Central New York

Lisa, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
"When my doctor told me I had leukemia, I was so sure he'd made a mistake I asked him to repeat the tests. Sure, I was tired, but my life was so full there weren't enough hours in the day. My husband and I were putting an addition on the house; my job was challenging; and the kids, well, you know there's always something, no matter how old they get to be.

"That was March 19, 1999. I was 45, in the prime of my life and as happy as I had ever been. In the days and months that followed, my life was turned upside down by my illness and its treatment. With chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, my leukemia went into remission on Aug. 19, 1999. With each day, I am more confident of full recovery.

"Not a day goes by that I don't feel gratitude for the time I've been granted with my husband, children and the two grandchildren born since my diagnosis. But until there is a cure, others will face what I face every day."

Tamar, Hodgkin's Lymphoma
"When I was 19, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - quite an abnormal part of the usual second-semester-of-college life!  Needless to say, my formerly-healthy and active life was disrupted for quite some time as I went through first the treatments (five months of chemotherapy and 23 days of radiation) and then the recovery (which was largely emotional and psychological and took a lot longer than the physical treatments!), all while continuing to attend university classes.

"I am now a strong and confident cancer survivor, and three years  ago I endured the loss of my dear dad to cancer as well (one week before his 58th birthday).  Cancer has become indelibly inscribed in my identity, but as time passes, I have found ways for its presence to have a positive, rather than negative, impact on how I live my life.  Team In Training provided me the perfect opportunity to do just that: conquer a personal physical challenge while presenting a symbolic one to the world around me. We don't need to live in a world full of cancer, and there are things YOU can do! 

"Some choose to become doctors and scientists, and invest thousands of hours into research for a cure. Some choose to become public health advocates, and place their passion into showing the world ways to make our own existence less harmful to our health.  Others give generously of themselves by contributing financial support.  And me? I have chosen to write letters, send emails, have raffles, show videos, organize lectures, bike a century, and run a marathon

"I hope you will enjoy and treasure your TNT experience as much as I do!"