Big News, Bigger Event!

I know, I know...Will just finished fundraising for his half marathon and we are asking again for a donation...but here's why...we still don't have a cure! So until we do Will and I are going to keep doing events and keep fundraising! Plus it is the 25th anniversary of TEAM IN TRAINING!

However, this event is BIG...go big or go home, right?  

We are training for a HALF DISTANCE TRIATHLON. Ever heard of an Ironman event? Well this is a half ironman but not an ironman event (by name)...but it is the same distance. We will be swimming 1.2-miles, cycling 56-miles, and finishing it off with a half marathon (13.1-mile run) on September 29 at the Kerrville Triathlon.

Now doesn't that deserve a donation...that's a total of 70.3 miles!

As always we train and fundraise in honor of those who have fought the battle with cancer.

HONORED HERO SURVIVORS:

Allie - Allie is my niece and just turned 19. She is an 'ALL' survivor and will be celebrating 19 years of remission this December. She is in her first year of college and was named the Overall Honored Hero for North Texas.

Georgia - Georgia celebrated her 1-year off treatment this April 29. She is a true warrior who fought against 'ALL' and won. We have been blessed to know her and her family and have followed along on her journey.

Grayson - Grayson is completing kindergarden year this June after it being interrupted with his diagnosis in fall of 2011 with 'ALL'. He is currently in the maintainence phase of treatment and has two more years. His mom (Kalee) and are train together often.

Nory - Nory was diagnosed with 'CML' in February 2012 at the age of 2. I met her mom shortly after. Nory is currently taking medication to help with CML but she will require a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately her brother is a match.

James - "ALL" survivor...finished chemo summer 2011! I met James' parents in winter season '09. They were BOTH training for White Rock. James' story hit home to me on one of the coldest training days of that season. His parents were also on the winter '10 season and occassionally brought James and his twin brothers to train...it was awesome to have them on the course with us...always an inspiration!

Philip - "ALL" survivor...finished chemo summer 2011. I met Suzanne...Philip's mom on the winter '10 team. When I heard Philip's mission moment on September 18, 2010, my heart hurt but he's a one tough and strong boy. I am continuing amazed by him and his family.

Chad H. - Chad is a lymphoma survivor and interestingly enough the only adult on this page. Chad and his wife Christina have become good friends over the past year and half. Both are TNT alums and I ran my last event side-by-side with Chad who PRed that day -- nothing is more motivating then running next to a survivor!

HONORED HERO ANGELS:

In memory of...Griffin, Mavrick and Noah. All three boys who left this world way too young and too early. Each of their families regularly participate in TNT events.

Your donation is vital to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. We are improving the quality of our lives by participating in these events as well as showing our own children what it means to give and help others. But more important with YOUR SUPPORT we can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families! If you want to see what those funds do and how they save lives...watch this 3 minute video....you will be amazed!

Please make a donation by clicking here or the 70.3 image on right-side of page...in support of my efforts with Team In Training...the goal is $2500. Every dollar helps pave the way to a cure!

With love and gratitude for your continued support throughout the years!

-Dianna & Will

share on: FACEBOOK

A boy named Griffin...

Saturday's mission moment was given by Jessica. I first met Jessica through Team in Training in winter '09. It took us almost the entire season to strike up a conversation but after that we've been friends since and this is our 2nd season mentoring together. Jessica's mission moment is below...typed in her words.

When I first started this in 2009, like a lot of people, I did not have any type of connection to the cause. I was a member of a Moms Group and it was suggested that some of us put together relay teams for The White Rock Marathon and fundraise for Team In Training. Most of my friends did not know what TNT was but I did. I also knew that there was NO WAY this group of moms could run 6 or 7 miles. I knew what it takes to be a runner and I knew that we didn’t have it. It’s hard. Really hard. And I knew this not because I am or was a runner but because I’ve been exposed to running and races my entire life. My dad is a runner. All his friends are runners. Not occasional runners. Good runners. Fast runners. All of our family vacations were planned around marathons. He ran Boston and New York often. He always BQ’d (Boston Qualified) and was over 50 with a finish time well below 3:30 (New York’s requirements). Again, he is good.

So when my friends suggested we do this I thought they were out of their mind. Crazy. A few of us exercised regularly (not me of course) but none of us had ever run. So with no intention of signing up, I reluctantly went to the TNT informational meeting. I listened to the coach tell how anyone could so this. Still not convinced. I listened to a mentor say how fundraising is not as hard as it seems. Still no go. And then Monique Yarbrough got up to talk about her connection to the cause…

I remember her words like she said them yesterday. “My name is Mo and I am here to tell you about a boy named Griffin.” Her son Griffin was 2 when he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. He was 6 when he lost his battle with cancer. All I could think about was my son Grant, 6 at the time. That I get to go home and kiss him goodnight and that Mo didn’t. That here she is telling us why she walks and raises money. It hit me so deep. Would I be this brave if the roles were reversed? Could I do what she was doing? I don’t know. But I could figure out a way to run and raise money. So as I’m crying for this woman I have never met, I signed up. Because of Mo’s story - Griffin’s story – I committed to run not the relay but a half marathon.

And then I get home and have a bit of buyers remorse. What have I done? What have I gotten myself into? I decide I need to run a few miles before actual training starts. Just so I don’t embarrass myself. I didn’t make it 2 minutes before I had to stop. It was horrible. I wanted to quit before I even started. But I went to the first training anyway. Again, very reluctantly. And it just so happened that Mo was there. Telling her story. And that was it. I never looked back.

This is now my forth season with Team in Training. I have completed 9 half marathons and 1 FULL marathon. Somewhere along the way I realized I was getting just as much from TNT as I was giving to it. Maybe more. I have a great life. A wonderful and supportive family. But TNT filled a hole in my life that I did not realize was there. It is such an amazing feeling to be a part of something that helps so many lives. Something that is so much bigger than you. I will be forever grateful that I was “forced” to go to that TNT meeting.

Go TEAM! -

Jessica

share on: FACEBOOK