When I first signed up with Team in Training in 2006, I didn't have any close personal connections to cancer. This time around life is very different.

My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2009.

My friend and co-worker, Cindy, was also diagnosed with neuroblastoma in July 2008. Sadly, she lost her battle on July 15, 2010.

For these people, I train and fundraise and even though it sucks at times, they are worth it.

Click on the images to the left to read more.

FACTS

Leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes are cancers that develop in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues. They are considered to be related diseases because they each originate in a lymphohematopoietic (lymph or blood-forming) stem cell. These so-called “blood cancers” probably result from one or more acquired mutations to the DNA of a single cell, leading to the production of new mutated cells that multiply and survive without the controls of normal cells. The accumulation of mutated (malignant) cells in the marrow, blood, lymphatic tissue and other sites in the body interferes with the production of normal blood and immune cells.

Did you know that this year 1 Canadian will be diagnosed with a blood cancer every 37.5 minutes, and that every 79 minutes one Canadian will die from blood cancer? In the US that number is 1 every 4 minutes.

Did you know that Leukemia remains the most common and deadly of all childhood cancers?

Did you know that more advances have been made in the treatment of Leukemia than in any other cancer?

In the past 40 years, the five-year survival rate for children with the most common form of leukemia has more than tripled!

The five-year survival rate for non-Hodgkin lymphoma has risen from 31% to 52% since 1960. In children, the five-year survival rate is now 78%.

MY STORY

I joined Team in Training (TNT) in January 2006. I had been running for 4 months at the time. I was looking for a challenge, a way to make a positive contribution and meet new people in Vancouver. I signed up for the Vancouver International Marathon , what was to be my longest run EVER. 42.2k, the 0.2k being the hardest! I completed my marathon in 4:57:13. This is something I never thought I could do. That same year, I continued with the program as a mentor, helping new participants get through the fundraising and the training. We went to San Francisco in October 2006 and I ran the Nike Women's Half Marathon. In 2006, I raised a total of $5000 from family, friends, fundraisers... It was definitely was no small task. Visit my original fundraising page here.

In 2007, the first Western Canada TNT triathlon team was established. I joined Rick, my coach, who I had met while marathon training, as a mentor with the group. I completed a mini sprint and sprint triathlon that spring before spending 6 months on the east coast.

On September 28, 2008, I completed the Honolulu Century Ride (a mere 160km/100 miles). I raised $5000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I decided to participate again this year, 2010, as I truly believe this is my way to make a difference. On May 30, 2010 I begin training for the Vancouver Triathlon, where I will swim, bike, run in Stanley Park on September 6, 2010. My goal is to raise $4000.

THE ORGANIZATION

Team in Training is the world's largest sports endurance training program. Since its founding in 1949, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has invested more than $480 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Team In Training honoured teammates are men, women and children who have fought or are fighting blood cancers. To read more about their stories, click on the photos to the left.

THANKS TO MY 2010 SPONSORS!
Ros Arbuckle
Dan Arnold
Faezeh Azhari
Kerstin Bleitgen
Alec Bound
Andrew Chad
Kenneth Chan
Kwang Sek Chan
Susan & Darrell Chaisson
Mike Coghlin
Jason Corrigan
John Cross
Fergus Denomey
Maria Denomey
Shauna Denomey
Caroline Dixon
Maarten Egbers
Steve Egeland
Sara Fumagalli
Jessica Hon
Norma Horozian
John Jacob
Ling Lo
Matt Lum
Yumi Maihara
Arshia Mandegarian
Graham Morgan
Peter Leekah
Jordan O'Farrell
Joe Scholte
Francis Setiadi
Shashi Shrivastava
James Smith
Susan Smith
Ker Sung
Daniel Tillie
Victoria Venturini
Mark Waterworth
Steven and Roberta Wax
Don Wen

THANKS TO MY 2008 SPONSORS!
anonymous
Adam Bright
"Montgomery Burns"
Susan and Darrell Chaisson
Kenneth Chan
Brendan Chard
Mike Coghlin
Caroline Dixon
Richard Fraser
Barry Freeman
Joshua Garner
Laura Hay
Nigel Hendricken
Dennis Hughes
Susan Hyde
Dean Jacobson
Jorge Jeldres
Paul and Marilyn Keating
Anne Lake
Bill Lake
Mae MacLean
Olivia Newcombe
David Pickup
Adam Plomske
Winifred Richards
Charles Seaborn
Francis Setiadi
Jane Shkolnik
Carol Sissons
Rona Smith
Susan Smith
Chad Starr
John Sterni
Mike Tranmer
Steven and Roberta Wax
Lise Wearing
Gan Wong
604-TRASH-IT
Hanky Panky

THANKS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORTED MY 2008 FUNDRAISERS!
Hanky Panky Party $268.21
Yuk Yuk's Comedy Night $206.75
Save-On Foods Hot Dog BBQ $160.00
Purdy's Chocolate Bar Sales $80.00
80's Prom Cosmic Bowling Night $149.00