Mission Monday: Bruce Cleland at 25th Anniversary Gala

Bruce Cleland (center) with North Texas Team In Training staff
and Team In Training Vice President Chris Fenton (far right)
at the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala on June 30, 2013.

When Team In Training (TNT) founder Bruce Cleland visited North Texas for the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala, he told the inspiring story of how he and a group of friends created the groundbreaking charity training program in 1988.  He also shared a number of personal photographs with Gala attendees.

Bruce introduced the Gala crowd to his motivation: his young daughter, Georgia.  She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was just two years old. 

Bruce shared the picture above of Georgia during her tough treatment with her doll, which she named Dolly.  When diagnosed, her chances of surviving were 50-50.  Fortunately for the Cleland family, Georgia would be a success story

After Georgia's treatment, Bruce decided to fundraise for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (then The Leukemia Society of America) by recruiting a group of individuals to run in the New York City Marathon.  He set out on a recruiting process of finding not only runners but also corporate backers to fund their effort.  The picture above is the first Team In Training team ever formed.  The picture was taken after one of their first training runs.

After months of training and fundraising, all 38 members of the first Team In Training team crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon.  The group raised $320,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and blood cancer research and created a world-wide phenomenon of endurance charity training programs.

Above is a picture of Bruce finishing the New York City Marathon in honor of Georgia.  The bright tights, a gift from the team inagural TNT team the night before the race, are still around and making appearances.

They spent much of the night of the North Texas Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala tied around his neck like a cape.

And Georgia Cleland?  She is following in her father's very famous footsteps and helping to raise money for other blood cancer patients.  Georgia, now 28, finished her first TNT event in 2012 and is currently training for the San Francisco Women's Marathon this October.

Thankful Thursday: "I am a Survivor"

The North Texas staff celebrates Don Armstrong's 7th bone
marrow transplant birthday with him in mid-May.

For me a diagnosis of cancer has been life changing and quite frankly the best thing that ever happened to me. Sounds crazy I know, however it is so true. I am a survivor for a reason!

I have been on an extraordinary, inspiring journey the past seven years. This journey began with the surprising diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on September 14, 2005. I didn't understand why I got this disease. In fact, I didn't even really know what leukemia was at the time. I learned quickly and was determined to get to the other side of my treatment.

Like so many individuals who are diagnosed with a blood cancer, I had no thought that I might be ill. There were signs and symptoms of my illness but they only made sense after my diagnosis. This is common to many patients as there are no real predictors that determine the onset of blood cancers. I've learned that these diseases are very indiscriminate in whom they touch and my diagnosis could happen to any of us.

My first round of chemo was successful.  After 30 days in the hospital I was released in remission from the AML, and for me, there was a sense of relief. However, for my future survivorship, my doctor determined that a stem cell transplant was needed to eliminate any future recurrence of leukemia. I had four additional rounds of chemo, which included another hospital stay and three rounds of chemo as an out patient.  This harsh treatment kept me in remission while doctors located a donor for me. There were notable moments for me during the five rounds of chemo: some real lows and some huge triumphs along the way which taught me tremendous life lessons. Most importantly, on May 12, 2006, eight months after my diagnosis, I was blessed with a stem cell transplant and a new start on life with a fresh perspective!

While I was going through treatment I didn't have any idea that Team in Training (TNT) existed. TNT found me while checking out The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) website one evening in March 2007. I registered for an information meeting to learn more about the program and then went to a kick-off event. The kick-off was so exciting and encouraging that I signed up for the 2007 San Diego Rock n Roll marathon. The event was an absolutely fabulous experience and set me on a journey that has included multiple TNT marathons around the world. The participant's sacrifice and dedication is so inspiring to me. I remain amazed at the transformation of so many individuals make from couch potato to endurance athlete. My most vivid memory of my TNT experience(s) has been that people are willing to sign up and work so hard to raise money to find a cure for blood cancer.

I quickly reached a point in my journey that I wanted to know what else I could do for LLS and the Society's mission to find a cure and support patient services. Several years ago that desire became a reality as I was asked to join the North Texas Board of Trustees. Being a part of this committed group of individuals has been an uplifting, eye opening experience for me. The Board is so dedicated to collectively meet and exceed the mission of LLS.

Recently, I was asked to serve as the Chairman of the newly formed North Texas TNT Executive Leadership Committee. Excited and honored, I accepted this opportunity. This has been a rewarding experience as I've met countless volunteers that have stepped up in support of the current and future direction of the North Texas TNT program.

I am confident that we are close to finding a cure for blood cancer. We couldn't make this a reality without the staff and volunteers. Thank you to everyone that supports LLS. Together we are making a difference!

"SOMEDAY IS TODAY!"

Thankful Thursday: Goodbye Port!

Candice Stinnett, a lymphoma survivor, Team In Training Alum, and North Texas chapter volunteer, celebrated an important milestone this week.  Below, she talks about having her port removed.

Before

"This 5 1/2 year relationship is about to come to an end.  No more stares at this ugly thing protruding out of my chest. No more pat downs at the airport due to not being able to pass through security. No more masseuses getting creeped out.  I kept it in just in case cancer decided to come for another visit. Another step to getting ready for swimsuit season!  Goodbye, port.. No more chemo for you and no more chemo for me."

 

After

"Opened me up and pulled it out."

Congratulations to Candice as she moves forward with her life as a blood cancer survivor!

DID YOU KNOW: 
LLS-funded researchers were instrumental in the creation of the port for the admission of chemotherapy during treatment?  The port is one of many advances LLS has helped further that has been beneficial to the treatment of all cancers. 

Mission Monday:15,000 Miles Later & Still Running for a Cure

Chris Henkel is a twelve time TNT alumni who trains and raises money in memory of his wife.
Running more than twenty minutes made my lungs hurt and my shins ache. So I signed up for a marathon.

I joined Team in Training in honor of Stephanie Henkel, my wife and the mother of our two young children. Stephanie was diagnosed with Lymphoma in late 2005. While only 28 years of age at the time, she was an amazing and selfless woman who inspired those she encountered. She also served as an Honored Hero for the TEAM. Shortly after her diagnosis a friend of mine at work attended an information meeting on my behalf and shared information about the TNT program. He was a runner, I was not. Nonetheless, I joined TNT in January of 2006 as an attempt to make a difference in Stephanie’s bout with Lymphoma. Learning to run was both exhilarating and painful.

Any distance beyond 3 miles was a challenge unless I ran it at a snail’s pace. Furthermore, my ego was compromised as I watched people of all ages and sizes run three times the distance with a third of the effort. Yet I continued to wake up at a god-awful hour to lace up my running shoes and do it again, week after week, and month after month. Heck if Stephanie could endure numerous rounds of chemotherapy and months in the hospital, I had no room to complain about my aching legs.

In September 2006, Stephanie’s battle came to an end as she joined the Lord in Heaven. Her legacy lives on in me, our children, her family, and the people who had the pleasure of getting to know her.

Through the generosity of many honoring Stephanie, I had the privilege to help raise $40,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through participation in twelve Team in Training events over the last seven years. I am passionate about the Team because I believe in the Society’s mission and what they do for families like mine – such as research, patient and doctor education, financial assistance, and support groups. The efforts of participants, mentors, coaches, and alumni made an impact on my family and they still do today. The optimistic camaraderie and goal-oriented structure found in the TNT program was exactly what my life and my family needed during the difficult times. Quite simply, the sacrifices and efforts of great people inspire and encourage so I am honored to give back.

Seven years, five Boston Qualifiers, and some 15,000 miles later I am still on the road raising funds and awareness for the cause. Keeping it in the family, I am now married to a fellow TNT alumni, as is my father, and my twin sister is a coach. Go TEAM!

Mission Monday: Celebrating Team In Training's Rich History



Commemorating a 25th anniversary is a timeless tradition.　 And the North Texas Chapter of Team In Training invites you to celebrate this extraordinary milestone at the Team In Training 25th Anniversary Gala on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at the Westin Galleria.

Over the last quarter century Team In Training and its thousands of athletes have raised more than $1.3 billon, funded countless new programs and lifesaving drugs, touched the lives of thousands of families, while creating an organization of lifelong friendships. Now that is something to celebrate!

So leave your workout shoes at home, put on your finest clothes and join us for a beautiful evening that includes a delicious three-course dinner and a silent auction benefiting TNT.

Tickets are $85 per person are available now from your local Team In Training Staff.

Get a group together, buy a table of eight, and make it a memorable evening with teammates.　

We look forward to seeing you soon!