Run Walk Repeat For a Cure

I signed up for the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon - my first full at age 50.  You know I LOVE having fun when I race, but this one has me scared. NEVER done this distance and I am questioning "Why did I sign up again?"

I realized in signing up for something that will challenge me in a way I have never known, that I will need support and immediately thought of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training; a supportive running community which raises money for research in the cure of blood cancers.  This race will be about something bigger than me challenging myself, I am training with LLS TNT to try to help find a cure.  

How serious is blood cancer? Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes, someone dies.  I am training and fundraising  with TNT to do my part in helping find a cure and new treatments for blood cancers like leukemia -- the No. 1 disease killer of children -- lymphoma and myeloma.

I know my race and training will be a challenge, but it will be NOTHING compared the challenges faced by families fighting cancer.  Families like my cousin Maryann, diagnosed at age of 8 with Leukemia.  While the outlook was unknown and scary for Maryann and her family back in the 70's when diagnosed, her type of Leukemia is now one of the most treatable with a very high recovery rate.  Without research, this type of diagnosis with an optimistic prognosis would not have been possible.

No parent should have to watch their child - no matter what age, fight for their life.  Cancer is such a horrible diganosis, no one should have to endure the treatments cancer patients face.  No mother should have to go take a shower with the sole purpose of a place cry in privacy away from her kids, while dealing with fear, sadness, helplessness and the pain in watching their child suffer.
 
THAT is why I decided to try to make a difference and signed up with TNT.

You can visit my fundraiser page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/wdw15/juliefranklin