow donor at www.marrow.org.

The day of my last radiation treatment in October 2012.