The Greater Los Angeles Chapter includes:                                        San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.  

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training has trained more than 10,000 Southern California residents (including the Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties) to run or walk a marathon or half marathon; cycle a 100-mile century ride; or complete a triathlon.  All participants are involved in a lifesaving mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. 

For more information about the programs offered by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter, contact Team In Training at 310-216-7600 or fill out our online Tell Me More form and a campaign manager from your area will contact you shortly.

Local Honored Teammate Virginia Garner

Diagnosis: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Date of Diagnosis: August 6, 1997

I was very lucky to participate in a study for a new drug that wound up changing chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) from a terminal disease to a chronic one that is controllable. When I was diagnosed, patients with CML survived for 3-5 years while they endured treatment every day that devastated their bodies. Now, with Gleevec as standard treatment, all I have to do is swallow 6 small yellow pills every day to live a normal life with my family and friends. Now, instead of blood transfusions, staggering fatigue, persistent nausea and infections, I can walk marathons. It is estimated that there are presently 100,000 people living with my disease, an astonishing figure considering that 9 years ago a CML patient's prognosis was at best five years.

When I found out this miracle was made possible by research funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I signed up for my first marathon with Team In Training almost nine years ago so I could return some of the goodness I had received. When I told my husband I had signed him up too, he exclaimed, You signed me up for WHAT????? to which I replied, I have leukemia, are you going to turn me down?? Crossing the finish line not only for myself, but also for others, was one of the most amazing and fulfilling accomplishments of my life. In June of 2008, I completed my 8th event with Team In Training.  I am living a miracle every single day and appreciating every moment as it comes.

"It's devastating news to hear about someone being diagnosed with cancer. For me it was especially difficult because it was my 3-year-old daughter, Audrey," says Katy Moeller from California. I started training with TNT during the toughest part of my daughter's struggle with leukemia. The treatments were intense; blood transfusions and chemotherapy made her thin and weak. Normal play with other kids was not an option for her because her immune system was too suppressed and she felt terrible. Thankfully, she responded very well to the treatments and her cancer went into remission. Now, she's in a maintenance phase of her treatment and back in school, leading a fairly normal 5-year-old life. TNT enabled me to do something positive for Audrey and all others fighting blood cancers. It's a wonderful program, bringing so many people together for a common goal - to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma once and for all."

CALENDAR

November 22, 2008 University Medical Center 26 El Tour de Tucscon, presented by Diamond Ventures Tucson, AZ December 14, 2008 Honolulu Marathon ® Honolulu, HI January 10, 2009 WALT DISNEY WORLD ® Marathon Weekend Orlando, FL January 18, 2009 P.F. Chang's ® Rock 'n' Roll ArizonaTM Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Phoenix, AZ March 29, 2009 Lavaman Triathlon Kona, HI April 25, 2009 Country Music MarathonTM & 1/2 Marathon Nashville, TN    More Events Chapter National