Mission Moment - Steve Brown (Team In Training Triathlon Coach)

A message from Amanda Goble, our Team In Training Campaign Coordinator:

This past weekend I was able to attend the Philadelphia Triathlon and most of TNT functions involved with it. (Note: this was not the triathlon that I'm training for – mine is in Chicago on August 26th – but nonetheless I appreciate all the good luck wishes I got from many of you). At the pre-race pasta party there is always a honored hero speaker and in this case it was one of our very own triathlon coaches – Steve Brown – who took the podium. For me, it was an extremely moving experience, as I think it was for everyone else in the room. Here is a little bit more about Steve and his battle against leukemia in his own words:

In early 2006, I was having some difficulty swallowing and my doctor finally said that a tonsillectomy was long over due for me. I wasn't overly joyous at the thought, but I moved forward with the plan anyway, until my pre-admission testing stopped me dead in my tracks. An extremely elevated white blood cell count drew everything to a halt. I was quickly referred to an oncologist and on February 24th, 2006, my life changed. On that date, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Yes, me, the endurance athlete, the 7-time Ironman. The one who is very careful to do all of the right things in taking care of his body. Yep, a routine blood test revealed an extremely elevated white blood count. A bone marrow biopsy, extensive blood testing, a CT scan, and a PET scan all unanimously confirmed the diagnosis.

After a very brief pity party, lasting about 12 hours, I knuckled down to the task at hand. Which in this situation was to saddle up for 4 week-long rounds of chemotherapy treatment. I handled the treatments fairly well. On many days, I was strong and energetic enough to run home from the treatment. This not only helped keep me sane, but it allowed me to maintain some sort of a baseline fitness level. And made feel feel a little in charge of a helpless situation. When I needed to rest, I rested. But when I was able to run, I ran. I had good days and and some bad but I knew that if I was able to maintain a positive outlook, that it would only help my cause. And I told my doc that if he tried to completely sideline me, then cancer would be the least of my problems and I would be going through chemo in a straight jacket. He conceded.

Very shortly after my diagnosis, I shared my situation with good friend and TNT Alum Susan Thornton (who is on this year's Nike team!) and within about 3 nano seconds I happily signed on as a TNT assistant coach. This proved to be an extremely rewarding experience on many levels. I was able to talk about triathlon (which I think I do in my sleep) to wide eyed and eager athletes, who are in turn raising funds and awareness for the very blood cancer that I now had. The formula doesn't get any simpler than that.

By the end of June, treatments were done and I had hit remission. In mid July, I raced my first post diagnosis sprint triathlon. The remainder of the summer consisted of a few shorter races, and longer training efforts. And on September 27th, 7 months after my initial diagnosis, I crossed the finish line of career ironman number 8. This time as a survivor. This time as REMISSIONMAN.

I will still need regular check ups and occasional boosters of my "favorite" chemo drug, Rituxin. BUT, I am one of the lucky ones. I had a great response to my meds, an incredible support system, and a top notch team of doctors. I more than anyone, understand the value and importance of this TEAM and what they represent.

Life is good. And I'm truly thankful for everyone that is in mine.

~ Steve Brown

If you want to find out more about Steve's story, check out his new book, "My New Race".

Proceeds from the sales benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Website: http://www.lulu.com/content/844077

The First Mile - Training this Saturday at 8:00 AM - Kelly Drive and Tyler Park

TWO TRAININGS THIS WEEKEND - You can go to either one.

Both are Saturday, June 30th at 8:00 AM

Kelly Drive: Arrive EARLY (parking is a pain). We will meet in the Lloyd Hall parking lot on the end closest to the Art Museum (same spot as the last time we were there if you made it out). I will be at this one and look forward to seeing you.

Tyler Park in Bucks County: Meet at the Swamp Road lot. Enter the park at the intersection of the Newtown/Yardley bypass and Swamp Road. Go straight down Swamp Road until you reach the parking lot and park there. – Map is attached. Also, attached is the complete list of Bucks County trainings throughout the season.

Yikes – it is HOT out there. Be careful with the heat. Talk to your coaches about how to deal with these temperatures as you are getting in your miles. Be safe and be smart about it. Congratulations on all of the success you have seen individually, and also that we've accomplished as a Team so far this season. Those fundraising totals are continually increasing and I'm sure that you've also made great strides with your training. We are happy to share in this excitement with you! GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!

Training shirts – Good news! The shipment just arrived (sorry for the delay) for those of you who didn't get your white training shirts when you first registered. I will have them with me at the Kelly Drive training this Saturday. There are quite a few to give out so please come up to me if you are expecting a shirt. Please try to make it to this training if possible so that I don't have to mail them out, but if you can’t attend keep an eye out for it in the mail.

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator


Reminder: Recommitment Dates

Virginia Beach – Tuesday, July 10th – Need to have $500 raised

Dublin – Friday, July 13th – Need to have $1,000 raised

Marine Corps – Friday, July 13th – Need to have $500 raised

Nike – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $1,000 raised

PDR – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $500 raised

Philly Marathon – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $500 raised

Mission Moment - Stela Moen (Blood Cancer Survivor)

"As a volunteer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, don't ever walk away from a training or a fundraising effort thinking you did "nothing" that day. Even when you're feeling down or discouraged, please know YOU have positively affected so many people's lives, just by being a part of TNT. Know that there are thousands of people who are thankful for what you do on a daily basis."

Stela Moen - Team In Training Campaign Manager (Washington DC Area)


This thank you goes out not only to all of your runners and walkers but also to the coaches and mentors who are giving so much of themselves to help make Team In Training so great.

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

Mission Moment - Great news from Team Hero, Jen Polo!

1) I saw my dr. Tuesday and I am officially cleared until September!!! I saw my scan readings myself and there is no evidence of any lymphoma right now! Hurray!

2) I entered a contest with Trek Bikes called "Women Who Ride" and out of 2600 essays, I WON! There are 5 winners and I am now a spokeswoman for Trek Bikes. They are going to fly me out to Wisconsin mid-July and give me a bike, gear etc. . . and set me up on their website with a blog, do a photo shoot. I will be in their catalog and at events! Very exciting stuff. I'm excited to be able to do some lymphoma education with the whole thing."

Jen Polo - Team Hero for Team In Training, Eastern PA Region

Congratulations Jen!!! We are so happy for you.

The First Mile - Training at Valley Green this Sunday at 8:00 AM

I can't believe how much progress we are making on this season. Team In Training is only as successful as each and everyone of you and we can't say thank you enough for your participation in this program. Hopefully you are starting to get your legs under you with training and that your fundraising plan is coming along. Let us know how we can help. If you are having fundraising trouble please let me or your mentor know. If you have training questions talk to your coaches. You are never without support at any level – please use it!

The Philadelphia Triathlon is this weekend so I unfortunately won't be at training Sunday morning. You can still drop your letters off at training, and I can't wait to see everyone the following weekend!

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator


Reminder: Recommitment Dates

Virginia Beach – Tuesday, July 10th – Need to have $500 raised

Dublin – Friday, July 13th – Need to have $1,000 raised

Marine Corps – Friday, July 13th – Need to have $500 raised

Nike – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $1,000 raised

PDR – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $500 raised

Philly Marathon – Friday, July 20th – Need to have $500 raised

Team In Training: "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on CN8 - Final Rebroadcast Tonight!

Our piece about Team In Training is going to air on CN8 tonight at 9:00 PM.

Do not miss out on this great exposure for our amazing program and it's wonderful volunteers!

Team In Training: "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on CN8 - Rebroadcast

Event: "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on CN8 - The Comcast Network featuring a segment on Team In Training.

Air Dates: Sunday, June 17 and Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 9:00 PM

Website: http://www.cn8.tv

CN8 - The Comcast Network will feature our current Team In Training teams on "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" highlighting those who have recently completed an event. Steve Brown, one of our triathlon coaches, will also share the story of his battle against blood cancer in addition to his involvement with the team.

Background:

"It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" airs exclusively on CN8, live weeknights from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. "It's Your Call" also airs a 30-minute version Sundays at 9:00 PM that highlights the hot topics making headlines through debate and personal stories.

Check your local Comcast Cable listings for the availability of CN8 - The Comcast Network.

For more information about coach Steve Brown, check out the PhillyFIT Magazine article, Super Humans Saving Lives.

Mission Moment - Amanda's Story

Throughout your Team In Training experience you will hear some incredible stories of individuals who have fought the same blood cancers that we are trying to cure. Some of these stories will come from your teammates, mentors and coaches, some may come from your donors who are so thankful for what you are doing. Then there are some of you who have your own stories and your own remember the reasons as to why you are doing this program. If you would ever like to share your mission moment with the team please feel free to email me and I will include it here. If you would like to briefly speak before one of our group trainings, we would love to have you share. This is a quick story as to why I got involved with TNT.

I was a senior in college at Penn State and had the incredible honor of dancing in Penn State’s Dance Marathon (THON). Some of you may have heard of this before, but in case you haven’t it is a 48 hour dance marathon to support pediatric cancer. It is no-sitting and no-sleeping for that entire time, and it demands both physical and mental strength. At hour 45 when most people were beyond tired a mom took the stage to tell the story of her family. Their son, now seven, had been diagnosed with leukemia and had gone through treatment that all of a sudden made us realize that the pain we felt was nothing compared to what this child had experienced. She gripped the microphone with one hand, holding back tears, and clutched her son’s hand with other, and spoke a message that I will never forget. She said that all of us were living with a purpose, that we were doing something much bigger than ourselves, and that she would forever be grateful for our efforts. She repeated the phrase, slowly, “you are living with a purpose.” I let it settle in and truly realized what she was saying. Meanwhile her son, stood there, with a smile on his face, and I knew that a seven-year-old with a bald head could be the ultimate sign of courage and strength. I thought about that moment when I ran my first marathon in October (Nike) and it helped to push me through the toughest of miles.

By random coincidence I met this woman this past February while doing a THON-related activity. I told her about my involvement with TNT and how it was her words that changed my life, and I sincerely thanked her. Without hesitation she said, “No, thank you.” Her and her husband are also TNT participants and she made me promise that I will always pass along their appreciation to my Teams. So on behalf of a mother who has seen her child go through the worst – THANK YOU!

That story, along with the stories that I have heard throughout TNT are my remember the reasons. Her words are true for all of you as well. Each of you are living with a purpose. That purpose is to reach these amazing personal goals that you may have never believed to be possible, and that purpose is also to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Thank you for taking on this challenge!

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

The First Mile - Fundraising Focus

Hey there all Fall marathon and half marathon teams! This season has started off remarkably! I know training wise many of you are running and walking the longest distances you ever have in your life. Congratulations! TNT is all about achieving new heights throughout your entire experience. Everytime you complete your longest distance – be excited about it – you just broke another barrier. With your fundraising – every donation you receive is getting you closer to your goal – as well as closer to our mission of finding a cure. You are not only making a considerable monetary impact with your fundraising, but just by being involved in this program you are showing that we are uniting against these cancers and providing an overwhelming display of support and hope. Thank you for everything!

BRING YOUR FUNDRAISING LETTERS TO GROUP TRAINING THIS WEEKEND!!!

* I WILL MAIL THE FIRST 100 FOR FREE!

* You can also bring them to the office anytime next week.

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

Mission Moment - Leanne Weinshenker (Team Hero for the Rocky Mountain Chapter)

On Sunday, June 3rd, was the Lake Tahoe Century Ride (America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride - Lake Tahoe) and at the pasta party prior to the event there was a guest speaker who openly shared her story. The staff members who were out for the event came back and told us how moved they were by her words and the way she spoke, and they passed it along to us, and now I'm passing it onto all of you. Her name is Leanne Weinshenker and she is a TEAM Hero for the Rocky Mountain Chapter, and here is her story:

I was diagnosed with stage IV DLBCL non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when I was 34 years old. Lumps started appearing in my neck, but there were also large lumps in my abdomen, too. Some of them were tumors. One of them was my 20 week old fetus.

Things moved very fast. I was the first person in my health care system with lymphoma and a pregnancy in over 17 years. The doctors told me there was no one else in the state going through what I was going through. Is there ever?

In one day I had three procedures after they put me out. Bone marrow biopsies, port placements, and the pregnancy was lost.

Treatment began almost the next day.

Five weeks after being diagnosed and starting ER-CHOP, my PET scan showed that 95% of the cancer was gone.

My last chemo treatment was in May.

The R word (remission) ahs been thrown about lately.

It's not a cancer story you get to hear very often...or live.

As you are fundraising and training please continue to keep these stories of motivation close to all that you do. Many of you have seen first-hand just how important this fight against blood cancer really is and if you ever want to share, and feel comfortable enough to talk about your stories, please let me know. At some point over the next four to five months you will be sore and tired and you will wonder where that next donation is going to come from, but remember that you are making a difference and always REMEMBER THE REASON!

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

The First Mile - An Amazing First Practice

What an amazing turnout at the first group training on Sunday, June 3rd!!! Remember that these trainings are not mandatory but we encourage you to attend as many as possible. You will get to meet everyone else involved with the Fall season, meet new friends, hear inspiring stories and also get those miles in with the group rather than doing them alone. I know that schedules get busy over the summer so if you can't make it out to training, no worries, please just continue to keep in touch with your staff, coaches and mentors. For training this weekend – ARRIVE EARLY!!! We are at Valley Forge at 8:00 AM on Saturday, June 16th. Remember to bring your fundraising letters for me to mail for you. Keep up the great work and GO TEAM!!!

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

Team In Training: "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on CN8 - The Comcast Network

Event: "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on CN8 - The Comcast Network featuring a segment on Team In Training.

Air Date: Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 9:00 PM

Website: http://www.cn8.tv

CN8 - The Comcast Network will feature our current Team In Training teams on "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" highlighting those who have recently completed an event. Steve Brown, one of our triathlon coaches, will also share the story of his battle against blood cancer in addition to his involvement with the team.

Background:

"It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" airs exclusively on CN8, live weeknights from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. "It's Your Call" also airs a 30-minute version Sundays at 9:00 PM that highlights the hot topics making headlines through debate and personal stories.

Check your local Comcast Cable listings for the availability of CN8 - The Comcast Network.

For more information about coach Steve Brown, check out the PhillyFIT Magazine article, Super Humans Saving Lives.

Mission Moment - The Fight Against Blood Cancer

Although the Society has made amazing strides in the fight against blood cancer there is still more work to be done. Leukemia still causes more deaths in children under the age of 20 than any other cancer. Through your hard work and dedication to fundraising, we are seeing the survival rate improve and are able to fund new research and provide patient services programs that help children adjust to a diagnosis of cancer. For example, the Society's Trish Greene Back to School Program for Children with Cancer was designed to increase communication among healthcare professionals, parents, patients and school officials to assure a smooth transition from active treatment back to school and daily life.

It is easy to sometimes get caught up in collecting donations and training and forget how important your hard work is. Please keep in mind each and every one of you are heroes for your amazing efforts. Because of your hard work our local chapter is able to offer 600 different patient service support groups, and the research dollars we raise are literally saving lives through the development of new cancer drugs. So, as you go out this week and fundraise share the Mission with your donors!

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator

The First Mile - Fall 2007 Season First Practice

Where: Valley Forge

When: Sunday, June 3, 2007

Beginning Time: 8:00 AM

Mark it in on your calendars – clear your schedule – come out to the first group training this Sunday (June 3rd) at 8 AM at Valley Forge!!! These trainings are a lot of fun and you will get to meet the rest of your teammates, coaches, mentors, and for this one in particular one of your honored heroes as Jen Polo is going to see you off on your first training. As you are getting underway with your running and walking please feel free to contact your coaches if you have any questions or concerns. Remember we are all here to help see you across both your fundraising and training finish lines – use our resources!!!

BRING YOUR LETTERS TO THE FUNDRAISING FAIR OR GROUP TRAINING THIS WEEKEND!!!

* Remember that we will mail your first 100 for free if we get them by Monday, June 18th! Please bring them out to the fundraising fair tonight or to training this Sunday (8:00 AM – Valley Forge) in already addressed envelopes and I will take them back to the office and put them in the mail for you.

* Also, myself and some mentors will be staying back at training and reading over your letters. If you want advice on yours please bring a draft to training so that we can look at when you are running and walking if you can’t make the Fair this evening.

Amanda - Team In Training Campaign Coordinator