I've signed up to do another Team in Training event this year, I'll be returning to the Milwaukee Chapter cycling team for another go at Americas Most Beautiful Bike ride.  I've been hemming and hawing about it for a couple weeks now, trying to make up my mind on the committment of it, it does tend to take up a lot of your free time for 4 months. And the commitment to raising the funds can be a bit of a gut check. :)

What finally helped me make my decision was at the bike maintenance seminar the coaches put on, introductions were being made and people were talking about their reasons for doing it. There are some new members for the team, and of them 1 is a survivor (believe that makes 4 for our team), 1 lost a family member to leukemia, and another one has a brother that was diagnosed when he was 9, he's now 13.  That's why we do this, thats what this is all about - making a difference for the survivors and for those that have lost loved ones due to a blood born cancer.  It reminded me of the friends, coworkers and others I talked to last year who had been affected by one of them, and of the things they shared with me.  I recalled the stories I heard at the bike ride last year, the people who were there cheering us on, and knowing that I was helping to make a difference.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma society has made a real difference in the battle against these cancers. 2008 marks their 20th anniverary, in those 20 years 360,000 voluneteers have raised over $850 million to be used for education, research, and helping patients and their families.  In 2007 alone they contributed $66.5 million to support more than 396 researchers in 15 different countries.  And it's all through tax deductible donations from people like you - they receive no federal funding.  They've made real progress, but there is more work to be done.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  If you wish to make an online donation, you can click on the Team in Training image in the top right corner.  On behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I thank you.