My name is Jared and I am a blood cancer survivor.  I was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma on March 18, 2006.  I was 13 years old when I was diagnosed.  I went through chemo therapy for about 6 months and I am still being followed by the oncology clinic.  I went to St. Louis Children's Hospital and I am now only going back every 6 months with no scan which is a big step for me. 

I found out about Team In Training because my primary nurse in Children's asked if she could run the San Francisco Half Marathon in my honor, which I was proud to accompany her on.  When I saw what a great commitment and how many great things these people did I couldn't believe it.  These people were willing to put themselves through pain and suffering each day and raise money to run just so they could help people like me.  After I saw this I knew that I had to take place in this and be active in Team In Training so that other people wouldn't have to go through what I went through. 

Thirteen months after I was diagnosed with Burkitt's, I ran the St. Louis Half Marathon and completed it!  I ran with a team from my home town of Union, Missouri.  There were 8 of us that each ran the half marathon and completed it, some of them through the Team In Training program.

I was just recently asked to be the honored teammate of the Team In Training participants completing the Lewis and Clark Marathon and Half Marathon, which was a huge honor to me and my family.  I was able to speak at the pasta party the night before the marathon and that is still one of the greatest things that I have done in my life. 
I am here today because of Team In Training and the wonderful people that donated and raised the money and ran these events even when nobody asked them to.  Everyday somebody is diagnosed with a blood cancer and these people aren't always lucky and recover from these illnesses.  With the help of Team In Training and people that are associated with Team In Training you help these people to survive and prevent chance of getting cancer. 

I encourage everybody to help out Team in Training somehow in running or even donating money or time.  Every little bit you do helps somebody like me survive one more day and helps the diagnosed, cured , and the undiagnosed in many ways.  Even if you are having doubts about running or walking just think about the people sitting in hospitals that didn't ask to be diagnosed but sit there and take the pain each day just so they can survive.  It might be the hardest thing you ever do in your life but all you have to do is pick up your foot because I promise you it will come back down and each step you take helps another person in some way or another.