October 16, 2006

I am training to participate in the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon on February 4, 2007, as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training.

You are of course thinking that this is an obvious move. Sybil = Endurance Athlete in so many of your minds already. Indeed, as I gasp my way through 3 miles on the treadmill at Gold’s Gym, another 10.2 miles on uneven terrain seems as likely as another fifty.

But in the 3 years since I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, I have come to believe that nothing is impossible to endure or accomplish. My hair grew back. I had a kid. I’m still in remission. I can learn to run for as long as it takes to watch The Lord of the Rings.

During the difficult diagnosis and treatment phase of my journey, the information and support provided by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was invaluable. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help benefit the Society, whose mission it is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. It is Team in Training’s pledge to put at least 75% of all donations directly towards research, financial assistance for patients undergoing treatment, and support resources for families affected by blood cancers.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission.

I mean, I had cancer. Come on.

BONUS: I will be updating this page regularly with witty commentary on the training process and pictures of my child. For those of you who enjoyed my previous work on Caringbridge this is sure to be much more uplifting. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.
Thanks for your support!

http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/sybil