How I got involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Hello Everyone,

I have never done a marathon in my life. I have never trained for a marathon, and since I have mild asthma, this will be interesting.

I have been hearing the radio stations advertise about the Team in Training for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and have been wanting to call and get involved. Then, my church was talking about it, and I thought, ok, this must be a sign since it was on my heart already. So, I picked up an application and a brochure about the marathon at my church. Yesterday, my church held a meeting after service with the people from Team in Training. We got to learn about how many people we are actually helping and that over 900,000 American's die each year of some form of blood cancer. We also heard from a survivor who was only given 3 years to live and 8 years later, he's still in remission. It was so inspiring.

Some of the patients in remission will be running and walking with us, and some will be giving us water at the water stops. It brought tears to my eyes to see the hope in their faces. I have a cousin who is in remission from Hodgkins Disease. He too was given a short time to live and has been in remission for over 10 years now.

Team in Training has given everyone a goal of $500 to raise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am challenging myself to raise $2,000 or more. Team in Training will be sending all of us our very own personal website for our family and friends to donate money directly to the foundation. And I will also be collecting checks from friends and family who do no feel comfortable donating using their credit card online.

Here are the steps I have taken so far to help raise money:

I have sent an email blast to over 800 contacts
I have emailed all of my friends and family on Facebook and myspace
I have emailed all of my neighbors
I have emailed all of my contacts on Linked in
I will be donating 1% off all purchases made in my showroom from now until the marathon date.
I will be hosting an open house in my showroom and asking people for donations as well.

I am sure I will be coming up with more ways to be creative and try to raise as much money as I possible can for this worthy cause.

Here are the steps I am taking to prepare for the marathon:

I have a personal trainer who knows my goals
I will be working with the Team in Training Trainers
I have scheduled a physical with my doctor to make sure I have a good inhaler in case I need it.
I will be working out 6 days a week to get in shape for this marathon.

Progress so far:

Since all of my emails this morning, I already have 10 people who want to donate money. I am very excited about this.

Things about Team in Training you may not know:

The Founder of Team in Training had a daughter who was diagnosed with Leukemia
Team in Training offers families money and support to help offset the costly hospital bills


Here is Team in Training's Mission:

To cure Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma and Hodgkin's Disease, and to improve te lives of patients and their families. When the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was founded, only 4% of children diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood Leukemia, were expected to survive. Today, 85% of the children treated for ALL are expected to live normal, healthy lives. Despite the advances in treatments, leukemia remains the leading desease killer of people under the age of 20. Through programs like Team in Training, the Society raises funds for research, patient services, community education and outreach programs. Team in Training is The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's most successful fundraising program. Since TNT's inception in 1988, more than $600 million has been raised to fight blood-related cancers. And approximately 75% of all money raised by TNT participants goes to research and patients services. Join the team that saves lives!!