UPDATE: OMG, reached that goal in 7 hours! Thank you THANK YOU Thank you! There ARE angels out there!!! LOVE YOU ALL!

12 days - $1200! - Well I have never done this - signed up for a LLS fundraising race 12 days before the race. But here I am and here YOU ARE - which is why you rock! Thank you so much for checking out our story and considering a donation!

 San Diego Rock n Roll - 20th anniversary race - June 4th

Please read Team Platypus' story below:

In July 2013, my friend Stephanie Kruger's son Ben was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and has since undergone treatments at Children’s hospital. Treatment lasts 3 1/2 years - a marathon in it's own right! Ben recently finished his treatment and is running with Team Platypus now! He ran the Las Vegas Half Marthon in November and completed the Vancouver 10k in May with his brother Leon!

Having such a close connection really brought this fight close to my heart. It's personal now!! Ben named our team as he loves the platypus!

Exactly 20 years ago I ran the LA marathon for a Team in Training patient and now I am honored to take up the fight again: my first run in Ben's honor was the Tinkerbell Half Marathon at Disneyland in January 2014. Since then I have run more races for LLS including the Nike Women's Half in San Francisco, the Anchorage Mayor's Midnight Sun, the Cabos San Lucas Half, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon San Diego, the Chicago Marathon and the Vancouver BMO Half Marathon.

Just like the platypus with his venomous heel spurs, I am ready to take this fight to a nasty level ... !  I am determined to raise funds to help find cures and successful treatments for blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and other cancers!

I run every mile with purpose. With purpose to eradicate cancer from this world. New innovative therapies are on the horizon, targeting cancers with more vengeance than ever! We will win this battle!

Raising these funds to combat cancer for Ben, Bernard, Deion, Vicki and all fighters! There are fantastic treatments on the horizon and relentless research coupled with generous funding will get us there!

BERNARD:

Bernard has been training with me the last few years as part of a Team in Training participant and inspiration as well. He received a bone marrow transplant three years ago and was in remission from AML. His strength is unparalleled and we were in awe of his resolution to fight against blood cancers. When his AML relapsed and he had to face another transplant as part of his battle! He is now in remission and training with his team bstrong! We are united in fighting with you, Bernard!

With dedication, I also run for my friend Elisa's son Deion who battled lymphoma and my friend Maureen's niece Vicky, who so sadly lost her fight against leukemia:

DEION:

Just having started 9th grade, Deion was diagnosed in 2013 with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and underwent one year of chemotherapy. He had to miss 9th grade and fight cancer full force. But he won, went back in school and played a strong season of football in 10th grade. Now in 11th grade, he's moved to Utah with his family. Elisa, his mom, joined Team Platypus as well and ran the triple crown (3 half marathons in San Diego) in 2015.

Deion just graduated high school and is doing great!! Way to go Randle Family!

As his mom says: 'Deion, you got this!' - we sure agree!!

VICKY

Vicky is our angel patient, who fought leukemia hard and strong. After several years of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, Vicky lost her life to leukemia.

My friend Maureen, who is Vicky's aunt, often runs with me and together they are inspired to run the strongest runs every! Maureen is a wonderful supporter of Team Platypus and has helped us tremendously with fundraisers in Ben, Deion and Vicky's honor!

Vicky's mom, Helen, says, 'This is one of my favorite pictures of Vicki - so beautiful and full of confidence. This is how I picture her in heaven! My girl knew how to have fun! 

Vicky we salute you!