By Gwen Romeo
Purpose. This is what gets most people out of the bed in the morning; it is what keeps them moving toward their goals. Everyone wonders what impression they will leave on the world, what their impact will be. For the people who join Team In Training (TNT), their chosen purpose is to speak for those without a voice and fight for those who cannot. Everyone who joins has this in common. They are relentless and they will not stop until the ultimate finish line has been crossed – a cure.
TNT is a fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The program is designed for beginners who complete a four- to five-month training program 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 500,000 participants and raised more than $1.2 billion toward blood cancer research and patient services.
Rufus Simmons first joined TNT with a goal of leading a healthier lifestyle. Some former classmates had told him about their TNT experience so he decided to follow in their footsteps. He didn’t know anyone at the time who was affected by a blood cancer but that quickly changed. After Rufus sent fundraising letters for his campaign an old friend called to let him know that his 8-year-old daughter had just been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). “Throughout the season, she was my biggest cheerleader,” Rufus says. “There were times when she felt bad from chemo but would still call me to ask how I was doing with my training.” Unfortunately, she lost her battle a few months later, which served to make Rufus even more dedicated to this cause and more determined to help find a cure. “As the season went on, my efforts took on new meaning,” he says. “Instead of it being about me, it became more and more about making a difference in the lives of others.”
Many people join the TNT program with self-doubt and fear, wondering what they have gotten themselves into by signing up. They panic when thinking of where the motivation will come from at 6 in the morning on a Saturday when it is time for group training. “In every race I have done, there has been at least one blood-cancer survivor along the route thanking every TNT participant as they go by,” Rufus says. “These conversations always leave me with the feeling that what I am doing is indeed making a difference.” Nothing beats the fulfillment you get from helping someone else. TNT gives participants the chance to participate in something bigger than themselves and come out of it a true hero.
# # #
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!
