Team in Training -- Sue in Training
I can't believe it's been over a year since I first thought of walking a marathon and joined the TEAM IN TRAINING program! Last year, I wrote to tell you of my dream to walk 26.2 miles -- a dream I am still pursuing. In January of 2001, I participated in the Disney half-marathon. With a little help from the Disney folks, I crossed the finish line just before the deadline. In June, I walked every step on the Rock 'n Roll half-marathon in San Diego. It took me 4 hours and 20 minutes, but I finished it! More importantly, with your help, I raised $4,500 to help in the fight against Leukemia and other blood-related cancers!!
Just to remind you about the program, Team in Training is the largest endurance training program in the U.S. They provide the coaching, training and even the travel opportunities to make an individual's athletic goals a reality. It's an unbeatable offer with great personal rewards. In exchange for the training and support, we raise money towards a cure for leukemia - the number one disease-killer of children under 15, and lymphoma, the leading killer of men and women under 35. How serious is it? Every five minutes, someone in the United States learns that they have leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
In light of the events of the past few weeks, many of this year's participants question the justification of raising money for a cause other than the relief effort. After all, thousands of people lost their lives and none of us will ever feel quite the same. Several of my teammates have considered dropping out of the program. Then, I reviewed the numbers.... Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will kill an estimated 60,400 persons in the United States this year. Every nine minutes, a child or adult dies from leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.
That means that while I was writing this letter, at least two people died of leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. While I was walking four miles in a rainstorm Saturday morning before the sun came up -- eight people died. It really puts the effort of training into perspective....
As a participant in this program, I have pledged to raise a minimum of $1,700 for research and would like to top last year's effort and raise $5,000. Right now, an estimated 640,000 Americans are presently living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. There have been some great advances in treatment in the last few years and the money raised by the Team in Training program is a large part of the funding for this research. It's time to stop these diseases!
If you would like to donate to the cause, please click on the "Donate" link and print out the form and return it to me. You can use a credit card, or send a check made payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society". If you cannot donate at this time, I certainly understand. Maybe you could just take a moment to sign my guest book.
I've been in training for a full year now and will not stop until I've competed that 26.2 miles! My original 6-month plan became a two-year plan, and finally a five-year plan! I'm hoping to walk the Disney half-marathon this January without any help from the Disney folks! In January 2003, I hope to walk the full marathon. Then, I start working toward running instead of walking! What can I say -- I believe in having big dreams!
To keep track of how I'm doing, you can check my "Diary" pages as I continue my training. On January 6, 2002 I will be walking the Disney Half Marathon in Disney World! As I cross the finish line, I'll be 13.1 miles closer to my dream and the 640,000 Americans living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will be that much closer to a cure!
Thank you for your support!
Just to remind you about the program, Team in Training is the largest endurance training program in the U.S. They provide the coaching, training and even the travel opportunities to make an individual's athletic goals a reality. It's an unbeatable offer with great personal rewards. In exchange for the training and support, we raise money towards a cure for leukemia - the number one disease-killer of children under 15, and lymphoma, the leading killer of men and women under 35. How serious is it? Every five minutes, someone in the United States learns that they have leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
In light of the events of the past few weeks, many of this year's participants question the justification of raising money for a cause other than the relief effort. After all, thousands of people lost their lives and none of us will ever feel quite the same. Several of my teammates have considered dropping out of the program. Then, I reviewed the numbers.... Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will kill an estimated 60,400 persons in the United States this year. Every nine minutes, a child or adult dies from leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.
That means that while I was writing this letter, at least two people died of leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. While I was walking four miles in a rainstorm Saturday morning before the sun came up -- eight people died. It really puts the effort of training into perspective....
As a participant in this program, I have pledged to raise a minimum of $1,700 for research and would like to top last year's effort and raise $5,000. Right now, an estimated 640,000 Americans are presently living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. There have been some great advances in treatment in the last few years and the money raised by the Team in Training program is a large part of the funding for this research. It's time to stop these diseases!
If you would like to donate to the cause, please click on the "Donate" link and print out the form and return it to me. You can use a credit card, or send a check made payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society". If you cannot donate at this time, I certainly understand. Maybe you could just take a moment to sign my guest book.
I've been in training for a full year now and will not stop until I've competed that 26.2 miles! My original 6-month plan became a two-year plan, and finally a five-year plan! I'm hoping to walk the Disney half-marathon this January without any help from the Disney folks! In January 2003, I hope to walk the full marathon. Then, I start working toward running instead of walking! What can I say -- I believe in having big dreams!
To keep track of how I'm doing, you can check my "Diary" pages as I continue my training. On January 6, 2002 I will be walking the Disney Half Marathon in Disney World! As I cross the finish line, I'll be 13.1 miles closer to my dream and the 640,000 Americans living with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma will be that much closer to a cure!
Thank you for your support!