Press release:
Nikki Calhoun, a resident of Pavilion, announced today that she will be participating in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif., on June 3rd in honor of a local blood cancer patient named Mary Beth Pelkey.
Calhoun has been approached by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Western & Central New York Chapter to join their Team in Training, which the society sponsors.
Team in Training (TNT), the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) leading endurance sports charity training program, has reached a remarkable milestone of raising more than $1 billion to support blood cancer research and patient services.
Since its inception in 1988, when a team of 38 runners trained together for a New York City Marathon and raised $320,000, TNT has prepared more than 440,000 people -- approximately 40,000 participants annually -- to achieve their dream of completing a marathon, half-marathon, triathlon, century bike ride or hike adventure.
The enormous success of this program has helped make possible advances in blood cancer therapies and treatments that have prolonged and enhanced the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients.
This year’s honored patient, Mary Beth Pelkey, is a mother of four who has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“Fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s," Calhoun said. "I know what a struggle it is. I know how she feels. Whenever I feel too tired to get up and train or feel like I will never reach my fundraising goal, I remember what Mary Beth is dealing with. … It gives me motivation."
Nancy Hails, executive director of the local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society chapter, said “The Team in Training program is expected to raise approximately $500,000 this year in the Western and Central New York area to support blood cancer research and patient aid and services.”
Fundraising is a big part of the Team in Training program. When the fundraising goal is met, participants arrange to travel to their marathon site with arrangements made by the LLS. Calhoun explains that she has a goal of $3,000 to meet.
Persons interested in assisting Calhoun in reaching her goal in honor of Mary Beth Pelkey, may send a check or money order made payable to: “Leukemia & Lymphoma Society” and mail to P.O. Box 12, Pavilion, NY 14525.
You can also donate online at TeamInTraining.org. (Select Donate and search participant).
The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma and improve the quality of life patients and their families.
If you would like to learn more about the Team In Training program, contact us at (716) 834-2578 or toll free at 1-800-784-2368. Or check out their website at www.lls.org.
