Will, Wind & Thanks

Written by Will...

Just completed 44 mile training ride in 20-30 mph winds....needless to say it was tough. 2 weeks ago we trained south of Dallas around Joe Pool Lake which is my least favorite training ride of the year. It is far from home, unfamiliar, hilly, and since it is by the lake it is always windy - which for those who do not ride a bike - let me be the first to tell you that wind is not always your friend when you are riding. No matter which way you turn it always seems that you are fighting it. The anticipation of the ride in the week leading up to it always makes me try to find an excuse on why I don't need to make that ride. On my final turn back toward the finish, I had about 10 miles into the wind. I thought alot about why I don't like that course and like a ton of bricks it hit me - what it must be like for our honored heros when they go to treatment - they have to leave their home, go to an unfamiliar place, usually far from home, and anticipate a variety of treatment that most likely involves needles and medication that leaves them feeling bad and unable to keep food down. After I thought about it I realized that my 10 miles into the wind was nothing in comparison and I finished with a little more perspective.

Please check out Georgia's blog by clicking on her picture to the right. Her mom Courtney assembled a team and participated in St. Baldricks. It is an awesome, inspirational event so please go to the site and look at the video and pictures. As a teaser, Courtney had her head shaved on TV in Austin the day before (photo above).

We are also happy to report that, aside from the "normal" bumps in the road, Georgia continues to do well. When you check out the blog for St. Baldricks, please leave your comments - the support that everyone shows has been amazing - we need to keep the momentum going.

Last thing, TNT made some changes to my fundraising site and the names of donors have not been moved over yet. We do anticipate that it will happen in the next few days. Thanks so much for everyone's support and we do intend to have that recognition back up soon. Thanks again for the generosity you have shown to support this cause. We are doing this in honor of Georgia - and remember - your generosity goes toward helping so many other kids just like her.

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Get Up and Go!

I found that over the course of the last 9 months I have truly enjoyed running and I think I do a decent job at it. But we all hit stubbling blocks...illness, injury, travel, work obligations and most often simply being tired.

I started running to honor Allie and her 15th year in remission. Yes, there was a bit of selfishness in it because I wanted to get back into shape but we have been involved with TNT since 1996 so my heart was in the right place. I thought training would be the struggle but it wasn't. Training with a team is fun and motivating. I was inspired every Saturday as another teammate told their mission moment (why they got involved with TNT).

My personal struggle is lacing up the shoes on my own since January. I'm no longer part of the team...I'm still an alumni and can go out and run with them but its not "my team." Will is part of the cycling team as he trains for Shiner & Tahoe and I quiz him every Saturday when he gets home from cycling....how was it? who did the mission moment? Etc, etc! Running after work is especially hard because quite frankly I'd rather be eating dinner with my family or playing with my kids. But as Will & I joke, "If Mom ain't happy, ain't no one happy" and Will knows that running makes me happy!

I also know that my running (and Will's cycling) is teaching our kids what a healthy life style is about. The picture above was their first "race"...the Piddy Paddy Dash. It was a 50 yard dash and they received a medal at the finish (plastic yet still a medal). Abi beamed all day and asked when can she do another. They were outfitted in TNT gear, of course! The healthy lifestyle is easy for them to understand - eat your fruits and veggies, treats on occassions & play outside alot (aka their exercise). But getting them to understand what we do is also about helping others is the hard part. Will has started showing Abi pictures of Georgia and explaining why she lost her hair. The kids also wear the Georgia bracelets and we include her in our prayers at night. Its a fine line because we don't want them to be scared if they get sick but we want them to begin to understand why we do what we do!

Children with cancer or anyone for that matter do not have a choice on whether they want to get up and go to treatment. Nor do they have the choice whether the cancer will win or they will...that is all in God's hands. But Will & I do have a choice...we have a choice to run, cycle and raise money to help find a cure. We make the choice to GET UP AND GO!

If you are so inclined to GET UP AND GO with us...please click on the cycling image to the right and donate to Will's fundraising. He is only about $500 away from his goal!

Go Team!

ps...Needless to say I'll be signing up with the winter TNT team again this year. : )

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No Matter Your Cause...

No matter your cause...no matter what charity you donate to...no matter how much or little you can give...DO SOMETHING and make a difference!

In memory of Layla Grace Marsh who went to play with the angels early this morning.

May she rest in peace.

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Did you know?

Did you know that each year, 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada.

In regards to blood cancers...every 4 minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every ten minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer! This statistic represents nearly 146 people each day, or more than six people every hour.

Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20. In general, the likelihood of dying from most types of leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma decreased from 1996 to 2005 (data from 06/2009). And why did it decrease...RESEARCH!

I hope you're asking...how can I help...and of course, I've got answers!

1. Make a direct donation to Will's fundraising, click the image on the right and give what you can...every $1 counts so even a $5 donation makes a difference. If you can't donate maybe you know someone who can so forward our link.

2. Got hair and live in Austin? Willing to shave it off...well join Georgia's team for St. Baldrick's and shave it off, click Georgia's image on the right to go to her blog and learn more!

3. Can't make a monetary donation, contact your local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society office and see how you can volunteer.

4. Sign up with Team in Training to train for an endurance event...get in shape, change your life and help others fight this horrible disease!

Research saves lives and in order for research to happen we must raise money!

Its not always fun asking for donations, but it is necessary to find a cure...so help us FIND A CURE!

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Heart-Wrenching

I'm not sure who is all following or even looked at our blog at this point but if ONLY ONE person sees this post I will be happy.

Today I read about a child from Houston, TX with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, Layla Grace. Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor(s) that develop from nerve tissue and it occurs in infants and children. She has had the fight of her life for the past 10 months and is losing the battle, as I type this, to this horrible disease. I cannot even phathom what her parents must be going through. The parents last post was very difficult for me to read, simply heart-wrenching, but my goal of posting this was to ask each person who reads her story to pause for a moment and say a prayer to help lessen her pain. I just can't stop thinking of her.

May God be with Layla and her family.

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