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This coming spring an organization called Team in Training is going to send nearly 35,000 athletes from the United States and Canada all across North America to race for a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma. The largest endurance sports training program in the world, Team in Training is unique in that all of its athletes are there because they helped raise funds to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their mission to find a cure for all blood cancers, and to improve the lives of those diagnosed with blood cancers. To date, over a quarter-million participants have raised nearly $600 million in support of this cause, and come spring, I will have joined their ranks.
At first I had joined Team in Training more out of a desire to get serious about the sport of triathlon, and for the opportunity to meet people with a common interest. Having been accused of it myself, I was thrilled to find it's members universally "plagued" by boundless enthusiasm and a will to achieve. However, said traits did not come quite in the form that I had expected. Herein is a team rallies together not so much to train for a race, but to race for a cause. Instead of individuals racing for themselves, they are a team who race for others. Their reward is not the finish line, but the knowledge that they made a difference. Their real heroes are the people who fight these diseases every day, and it is in recognition of the struggles and triumphs Honored Heroes that they forge onward. These are indeed the sort of people I was looking for.
Additionally, each and every participant in the Team in Training has a support group of their own, the people who helped them reach their fundraising goals so they could be rewarded by racing with their teammates after training so hard together. I ask that you give generously to help me reach my goal of $4,100. $100, $50, even $25 goes a long way towards helping to find a cure. I assure you your money will be well spent; Team in Training donates a full 75% of the funds raised directly towards the support of patient services and research concerning blood cancers. If you are not in a position where donating monetarily is an option, I ask at least that you voice your support. The Team is a coalition of the willing, and kind words shared reinvigorate the spirit in trying times.
If you would like more information about the Team in Training, I suggest visiting our chapter's website: www.teamintraining.org/li
I will be participating in the Memphis in May Triathlon on May 20th, but my fundraising deadline is April 15th, so please, if you wish to support this worthy effort, don't delay! Checks may be made payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, however, if you prefer to donate via credit card, the quickest and most secure way to do so is via my Team in Training Website: www.active.com/donate/tntliny/baier
I'd like to thank you in advance for taking the time to consider my request, and I earnestly hope that you find this cause as deserving as I do. Have a happy and safe holiday season!
Sincerely,
Baier Rakowski
256 East Main St
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
[email protected]