Running During Chemo

Angi Hunter with her boys at the Heels and
Hills 10k during treatment.

Angi Hunter did not let a cancer diagnosis, or the fact she was in the middle of treatment, stop her from signing up for a Team In Training event.  In the middle of her chemotherapy treatment, she fundraised for and completed the Hills and Hills 10k in Irving, TX.  Read below as she describes her cancer battle, decision to run, and why she is returning to TNT again.

"'Why I am participating in and fundraising for LLS'

The creative answer...because we just have to keep moving forward...in all things and all situations.

The general public answer...because blood (and other) cancers have touched too many people too close to me for too long.

The personal answer...because I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2010 and have watched families and friends battles in the years since then  

The long (and short of it)...smelly bathrooms and powerful reminders.  What do smelly bathrooms and powerful reminders have in common?  Anything can be motivation if you choose to view it that way.  Five years ago, I was in so much pain I no longer knew who I was.  My chest radiated pain down my left arm that would often linger up to 5 hours.  I couldn't laugh, cry, inhale, cough or sneeze without grabbing my chest and folding over from the stabbing pain.  I could no longer sleep a full night because taking too deep an inhale while asleep would shoot me out of bed in tears.  Because of constant pain and lack of sleep, I became ugly and angry and unfit to be a good mother to my boys and wife to my husband.  After more than 3 months of pain and sickness, it wasn't easy to receive a cancer diagnosis. Yet, in all the suffering, the diagnosis did offer some light and relief to what felt like a very long, dark struggle.

After my diagnosis, I was so relived to move forward and feel better...anything had to be better than the pain I was in. I had ups and downs but I knew I could handle whatever came next.  I didn't necessarily want to go through the poisonous treatments that were involved...but I knew that it was the right decision for myself and my family.  The process of getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan was time consuming and draining.  Many visits to hospitals, doctors and surgeons.  Hours in waiting spaces and sterile rooms away from my sweet boys, family and friends.  And the worst part of it all...smelly bathrooms.  Not smelly in the way you might imagine.  Smelly from the air disinfectant that hospitals use. During chemotherapy some senses dull and other heighten.  My sense of smell was off the charts and the most common things could make my stomach roll.  Oftentimes it was harder to use the restroom than it was to sit for 8 hours a day in a chemo chair.  

Determined to stay upbeat and positive, I decided to do something that supported all those fighting a cancer experience.  I had heard of Team in Training before so it seemed like the perfect time to get active.  I signed up for a local 10k.  I could go through chemo and still complete the Heels and Hills 10k in Irving, TX to raise money for LLS.  I raised well over the fundraising goal and walked and finished the event.  Heels and Hills was a memorable event shared with two friends and my immediate family. A few months after the event, I completed 6 months of chemotherapy and in the recovery years that followed, found a new normal.  

This year marks my 5 year anniversary and "cured" status. I couldn't think of a better way to honor those who continue to fight, those who survived a fight(s) and those who we lovingly remember in our hearts than to do another TNT event.  This time I was determined to run!  Through a neighborhood friend who battled breast cancer and who's daughter battled leukemia (Kelly and Lainey Thomas), I found a TNT coach close to home (Will and Dianna Bacon).  I recruited a friend (Susan Sexton) and signed up for the Cowtown Half Marathon.  Just like owning the challenge of a cancer experience, I am confident with the support of TNT, their amazing Coaches and team members, I can complete the challenge of running 13.1 miles.  As anyone who has kicked cancer knows, accomplishing your goals can be done when your heart is in it!  I may run slow, funny and with some aches and pains but at least I'm out of that chemo chair! 

To this day, a smelly (hospital) bathroom can take hold of me if I let it.  When the nauseousness sets in, I take a moment to be thankful for my health and show gratitude for the past experience. I use the same approach when my body wants to quit during the longer miles of my Half Marathon training.  I remind myself how far I've come.  I thank my body for what it has done, thank the chemo chair and call to mind those who still fight!  As I look to today's daily inspiration by Alan Weiss, it couldn't be more fitting: 'It's not what happens to you, it's what you do before it, during it and after it.'"

Meet the Coach: Claire Oliver

Claire Oliver is the coach for the North West Cities marathon team this Winter Season.  Read about Claire and how she plans to help you reach your goal with Team In Training

1.   How long have you been coaching with TNT and what was your first event? 
I've been with TNT since 2003 and have been coaching for 11 years. My first event was Capital of Texas Triathlon in Austin in May 2003.

2.   What is your style of coaching? 
I love coaching all sorts of athletes, I want training and racing to be fun. I also want to see people do their best and accomplish their personal goals. Most importantly I want everyone to keep the mission in mind.

3.  Some people are intimidated by the idea of training for a full or half marathon.  What advice would you give them? 
Just do it! When I first started with TNT I was a swimmer and couldn't even run around the block. I joined TNT and have since run around the block a bunch of times, and I love it. I know that if I could make that big of a change in my life, then you can do it too!

4.       Is there an Honored Hero that has left a lasting impact on  you?  Who and why? 
My step dad is my own personal honored hero, he is the reason I got involved with LLS and then TNT. He was diagnosed and died in 17 days in 2000. Since joining TNT I have met many other people who are winning the battle against blood cancer. Joyce Williams is a special honored hero to me. She is on the Northwest cities team and just started a clinical trial for her treatment. She comes to training every week has a beautiful smile on her face and really brings me back to why I am out there training and raising money- to fund these clinical trials that will save her life.

5.       What is the best kept secret about Team In Training? 
You don't just get to train and do a race, you meet some of your best friends through this organization! Team in Training attracts some of the most wonderful people you could ever want to meet.

6.       What is the best training advice have you ever received? 
Put your shoes on and get out the door. That is usually the hardest part, when you are running or walking you'll have a blast. 

Join Claire by registering for the Winter Season today!

Susan Allen: Honored Heroes

Hello North Texas,

This month’s blog is a little different.  In past months I’ve shared with you about a service or an event that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers or supports. This month I want to tell you about the amazing people that LLS has the honor of knowing and working beside.

We call special patients and survivors our Honored Heroes.  They have this title because we find it important to honor them and the path they and their families have walked to become survivors after a blood cancer diagnosis.  The North Texas Honored Heroes have a very special role within our organization.  They join us in various campaigns to offer support, encouragement and serve as a reminder of why we work so hard to find a cure for all blood cancers.  

As a survivor myself I can say that when you hear the words “you have cancer” it immediately makes you a member of an unlikely club.  Although you never wanted to be a member you soon find out there are amazing people in this club and their stories are powerful. Our Honored Heroes are our partners in spreading our mission: To find a cure for blood cancers and improve the quality of life for our patients and their families. 

We value our Honored Heroes and couldn't do what we do without their inspiration.

See you next month!

Susan

_______________________________________________________________________________

Susan Allen is the Patient Access Manager of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and author of this monthly blog series.  She is a 22-year Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, registered nurse and a Certified Nurse Navigator.

Contact Susan:
Susan.Allen@lls.org
(972) 996-5905

A Family of Heroes

“You wouldn’t even know Cutler ever had cancer unless he pulled up his shirt to show off his second belly button,” said Cutler Fricke’s father, Aaron.

Cutler, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, North Texas Chapter’s 2014 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament honored hero, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on September 11, 2009, just a few days shy of being six months old.

“It was like a punch to the gut, it kind of knocked all of the wind out of us,” Aaron said. “At that point we didn’t even know what leukemia really was.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, AML is only found in two of every 100,000 children less than one-year-old. In addition to the low rate of occurrence, less than 50 percent of children diagnosed with AML are cured of the disease.

Cutler was said to be in remission after the first round of chemotherapy but the doctors believed a second round of chemo would be helpful until they could find a matching donor for a blood transplant. After finding out his older brother Mason wasn’t a match, the blood bank was able to find a donor whose umbilical cord blood allowed for a successful stem-cell transplant.

Within three months of the transplant, Cutler was released from the hospital and sent home with just a G-tube—the source of his second belly button—in place until he could eat on his own again.

The transplant has since allowed for Cutler to lead the life of a normal four-year-old. He goes to school, spends time with his brother, and even plays sports like baseball and soccer.

His dad says that Cutler has even begun skating and hitting golf balls so that he can eventually play hockey and golf like his older brother, Mason.

“Golf is a big part of my life,” Aaron said. “I played in the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament for the first time last year but I ultimately hope we can compete as a family team with Mason, Cutler, my dad, and myself.”

Today the Frickes spare no opportunities to help LLS. Since Cutler has been in remission, Aaron and his wife, Melanie, have been involved with LLS through Light the Night, Team in Training, and Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament.

Fortunately the Frickes didn’t need financial assistance from the LLS, and the support from their family and friends allowed for Aaron and Melanie to be present every day that Cutler was in the hospital.

“We walked past rooms in the hospital where we would see kids all alone because their parents had to work,” Aaron said.

“It really enlightened us to the reality of the situation and helped us to see where the money and services provided by LLS is going to its best use.”

Aaron says that the compassion his family received, and the ever present need for awareness and donations is what inspires the Frickes to do whatever they can for LLS.

“When LLS asks us to do something we don’t even bat an eye,” Aaron said. “This all occurred for a reason, and we believe that reason is to help raise money for LLS so that they can find a cure and raise awareness. We just want to give back what was given to us.”

Join Culter at the 2014 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament presented by Venari Resources on Monday, May 12th by reserving your foursome now.  Register here.

John Jacob Hough, a University of North Texas student, provided this post.

Thankful Thursday: Gwen's Mission Moment

Gwen Runyan was 48 years old when she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2006.  While still reeling with the shock of diagnosis, she was stunned when doctors told her the life expectancy for this type of blood cancer was only five years.  She promptly got her affairs in order and started treatment.  When she went into remission in 2007, she pledged to be more active and started running marathons with Team In Training (TNT).  Below is the mission moment she shared with a TNT team during a recent Saturday morning training:

"I was going to make this mission moment about me because it is my 6th birthday and  I was only suppose to live five years.  Because of this past weekend I realized that I had almost forgotten how terrifying cancer is. You see it's always in the back of our minds and sometimes little things trigger the memories. As a cancer patient, every time you get sick, every time something hurts, we always think the cancer is back.  That is why I want to tell you how important what you are doing is. Not just the fundraising, but the friends we make and knowing someone cares.  As cancer patients go through chemo it very hard to make decisions about our health and the worries about money.  Ask yourself when you are healthy how would I make it if I had to be off work and still pay bills?  How would I handle driving myself to a clinic three hours away if no one was there to help?  How would I manage a $130,000 hospital bill even if I had insurance because its not all covered. Do you sacrifice buying food or not pay the mortgage? These are actual things that caner patients go through on top of trying to get better. This is where you are so very important the money you raise, the time you give or the random phone call you make to ask how someone is doing means so much. When you raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society you are giving a cancer patient a chance to get through the hard parts without worrying about some of the everyday things. When you raise money its not just for a cancer patient it’s also for the family that doesn’t know how they will make it through another day, and it’s for all of you because you don’t know who the next person will be.  If we don’t do it then the help and the money will not be there. So the next time you are fundraising and you think well I don’t like to bother people think how that person you didn’t want to bother would feel if next week it was them and no one cared.  I have not ever had one person tell me not to email them or not to call them.  I have not had one person say that’s not what I want to give money to. It is my experience if they don’t want to they will just not respond for some reason, maybe things are tight right then. In a couple weeks send a reminder. You will be surprised the next time you fundraise they will be the first one to donate. For example, my 80-year-old aunt donated $25 and I haven’t seen her in 30 years. Maybe she knows someone with cancer or maybe she just had a few extra dollars, either way if you keep your site out there on the social networks you will get to your goal. So I just want to thank each and every one of you for what you do. It’s a big responsibility that we all take very seriously. Keep moving my friends!"

Get involved with Team In Training today.  

Register for the Spring Season at www.teamintrainting.org/ntx

Mission Monday: Specialist Thompson

On June 9, 2013 U.S. Army Specialist Warren Thompson completed the Wounded Warrior Half Marathon in Irving as a summer participant with Team In Training (TNT).　 Warren is a familiar face to many TNT participants in North Texas, as he was a marathon coach for several years prior to enlisting in the Army in the fall of 2011 to become a combat medic.　 In January Warren reunited with TNT, but this time as a participant.　 Throughout the summer season (when he didn’t have Army commitments), he made the almost-three-hour commute from Fort Hood in Killeen, where he’s currently stationed, to Grapevine to join his North West Cities teammates for Saturday morning trainings.　 Not only that, he trained for the race wearing his 45-pound Army rucksack to honor his fellow military service members and those wounded in action.　 On race day, Warren represented the Army and TNT well – wearing both his fatigues and his purple race jersey (and his heavy rucksack)!　 We congratulate Warren on a successful race and season with TNT, and extend our sincere gratitude to Specialist Thompson for his service to our country.

Mission Monday: Brian Druker, M.D.

For more than sixty years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has supported groundbreaking and lifesaving research.  One of the most notable researchers LLS has supported is Brian Druker, M.D.  He was a leader during the 1990s in the development of Gleevec, a revolutionary "targeted therapy" approved by the FDA in 2001 for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.  Recent studies show that more than 90% of nearly diagnosed early stage chronic myeloid leukemia patients can expect to survive long-term.  Dr. Druker is a large reason why that number is so high. 

Watch this video to find out what piqued Dr. Druker's interest in blood cancers early in his career.

Mother's Day Profile: Jane Beeson

When I was three and my sister was eight months old, suffered the loss of our mother at the tender age of 26 years old from ovarian cancer. This was the major event of my life. The loss of my mother has had an effect on every aspect of my life. The life that followed her death was anything but normal. My dad did his very best but his manly ways often fell short of a mother’s touch. Believe me we have stories! We were the original latch keys kids. I grew up way before my time. My childhood was stolen by cancer. Because my life growing up was so abnormal, I longed for normalcy. So, it is no surprise that I married a doctor, had two children, a girl and a boy, and lived in suburbia. The Kool-aid mom.

This was what I always wanted. I loved to cook, sew, and garden. This authentic Southern lady came by it naturally being born in Mobile, Alabama. And so it went for about 20 years. Then as fate would have it, I was cooking dinner when I discovered a lump on my neck. Not really suspecting cancer, I went to get it checked out. They did a biopsy and gave me a diagnosis of a very rare benign cancer of the nerve sheath. I decided to go for a second opinion and made the appointment. Right before the appointment, being Christmas time and all, I decided to have the surgery in my home town, since it was benign. One day before the surgery, the head of the head and neck department at MD Anderson called me personally and urged me to keep the second opinion appointment before the surgery. If anyone knows anything about medical office procedure, often the doctor does not know when a patient cancels an appointment. I felt this was divine intervention. I was on my way to MD Anderson within two hours. After five biopsies,( apparently the tumor was very difficult to reach, tucked in behind a neck muscle), the tests revealed Hodgkin Lymphoma.

My life and my family’s life turned on a dime. How could this be… not now. It was Christmas, this was my daughter’s senior year in high school, my son was playing varsity sports. Could cancer again steal from my life and the lives of my children? The answer was yes. Due to the fact that I was not responsive to treatment, I had numerous chemotherapies, radiation and ended with a bone marrow transplant. I lived for the most part of a year in Houston, TX - eight hours away from my home and family. This obviously had a great impact on my children. I missed my daughter’s high school graduation, against medical advice I went to her Deb presentation in a medical mask, only to have to go to the hospital the very next day. We were all striving to keep the family going. My husband moved my daughter to UT in Austin. It was very hard for me to miss these milestones. With the seriousness of my illness, my daughter found it hard to focus on her studies, and decided to leave UT and come home to go to a local college to be by me. I read in a book that children can take a parent’s diagnosis in different ways. The author said some children act out with reckless behavior, in a way saying take me instead. That was very true in regard to my son. And because of his struggles, the situation was getting out of control. My husband put him in military school. My son took my diagnosis very hard. I will never forget the day that he spoke of anything related to my cancer diagnosis. Believe it or not, it was a year after I was home. As I was getting ready to go to a check- up he walked into the kitchen and casually said, 'I hope your check-up goes good Mom.' I just kept making the sandwich, but my heart was so touched. We were moving forward. It had been so hard for him to talk about it. Amazing how maturity can make a difference. His favorite saying now days is "Adjust and Conquer".

After my recovery, it was my passion to do everything in my power to help others diagnosed with cancer and their families. I formed a non-profit organization in my home town, and today I have been working with those impacted by cancer for almost eight years with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So as Mother’s Day approaches, instead of gifts, I urge everyone to think about giving the gift of time. When cancer strikes it steals time from our lives. Through cancer research we can change this.

Consider making a donation in memory or in honor of a mother in your life. She could have been stricken with this disease herself, she could have been a caregiver, or if cancer has not touched your family, this donation goes a long way to make sure it never does.

Mother and grandmother cherishing every moment,

Jane Beeson

If you would like to take time to honor a mother, like Jane, in your life please consider making a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this Mother's Day.

Make a donation online and a letter of recognition of your gift will be sent to the mother you are honoring with your donation. You are also welcome to mail in a donation to: LLS, Attn: Mother's Day, 8111 LBJ Fwy., Ste 425, Dallas, TX 75251.

Thank you and Happy Mother's Day from the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Mother's Day Profile: Rhonda Baker

Almost 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin's lymphoma. For the next seven months, illness dominated my life and the lives of my family.　My mother, sister and son were my caregivers, chauffeurs, chefs, Christmas decorators and cheerleaders. Someone was always was available to drive me to my chemo treatments.

My mother desperately wanted to mother me, move in and take care of me.　Both my sister and I thought that would be too hard on her, and probably me too.　She had just turned 80, and we were at that precarious place in life where the children begin to take care of the parent. She did, however, sit by my hospital bed, and, when it was her turn, sit by my side in the chemo infusion room for hours. She was the first one to see the awful wig, and told me I looked pretty. She called me every morning to make sure I was awake (alive, I think), but also to make sure I was alert enough to get to work. Mostly, she just wanted to be with me, and I know she felt helpless that there was not much she could do to help me get better.

　

My sister, being the elder and accustomed to mothering me, came over whenever I wanted fresh sheets, since I didn't have enough strength to make a bed. She often would ask me over for a meal, and made sure everything she fixed was unseasoned to accommodate my chemo burned stomach.　My niece visited me every day during my short hospital stay. She would bring her three year　old and three month old. Holding that baby was better therapy than any medicine.　One of my sister's friends donated a much better wig.　When one of my friends realized I was barely eating, she would leave work early the evening before my chemo, and pick me up for a meal out.　Another friend often would surprise me with homemade chicken soup.　God bless these generous and caring women.

My son and his wife would move in and 'mom sit' for a couple of days following each bi-weekly chemo treatment. They tried to help me eat and sip water (it hurt), would sit with me when I couldn't sleep, and just comfort me with their presence. I cherish the gift of their time and care. It couldn't have been easy.

I became involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) through Light the Night and over the years we have participated in several of the annual events. In 2009, I challenged myself to get off the sidelines and participate in Team in Training, and have since walked five half-marathons - because I can! We are saving lives one mile at a time, whether it's two miles at a Light The Night Walk, or the longer miles of Team In Training events. It is my belief that The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funded the research that discovered and developed the medicines that have prolonged my life and I am incredibly grateful for their mission.

For more than 12 years I have been able to experience so many of life's joys, watch my son continue on his life's journey, and for five years, known the spectacular joy of being Nana to a delightful grandson. I have felt the sorrow of saying goodbye to both my mother and sister, who each in their own way gave so much to me my entire life. I have learned that the challenge of fighting and beating cancer has helped me open doors I would never have noticed, met people who have become fast friends, and especially I have learned to appreciate that every day of life is a precious gift.

If you would like to take time to honor a mother, like Rhonda, in your life please consider making a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this Mother's Day.

Make a donation online

or via mail and a letter of recognition of your gift will be sent to the mother you are honoring with your donation. You are also welcome to mail in a donation to: LLS, Attn: Mother's Day, 8111 LBJ Fwy., Ste 425, Dallas, TX 75251.

Thank you and Happy Mother's Day from the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Freebie Friday: Meet Mark Lenz, Board of Trustees Member

Mark Lenz, center, shakes hands with old friends at the
2011 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament.

My introduction to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society came rather abruptly in 1995 when a friend and former colleague of mine was diagnosed with leukemia.　 Up until then, I did not personally know anybody that had been diagnosed with cancer, much less a cancer of the blood.　 Jim Willis and I worked together at Arthur Anderson for several years before his diagnosis.　

During that fight against leukemia, Jim met Bob Barker, another leukemia patient at UT Southwestern and avid golfer.　 Together, they decided to combine their love of golf with the personal battles they were both waging to beat leukemia. 　The first Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament was held in the Spring of 1997 and all of the proceeds benefited The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and its mission to find a cure for blood cancers.　 The tournament was made up of a small group of dedicated people who stood behind Jim and Bob and their fight to beat leukemia.　 Sadly, shortly after the first event Jim lost his battle, leaving behind his wife and two young children.　 Bob, along with Jim’s family and friends, used his passing as motivation to grow the tournament and continue to give money to LLS in Jim’s honor.　　 What had started as a golf tournament took on a much deeper purpose for all of the golfers involved.

I played in and fundraised for the golf tournament in Jim’s honor the first couple of years but it was not enough.　 I wanted to do more.　 It was then that I decided to join the Links Fore Leukemia Golf tournament committee and work with a team of people to plan and execute the tournament.　 We worked relentlessly to recruit new sponsors, attract golfers and make it one of Dallas/Fort Worth’s most exclusive golf tournaments.　 Every person who has ever served on the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament committee or supported our event is proud of the tournament, what it represents and the impact it is having on the cutting-edge research LLS is funding.　

Not long after I got involved with the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament’s committee, I took the next step and joined the Board of Trustees for the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.　 This is a role I have served in for the last several years.　

I am proud to say that Jim’s tournament co-founder, Bob Barker, survived his battle with leukemia and remains very involved with the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament.　 He is instrumental in recruiting sponsors and players and carrying on the true mission of the event.　 Bob still suffers from a number of serious side effects following his bone marrow transplant many years ago but that has not dampened his spirit and determination to find a cure for blood cancers.　　 He will at the 2013 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament on Monday, May 6^th.　 I have never seen anyone work harder for the cause and not feel sorry for the hand he has been dealt.　

Recently, I have been able to put one of my other passions to work for LLS.　 I took up photography several years ago and enjoy the challenge of making images tell a story.　 LLS events in North Texas provide me an opportunity to capture many different stories; whether it’s　 a recovering patient, a long term survivor, a family honoring the memory of a lost loved one.　　 I have taken photos at the Big D Climb, the Leukemia Cup Regatta, the Lonestar Blood Cancer Conference and at the Light the Night walks in Fort Worth and Dallas.　 I hope that some of the images will tell a story that will inspire others to participate in LLS events.

The main reason I continue to work with the Board of Trustees and on the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament is to help raise funds and awareness so that those survivors like Bob can have a better chance at a normal life and that more blood cancer patients can join Bob as a survivor.

Registration for the 2013 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament Presented by Safety-Kleen is now open.  Click here to register and learn more about the tournament on Monday, May 6th.  Golfers will tee off on both the Old American and The Tribute Golf Courses in this scramble tournament.  Reserve your spot today! 

Mission Monday: Why I Train

Not everyone who joins Team In Training (TNT) or raises money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has a direct connection to blood cancers.　 Many may not have a direct connection to any cancer and join for the health benefits and good cause. Funds raised for LLS research have gone on to help with treatments and progress towards cures for a countless number of other diseases from breast cancer to Alzheimer's.

Alumnus and Team Captain Kathleen Robinson shares these thoughts on being part of Team In Training:

What TNT means to me? Focused Purpose.　　

I am　here to help find a cure for blood-related cancers and give my time and resources to help others.　I really got involved with TNT partly for selfish reasons and partly to give back.　 My niece, Sarah, was 7 years old when she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer in the muscles. 　When her parents took her to the doctor, they were told she simply had a cyst just beneath the skin, and that they would remove and she would be good to go. However, when doctors cut the skin, they found something very different.　　It was a year of not knowing if Sarah would make it or not.　When she felt well enough, she participated in several fund raising events with Wipe Out Kids Cancer and Make A Wish Foundation. 　

I looked into getting involved, but those organizations just were not a good fit for me.　 So, one morning while at　a boot camp, our instructor made the comment about a group called Team In Training that was training to hike the Grand Canyon.　 It peaked my interest, so I went home and looked up the group online.　 I signed up that day! 　I am in marketing and felt that, if every person I knew would give $5, I would easily exceed my fund raising goal and be helping the cause, plus get to do something that I would never do on my own.　　Fundraising did not happen quite the way I thought it would, but　I did reach my goal. 　Thankfully, my niece just celebrated her 22nd birthday and was told she is at no greater risk than anyone else to have cancer.　 What a blessing!　 I want the same for every other family.　 I cannot imagine having to bury one of my nieces or nephews let alone a child of my own. This is what keeps me coming back a couple seasons each　year to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through TNT.　　There　are a　two things that motivate me to continue fundraising and training with TNT -- the hope of a cure and a great exercise program for myself.　 Yes, TNT gives me "focused purpose."　

Freebie Friday: Meet Greg Clarkson, President of the North Texas Board of Trustees

Greg and his son, Ryan, volunteering the
morning of the 2013 Big D Climb

Greg Clarkson, President of the North Texas Board of Trustees, shares in his own words why he is involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.



We are all called to volunteer at some time during our lives. I urge you to answer the calling. It is an opportunity to use your talents and resources in a way that helps your neighbor, your community, or a stranger in need. My calling was to the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I am finishing my sixth year as a member of the Board of Trustees and serving my final year as President of the Board. As I make the transition from an active Board member to the Advisory Board, I have taken a moment to reflect on how I became involved with the Society and it's mission to cure blood cancer.

I have not personally had the pain of losing a family member to blood cancer or any cancer for that matter. Prior to becoming a Board member, I did not know anyone that had leukemia or lymphoma nor did I even know that these were afflictions of the blood. I didn't spend much time in hospitals or around doctors or sick people. I am in the banking industry and manage a nationwide small business lending unit for BBVA Compass in Dallas Texas. Our bank used LLS' Light the Night function as our annual employee participation event. This gave our employees a chance to raise money for a charitable cause while remembering friends and family members that had been impacted by the disease. We would all gather with other fundraisers during an October evening and literally Light the Night with glowing balloons honoring those who have fought the cancer fight. This is how it started for me.

After meeting the LLS staff at the North Texas Chapter I knew that these were the people that had the energy and the desire to tirelessly fundraise, educate, and work for the cause. After meeting the scientists and doctors, I knew that this was the cutting edge research at the headwaters of all cancer breakthroughs. This is a disease that can attack anybody at anytime. There is no early warning, no lifestyle change, no preventive maintenance. There is only the need for a cure. So, we volunteers reach out to our friends, family, co-workers, customers, and communities, to help us raise funds for research and a cure. We ask for time, we ask for money, we ask for donation items, or we ask for a moment to tell you about someone that has touched our lives. If not by their name, at least by the way we remember the expression on their face as they traveled on their cancer journey.

During my tenure, I have seen things that would make your hair stand up on end and I have seen things that would make your hair fall out. I have seen the hair grow back and the smiles return. I have seen life renewed and living regained. I have seen the dedication and selflessness of healthcare workers, volunteers, fundraisers, researchers, and legislative advocates. I have seen family and friends, young and old, search for the words to answer the question "why me?".  I volunteered to fill a need and that need remains great.

If you feel it is time to volunteer, don't wait any longer. Even if you have not been personally impacted by blood cancer or fear you cannot make a difference, I can assure you that your efforts will be honored. It is the most rewarding thing you will experience. So take the first step and give T

This month The Dallas Morning News ran an article about a breakthrough treatment that cured a particularly nasty form of leukemia in a few patients. The article was a reminder that everyday somebody is being cured of blood cancer. Someday, everybody will be cured of blood cancer. Let's make that someday, today.

Mission Monday: Celebrating Team In Training's Rich History



Commemorating a 25th anniversary is a timeless tradition.　 And the North Texas Chapter of Team In Training invites you to celebrate this extraordinary milestone at the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at the Westin Galleria.

Over the last quarter century Team In Training and its thousands of athletes have raised more than $1.3 billon, funded countless new programs and lifesaving drugs, touched the lives of thousands of families, while creating an organization of lifelong friendships. Now that is something to celebrate!

So leave your workout shoes at home, put on your finest clothes and join us for a beautiful evening that includes a delicious three-course dinner and a silent auction benefiting TNT.

Tickets are $85 per person are available now from your local Team In Training Staff.

Get a group together, buy a table of eight, and make it a memorable evening with teammates.　

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Thankful Thursday: An Inspirational Letter



The Williams family at the LLS Volunteer
Appreciation Night at the Texas Legends.

Below is an inspirational letter Kirsa Williams wrote to inspire a Team In Training team as they work to raise money and train for an upcoming event.

Dear Team,

I want to tell you about our amazing three year old little boy, Bennett. Our lives were forever changed on April 9^th of 2011. We were sitting in an exam room in the ER at Children’s Hospital waiting on blood test results, when a team of doctors entered the room and gave us the news that our 13 months old son had leukemia. From that moment on, our entire family started the fight against cancer. In support of our baby boy who was even too young to speak, we educated ourselves on blood cancer, and learned what we needed to do, and where we needed to go to give him the best chance at survival. His chemotherapy treatment would last a little longer than 3 years, with the first 9 months being the toughest. Since his diagnosis, he has endured several rounds of chemotherapy, bone marrow tests, lumbar punctures, blood transfusions, and many days and nights at the hospital. Watching Bennett receive treatment for leukemia is the hardest thing my husband and I have ever had to do. We would trade places with him in a heartbeat.

These past couple of years have taught us the meaning of community, friendship, faith, and grace. It showed us the faces of true courage and strength in the children and the families that we have met along this journey. Some who are no longer with us, some who fight on in vein, and some who are winning the battle; all of whom share the same indomitable spirit. Whether you joined TNT to run in honor of someone, in memory of someone, or because you are a survivor yourself, my family thanks you so much for taking on this challenge. It is because of people like you that my sweet boy can run and jump and play like a normal three year old should! Thank you for a being a part of finding a cure!

Blessing to you all, and good luck training for your race!

Kirsa Williams

Mission Monday: First Connection Program

Would you like to reach out to others

diagnosed with Leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma,

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Myeloma or MDS?

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s

First Connection Program

connects patients and their families with individuals who have personally experienced the challenges of dealing with a diagnosis of a blood cancer.

We are currently looking for patients, parents and caregivers who

are at least one year post treatment/acute phase who want to listen

and help newly diagnosed patients understand the road ahead.

If you are interested – our next training session is

Saturday, April 6, 2013

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(lunch will be provided)

All interested persons must complete an application

and a short phone interview.

Space is limited – please call or email to reserve your spot.

We need patients with all blood cancer diagnosis who have been
treated within the past three to five years. We have a particular need for
parents of children with a blood cancer, patients with CLL, MDS and
multiple myeloma and caregivers of all blood cancers.

Contact:

Kim Brown - Patient Services Manager

Kim.Brown@lls.org

(972) 996-5905

Thankful Thursday: Light The Night in the Fast Lane



Meet Nick McDonald.  This is his first year participating in the Light The Night Walk (LTN) and he is getting off to a fast start with his team "Riding for Nancy."  He put The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) logo on the side of his motorcycle to raise awareness and money for LTN at the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association.  Nick is riding in honor of his sister, Nancy, who is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia.  So far Team Riding for Nancy is already making an impact in the racing circuit by taking first place in multiple races and spreading awareness of the work LLS does.  Way to go Nick!

 

If you would like to join Nick in the 2013 Light The Night Walks, registration is now open.  Register at lightthenight.org/ntx today!

Wordless Wednesday: Lone Star Blood Cancer Conference



Mission Monday: Touching Speech at 2013 Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show



Dawn Mellon speaking at the 2013 Saint Valentine's
Day Luncheon and Fashion Show



Dawn Mellon, a non-hodgkin's lymphoma survivor gave a touching speech during lunch at the 2013 Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show on Tuesday, February 12th at the Myerson Symphony Center.  Below is the transcript of her inspiring speech.



"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

LIFE IS LIFE, FIGHT FOR IT!

…says Mother Teresa..

I began THE FIGHT FOR MY LIFE when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Of course, my first reaction was disbelief,

I’m too young – and quite, frankly – too busy to have cancer. After all, I have a husband, two children to raise and a fast-paced career. I don’t have time for this

But, all that didn’t really matter.

Because, in the blink of an eye, I went from a full-time fashion stylist to a full-time cancer patient.

In a week’s time, I had a litany of diagnostic scans, biopsies, and surgeries.

My prognosis?

I’ve been given a 70% chance of reaching the 5-year mark, the point at which, if the cancer doesn’t recur, I will be considered ‘cured.’

Scared, shocked and still in complete disbelief, I began chemotherapy.

Two and a half weeks later, I no longer recognized my reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back at me, the woman who ironically made a career out of helping people look their best, was now bald and scarred.

No hair.

No eye lashes.

Two very visible and rather unsightly scars from two biopsies.

A third scar under which the port, used for IV administration of the chemotherapy, protruded an inch from my skin.

When I wasn’t sick in bed from the chemotherapy treatments,

My morning routine consisted of:

Taking a shower;


Positioning double stick tape on my bald head:


Donning my wig;


Applying false eye lashes;


Finding clothes that covered my scars and my port; and


Putting on my ‘game face.’

Mothers care for the sick. Mothers don’t get sick.

I didn’t choose cancer. Cancer chose me.

But, now I had to choose: How would I live (or die) with this life-threatening illness?

The choice was easy. A great husband, two equally -great children, and an even greater God.

Armed with my faith in the Lord and the best medical care possible, I decided, for me, cancer wasn’t going to be a death sentence; it was going to be a life sentence.

And, it was, in many ways, thanks to people like you…people who are sitting in the audience today…my husband, some of my dearest friends, as well as complete strangers.

During my journey, I got to see people at their very best…a side, that, sadly, many others don’t get to see.

And, let me tell you what people do when they’re at they’re very best…let me tell you what I experienced:

I sat through ONE HUNDRED hours of chemotherapy and was never – even for a minute – alone. I always had a friend by my side;

Simultaneously, someone else was running errands for me;

And, others were cooking for my family;

In fact, I received more than 50 home cooked meals;

Two of my neighbors drove my daughter to and from dance class 72 times; and

I received hundreds of cards, e-mails, text messages flowers and, other thoughtful gifts.

What I can’t quantify, however, are the number of prayers sent up by my family, my friends total strangers.

I can’t tell you how many times I’d be introduced to someone and he or she would say, ‘Oh, I know you, our Sunday school class is praying for you or your name is on my prayer chain.’

Perhaps the most impressive story I have to share is when a nun from Ireland sent my photograph to the Sisters of Calcutta who placed it on Mother Teresa’s tomb and prayed for me every day. A gesture initiated by, my sister-in-law who lives in Cincinnati.

I literally had people from Texas to Ireland to India praying on my behalf. In many cases, total strangers banning together for me.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to help a stranger.

I don’t know many of you, and, likewise, many of don’t know me, nor do we know that all the people who have, are or will be affected by Leukemia or Lymphoma in their life times.

But, I believe in YOU, I believe in YOUR GOODNESS…I’ve seen it… I believe in your ability to extend yourselves for others the way so many did when I was in need.

You’ve already helped by being here today.

But, there is more that you can do and you can do it now…by purchasing a raffle ticket or by making a further donation.

And, while you many not think your single contribution will have much of an impact, I hope after hearing my story I’ve demonstrated what, collectively, a single gesture, can do.

As Mother Teresa said,’ LIFE IS LIFE, FIGHT FOR IT!

I am alive and in remission today because I put my trust in God and because of the many advancements in modern medicine…yes, medicine has come a long way…but, we still don’t have a cure.

Your contribution will go toward finding that cure.

And, when that day comes, events like this one are no longer necessary because we’ll be able to count cancer among other life-threatening diseases of the past."

　

To learn more about the Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, please visit:  saintvalentinesdayluncheon.org

Freebie Friday: Meet an LLS-Funded Researcher & His Incredible Discovery

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has given Dr. Carl June more than $18 million to fund his blood cancer research and as you will see from this remarkable video, the investment is paying off.  Dr. June is just one of the thousands of researchers LLS has funded since its inception.  In 2011 alone, LLS invested more than $68 million in cutting edge research.  Cures are coming and LLS is driving it.

Mission Monday: Ray Johnston

When the North Texas chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) hosted a volunteer appreciation event at the Texas Legends in early February, Ray Johnston volunteered to sing Gold Bless America.  He has a strong connection to LLS, being the 2012 Linda Adleta Heart of Gold Award winner at the Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, but also as a blood cancer survivor.

Ray was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. He played basketball for The University of Alabama and for the Dallas Mavericks until he was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2004 marking the end of his professional basketball career. Ray’s leukemia has relapsed 4 times but as of June 2011, he is beating the disease.

Ray taught himself to play guitar and thanks to basketball, he understands the importance of having top-notch teammates. Ray secured some of the best talent in the industry; hip-hop, jazz and soul heavy-weights Keith Anderson and Bobby Sparks to form the Ray Johnston Band.

Ray’s supporters; family, friends and strangers alike continue to help his dream grow into reality.