By Gwen Romeo, Team In Training Campaign Manager
As a staff person for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) program, I come across a lot of selfless individuals who inspire me on a daily basis. It humbles me to witness the sacrifices our participants make in order to prepare for their journey. TNT is a fundraising program designed for beginners who complete a four- to five-month training process with certified coaches for endurance events like marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, century bike rides, and hike adventures. In exchange for an expense-free event weekend, participants are asked to raise money toward the LLS mission: to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Since 1988, TNT has trained more than half a million participants and raised more than $1.3 billion toward blood cancer research and patient services.
For TNT participants it is all about raising money for a cure and doing something bigger than themselves. Once in awhile a special participant comes along, someone who represents everything we fight for, a blood cancer patient. When Mandy Hitchcock joined TNT she did it for two people: her mom, who died from pancreatic cancer, and her 17-month-old daughter, who died from a rare bacterial infection. She was right in the middle of training for the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in honor of her daughter when she found a lump in her neck. “When it hadn’t gone away after several weeks, I had a needle biopsy done and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” Hitchcock says.
She completed the triathlon, despite her newfound diagnosis. Shortly after the event she decided to test the physical limits of her body even further. Hitchcock signed up for the Wilmington Sprint Triathlon through TNT while she was undergoing treatment.
She also persuaded 23 people all over the country to sign up with her. When Hitchcock’s daughter died she began writing a blog chronicling her journey to try to find “one good thing in every terrible thing that happened to me,” she says. She called out to her blog followers, friends, family, and anyone else who would listen. People from all over accepted Hitchcock’s challenge, such as her older sister, who had never done a race, and someone Hitchcock had never met but who followed her blog. Thus, TEAM STRONGER was born. The name refers to the notion that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. “This time, the connection is personal,” Hitchcock says. “This time, I am running for me and for all other people battling blood cancers right now who can’t train for triathlons.”
“When Mandy asked people to join, it was the first time I really felt that I could actually do something for her,” says Meghan Knight, a former law school friend of Hitchcock’s and a beginner triathlete. “I was not much of a runner, and was not sure I even remembered how to ride a bike, but every time I came up with an excuse Mandy reassured me that I could do it, so I did.” The program has proved that with proper support and guidance beginners can make their athletic dreams a reality. “I can promise you that even if you think you can’t swim a lap, you will be able to swim a mile by the time the season is over,” Hitchcock writes on her blog. “If you think you can’t bike a mile, you will be able to bike 20 by September. If you think you can’t run 10 feet, you’ll be able to run a 5k by the end of summer. TNT provides you with coaching, mentoring and fundraising support of all kinds – they make it so easy for you and all you have to do is put in the time and the miles.” TNT offers a chance to be a part of a team, to become a leader, to be inspired and to encourage others. TNT not only saves the lives of cancer patients and their families, but it also marks a turning point in the lives of participants when they realize that their efforts are making an impact on the world.
To follow Mandy’s blog, “One Good Thing,” visit http://hudsonsonegoodthing.blogspot.com.
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Gwen Romeo has been a campaign manager for Team In Training (TNT) in the Charlotte area since the fall of 2009. She initially became involved in honor of her cousin who is a blood cancer survivor and has completed four events with TEAM. She is inspired and motivated on a daily basis by the volunteers who give their time to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Gwen is honored to help others throughout their own TNT journey and watch them go from couch potatoes to endurance warriors!
