#TNTbecause - Meet Robert Mullins

We are continuing our series on the blog with interviewing current Team In Training (TNT) participants. Today we are chatting with Robert Mullins of Tyler.  Robert is a long time volunteer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  He first got involved after his wife lost her battle to Lymphoma.  Over the years, he has served as the team captain of The Lymphoblasters fundraising team for Light The Night as well as completed several Team In Training fundraising events. He regularly serves as an all star volunteer and representative of TNT at local events around North Texas. 

1. What got you involved with Team In Training?

My late wife, Vanessa Rae Holland Mullins. I made a commitment to her to continue with her journey of finding a cure for blood cancers.  I heard about Team In Training and decided to not only help on her journey but to get myself healthy enough to run my first half marathon.  

2. Finish this sentence, I do "TNTBecause..."

I made a promise to my late wife that if she was to succumb to Lymphoma, then I will do all I can within my power to help find a cure.  TNT was another avenue within LLS that I could continue with her mission and the Society's mission that Someday is Today. 

3. Tell us why you continue to volunteer with TNT.

I continue to volunteer due to the relationships that have been formed with other members and staff.  We are all in this fight together. 

4. What's your favorite TNT memory so far? 

My favorite memory would be participating and finishing my first half marathon rightly named "Hero Thon".  It was held in San Antonio and was organized by LLS and TNT. 

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It's not too late to join the TEAM this season.  Register for an event today.
www.teamintraining.org

#TNTBECAUSE: Meet Sarah Chua

Meet Sarah Chua, one of the newest members of North Texas Mega Team Team Ecks Factor. As a team, they have already raised over $80,000 this year. Sarah runs in honor of her mom and many other family members affected by blood cancers. Sarah is currently training for her 3rd TNT event, the New York City Marathon. Read on to hear more of our interview with Sarah.

1. What made you decide to participate in the New York City Marathon?

I decided to participate in the New York City Marathon because I thought training, fundraising and running through NYC would be a fantastic way to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday and celebrate my TNT Honored Heroes.  Since joining in 2016, the New York City Marathon will be my 3rd TNT event and second full marathon.


2. What got you involved with Team In Training?

I first found out about Team in Training from my cousin, Tracy. She started fundraising with Team in Training in Minneapolis after recovering from her stem cell transplant and treatment for Hogkins Lymphoma.

In 2013, my mother was diagnosed with a type of non-Hogkins Lymphoma. This diagnosis was received after 10 years of remission from a previous breast cancer diagnosis.  My mom underwent many rounds of chemotherapy that fall and on December 20th had an autologus stem cell transplant.    

I have many friends and family members affected by blood cancers. My mom, two cousins and friends have received stem cell transplants and are currently in good health. I have two close family friends living with blood cancer. My husband's grandfather was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma in 1979. The list goes on...

I have been a runner for most of my life and love the challenge of long distance running. My life has been touched by cancer and I felt called to join TNT and use my passion to make a difference for others. I enjoy running for the personal challenges and the adventures it provides. But, on those days I'd rather binge Netflix, I lace up my shoes to run or I work hard to fundraise because someone's life depends on it. I do it because running through my pain or ignoring my uneasiness asking people to part with a portion of their hard earned wage is inconsequential compared to the struggle of someone coping with the side effects of chemotherapy or someone regaining their strength after a stem cell transplant takes them to the edge and beyond.


3. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…”

I do TNTBecause the list of people I know affected by cancer is too long.

4. Tell us why you joined Team Ecks Factor.

Mascot Dave's story and attitude is so inspirational to me and I joined Team Ecks Factor to support Mascot Dave, his friends and family. I was a member of Team Five Alive last year and also love the additional camaraderie formed by TNT members joining fundraising forces to dedicate money towards a specific research grant or study.

5. What’s your favorite TNT memory so far?

My favorite TNT memory so far was the weekend of the 2016 Dallas Marathon since it was a weekend honoring blood cancer warriors. That Saturday, my family and I attended a luncheon celebrating a friend's 10 years after her stem cell transplant. My family also attended the Honored Hero dinner that evening.  After hearing me talk about it so much, I loved sharing the full TNT experience and mission moments with my parents and husband.

Race-day on Sunday was a flood of emotion as I checked an item off my bucket list and completed my first full marathon. With over 150 runners at the event, we raised over $160K for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  A few days later, we commemorated 3 years since my mom's stem cell transplant. It was a crazy few days, but so worth the blood, sweat and tears of the previous 6 months of training and fundraising to share those meaningful days with my friends and family.   

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You can read more of Mascot Dave's story on his personal blog here. 

We know that Mascot Dave has touched so many people over the years. Anyone can join Team Ecks Factor and help them reach their goal of $250,000!  

Register for an event today.

www.teamintraining.org/ntx

#TNTBECAUSE: Meet Jim Hogan

We are continuing our series on the blog with interviewing current Team In Training (TNT) participants. Today we are chatting with Jim Hogan of Fort Worth.  He is an avid runner who has completed several marathons, ultra-marathons and triathlons. Jim has been involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) since 2009 where he currently serves on our North Texas Board of Directors, the Links for Leukemia Golf Tournament committee and is an active participant in the Light The Night Campaign.  Jim is currently training with Team In Training for the 2017 Boston Marathon and will be one of only two TNT participants representing Texas!

1. What made you decide to run Boston Marathon?

As an aging “injury prone” marathon runner, The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious marathon you can participate in.  I lost my mother to brain cancer last year and that inspired me to really start training again so that I could complete this final run, and what a marathon to end on! 

Jim's mom, Judy Hogan

2. What does it mean to you that you secured one of the coveted spots for this race?

As a runner it’s achieving Mt Everest! I am honored and blessed to be able to participate in one of the world’s greatest sporting events.  It’s very hard to be able to put into words how it feels knowing that in a few weeks I will be able to say that I am a Boston Marathon finisher.  I have come close to qualifying several times so knowing that it’s actually happening is quite surreal.  To top it all off I not only get to check off one from the bucket list, but get to do it representing a cause that I have been a part of for 8 years. I am so honored to get to run and represent LLS and TNT.

3. What got you involved with Team In Training?

I was introduced to TNT through work associates.  Being a runner for many years I really enjoyed the idea of being a part of a team and running for a cause.

Jim running the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon

4. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…”

I do TNT because others are not able to. And what I mean by that is as I got more involved with LLS we get the opportunity to visit hospitals and meet children and parents who are affected by blood cancers.  I run for them!

5. Anything else interesting that you would like to tell us?
 

I have 3 awesome boys who keep me insanely busy.  I am surrounded by family and a great group friends who support me in all of my endeavors and craziness.  I am a very lucky man!

Jim's sons

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It's not too late to join Jim and the TEAM this season.  Register for an event today.
www.teamintraining.org

#TNTBECAUSE - Meet Talya Sapienza

We are continuing our series on the blog with interviewing current Team In Training participants. Today we are chatting with Talya Sapienza. Talya has been involved with LLS since 2012.  She is currently training for the 2017 Boston Marathon and will be one of only 2 TNT participants representing Texas! So far she has raised over $11,056 for LLS. 

Talya Steeping across the finish line here in Dallas at Tuers de Fleurs

1. What made you decide to run Boston Marathon?

It's my home city. I grew up in Massachusetts. I pahk my cah and love a subway. I will never forget the day my mom called me to tell me the Marathon had been bombed. I lived here, and at the time, they were still living there. I was devastated. Even though I was 2,000 miles away I was angry that someone had messed with my city. My determination to go back and run those streets started on that day.

2. What does it mean to you that you secured one of the coveted spots for this race?

It is an honor beyond compare. I cannot even put it into words, and often when I think about it, I still tear up. It is like someone has just given you your dream!

3. What got you involved with Team In Training?

Originally my nana. She was diagnosed with adult chronic Leukemia and it eventually took her life when I was in college. She taught me to fight and never give up. She is a guardian angel that keeps me sane on those long miles. After I joined I met my honored hero, Grayson Hughes. He was this helpless little person with bandages and tubes. He could barely keep his eyes awake he was so exhausted most of the time during meetings. Soon after I became close with his mom, my best friend, and the entire family. I saw treatments and on an amazing day in Jan. I saw him ring the survivor bell. He is healthy and a total inspiration. I run for him and for my nana. 

Grayson ringing his survivor bell that he donated to Children's Plano.

4. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…” 

I can! I am a healthy person that has the ability to run and raise money for patients to get better treatment, as well as research to find a cure. I am honored and blessed on so many levels to be able to do this. To me it is a no-brainer.

5. Tell us about your involvement with Team Ecks Factor. 

I was approached not too long ago through a friend of a friend to maybe give my fundraising earnings to a local team. When they told me the story of Team Ecks Factor I thought, "Of course"! I love knowing that I was a part of something larger than myself. It is just a great team! There are 26.2 miles in a marathon, and I definitely have more than 26 reasons to run for team in training.

Pictured above is my Boston team before we went out on our 20 mile training run last weekend.

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 Anyone can join Team Ecks Factor and help them reach their goal of $250,000!

Register for an event today.

www.teamintraining.org/ntx

#TNTBECAUSE - Meet Jennifer Massaviol

Here is our third in a series of posts leading up to the BMW Dallas Marathon. Today we are interviewing Jennifer Massaviol.  She has been involved with LLS since 2009 when her Dad, Dave Eckberg, served as a team Honored Hero.  Read on to hear why she is doing the Dallas Marathon.

1. What made you decide to run the BMW Dallas Marathon?

It's such a great, local event.  Though I'm doing the Vegas Half in November, I didn't want to miss out on the excitement of participating in the BMW Dallas Marathon.


2. What does it mean to you that the BMW Dallas Marathon has been named a national event for Team In Training?
It means that we can look forward to a sea of purple people swarming into Dallas to join the fight against blood cancers.  It's always so inspiring to see so many TNT participants working together for a common cause.

3. What got you involved with Team In Training?

 I joined TNT in 2009 after my dad had been an Honored Hero and participant for a couple of years.  I started out walking half marathons with him.  The 2009 Dallas Half-Marathon was my first event.  When my dad was no longer able to train, I decided that I would complete a full Dallas Marathon -- to complete my half and also his.  I'm now fundraising for my 8th and 9th seasons with TNT.

4. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…”

... it makes me feel less powerless in my dad's fight against leukemia.
... TNT is made up of so many wonderful people.
... I've seen so much progress in the treatments for blood cancers since my dad's diagnosis, and I want to be a part of one day soon finding a CURE.

5. Tell us about the team you’ve formed to run the relay with.

My team is comprised mainly of co-workers.  A TNT teammate (Cate Gussio) and I discovered that we were co-workers at Sprint.  A year later we decided to pull together a Sprint team to run the relay at the Dallas Marathon.

You can read more about Jen's story here. 

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Did you know?

• BMW Dallas Marathon is the longest running race in the state of Texas
• More than 40 different bands are on the course for your entertainment
• Stay 2 nights at the TNT hotel and you can skip expo lines and have your packet waiting in your hotel room!
• Earn Awesome Fundraising Incentives

Join the Dallas Marathon TNT Team or join the 5 Person Relay!  150 people have already taken the challenge.  Contact Mariel Bongiovanni for more details. 

www.teamintraining.org/ntx

#TNT BECAUSE - Meet Sheila Jackson

Here is our second in a series of posts leading up to the BMW Dallas Marathon. Today we are interviewing Sheila Jackson.   She has been involved with LLS since 2015 when she made a promise to herself to complete one TNT event per year.  Read on to hear why she is doing the Dallas Marathon.

1. What made you decide to run the BMW Dallas Marathon?

I started participating with Team In Training in 2015. My initial promise was to participate in one event per year.  2016, one event did not feel like enough. I completed the San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon in June. December's BMW Dallas Marathon is here at home and perfect fit for my second event this year.

2. What does it mean to you that the BMW Dallas Marathon has been named a national event for Team In Training?
I'm thrilled this event is being included in the list of national events for Team In Training.  North Texas is my home. It's time the power of purple runners and walkers rally together to end blood cancer in Big D. 

3. What got you involved with Team In Training?

 My dear friend and Honored Hero,  Don Armstrong.

4. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…”

It's my duty. I believe GOD put us here to help one another. I am physically able to participate, raise money and share a message of hope that every step represents, helping one more person beat cancer.

   

5. Tell us about the team you’ve formed to run the relay with.

IDLife is a Health & Wellness Company. We put people and their long-term health first. Simply put, each one of the team members participating is committed to supporting causes that end human suffering.  Team In Training is aligned with our personal and professional mission. My team is made up of Joe, Ann Marie, Bo & Lizzy!  Together we will complete the race in December.

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Did you know?

• BMW Dallas Marathon is the longest running race in the state of Texas
• More than 40 different bands are on the course for your entertainment
• Stay 2 nights at the TNT hotel and you can skip expo lines and have your packet waiting in your hotel room!
• Earn Awesome Fundraising Incentives

Join the Dallas Marathon TNT Team or join the 5 Person Relay!  150 people have already taken the challenge.  Contact Mariel Bongiovanni for more details. 

www.teamintraining.org/ntx

#TNTBECAUSE - Meet Kathleen Tucker

Team In Training is starting a series of blog posts leading up to the BMW Dallas Marathon. We will be interviewing current Team In Training participants to find out why they are training and fundraising for this event. First up is Kathleen Tucker. Kathleen has been involved with TNT since 2012 and raised over $35,000. Read on to hear why she is doing the Dallas Marathon.

1. What made you decide to run the BMW Dallas Marathon?

When I learned that The Dallas Marathon would be a National event I didn't want to miss out on being a part of it. What an exciting thing for North Texas! This will be my 3^rd event in 2016, following the Pixie Dust Challenge and Chicago Marathon. Unfortunately, I’m currently sidelined with an injury so I’m not able to complete the Chicago Marathon this weekend but will still be traveling with the team to cheer them on.

2. What does it mean to you that the BMW Dallas Marathon has been named a national event for Team In Training?

It's an opportunity to show off the awesomeness that we are here in North Texas and the passion we have in our fight against blood cancer. There are so many dedicated folks centered right in our area and it's a great network of support and I'm thrilled we get to show it off!

3. What got you involved with Team In Training?
My brother, Billy, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2004 and lived less than one year after his diagnosis. He was an amazing big brother and had a huge influence on me. The year he was diagnosed I learned about Light the Night and formed a small team to walk. Billy was in treatment at the time but also came out and walked part of the course with us which made it that even more special. I had a team four more years after his death, but then took a break and ended up taking up running. After a race one time, a person at a purple tent handed me a TNT brochure and I was already familiar with LLS. I went to an information meeting shortly after and signed up for my first marathon, Rock n Roll San Diego in 2012. Since then, both my husband and I have done multiple events and have raised over $35,000 for Team in Training. Additionally, I lost my sister, Sharon, to renal cancer in 2013. Cancer has taken too much from me for me to not be involved in the fight to cure cancer so I keep going.

4. Finish this sentence, I do “TNTBecause…”
I do TNT because it helps fill the void that cancer has left in my heart.

5. Tell us about the team you’ve formed to run the relay with.
Our team consists of me, my husband-Mike Tucker, my two friends who are sisters Kayla Hughes and Amanda Wood-their father is a multiple myeloma survivor and Jonathan Eckberg-his father (Dave Eckberg) has been battling CCL for the last 14 years. We've all been impacted by blood cancers.

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Did you know?

• BMW Dallas Marathon is the longest running race in the state of Texas
• More than 40 different bands are on the course for your entertainment
• Stay 2 nights at the TNT hotel and you can skip expo lines and have your packet waiting in your hotel room!
• Earn Awesome Fundraising Incentives

Join the Dallas Marathon TNT Team or join the 5 Person Relay!  150 people have already taken the challenge.  Contact Mariel Bongiovanni for more details. 

www.teamintraining.org/ntx

Honored Hero Run Logo Design Winner

Blood cancer has touched the lives of everyone involved in the Honored Hero Run.  The race, which was created by a group of Team In Training alumni, is held every October and benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  Race organizers have incorporated a number of elements into the race which focus on the LLS mission and local patients and survivors. One of the most visible ways they include local blood cancer patients is through the annual logo design competition.  

Each year the Honored Hero Run Board of Directors visits local hospitals (Cook Children’s and Medical City Dallas) to offer the opportunity for young cancer patients to enter a logo contest for the event. These young artists serve as the face of more than 327,000 people in the U.S. who suffer from blood cancer every day. Their artwork shines a bright light for all the heroes honored at the race.

Logo winners are awarded a certificate and are invited to attend the race as VIPs. Their logo is proudly displayed to represent the event and help spread the word throughout the community about the mission of the Honored Hero Run.

We are excited to announce the winner of the logo contest is six-year-old Jaden. 

Jaden, is a courageous six-year-old that fought CANCER like a warrior! Jaden was five weeks into his first grade year at a new school, when he was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoma. His entire family was in total shock when they heard the news. This was a child that had never been sick or complained about anything bothering him. Before him there was no else in their immediate family that had cancer.

Jaden received five rounds of intense chemotherapy at Cooks Children in Fort Worth and each round required a 5-6 day stay in the hospital and included chemotherapy and spinal taps. He would be discharged home for about 2 ½ weeks and then return for the next round. During his hospital stay, he never once complained about receiving treatment. His words were, “just go through It!”

Daily, his grandmother stayed with him at home and the hospital, allowing his mom and dad to work and care for his infant baby sister. Jaden’s journey, his strength and faith, has brought us all closer together as a family.

On January 24, 2016 he received his last round of chemotherapy. On February 10, 2016 his PET scan showed that Jaden was cancer free. Now in remission, he is healthy and active in karate, soccer, and ecstatic about returning to school.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Honored Hero Run.  The event has a 5k, 10k, half marathon, 20 mile run and 1k fun run.

Training Tip Tuesday: Charity Miles

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity."

- John F. Kennedy

 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is proud to announce a new partnership with Charity Miles.  This program, which will run through June 6, 2013, is a quick and easy way to raise money for LLS and its mission to find a cure for blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. 

Here's how it works:  Download the free Charily Miles app for your iPhone or Android, register yourself, select LLS, turn it on whenever you are out walking, running or biking and Charity Miles will donate money to LLS for every mile you walk, run or bike.  Walkers and runners will rack up 25 cents for every mile and bikers will earn 10 cents a mile. 

Interested?  Please read the FAQ below for additional information and think of LLS the next time you lace up your tennis shoes!

What is Charity Miles?

Charity Miles is a free iPhone and Android app that enables people to earn money for charity while walking, running or biking.

How does it work?

Just launch the app, choose a charity and either walk, run or bike. The selected charity then earns money for every mile covered. Walkers and runners earn 25¢ per mile; bikers earn 10¢ per mile, all up to an initial $1,000,000.

Can I do anything other than walk, run or bike?

Absolutely! Skipping, skating, hoping, rolling and all other human-propelled activities are perfectly acceptable. The app does not feature a setting for every activity. You should just choose whatever setting (Walk, Run or Bike) that is most applicable to what you are doing.

What about driving?

No. Driving does not count. Nor do trains, airplanes or any other type of motorized vehicle.

Can the app detect cheating?

The app can usually detect "non-human" activities and will highlight them in the official reporting records.

Will the miles I record count towards my Team In Training fundraising?The miles and money Team In Training participants rack up while training for an event will not be applied to their individual fundraising goal.

How does the app know how far I’ve gone?

Charity Miles uses your phone’s GPS to measure your distance. So, please make sure to allow the app to use your phone’s geolocation services. The app will ask for that permission when you first login. If you do not grant the permission, then the app will not work for you. If you initially declined this permission but now want to enable your geolocation services for the app, you can do so by opening your phone’s settings and then clicking the "Location Services" tab.

Will the app work indoors?

No, the app does not have the capability to track your mileage indoors.

Where does the money come from?

Charity Miles, LLC is backing the initial $1,000,000 and issuing a worldwide challenge to see if people can earn it for the charities within a year.

When does the challenge end?

The challenge will end on June 6, 2013.

What types of mobile phones is Charity Miles available on?

Charity Miles is available on iPhone and Android devices. It works on all of the most popular Android devices. However, performance may vary for some Android devices, depending on the device’s specifications. Charity Miles is not, however, available on Blackberry devices.

Why do I have to login through Facebook?

Facebook is the most reliable way for Charity Miles to authenticate your identity for your charities.　 Other than that, the organization will never share your personally identifiable information with anyone or auto-post to your Facebook account.　

Where can I download Charity Miles?

Charity Miles is available to download for free in the iPhone and Android app stores.