This October, be one of 45,000 motivated and elite athletes when you fly 26.2 miles through the streets of the Windy City.  The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a scenic tour through Chicago's neighborhoods and historical landmarks.

Regular registration for the marathon has ended.  But, as an Official Charity of the event, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can offer you a guaranteed spot in the race as a participant in Team In Training.

Through Team In Training, you will receive first class training, coaching and mentoring to help you achieve your goals leading up to the race.  You are your teammate will proudly don purple as you run towards the finish line. As the largest endurance sports training program in the world, Team In Training will provide you with  the experience of a lifetime - all while helping to fight leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Get your purple ready, and join Team In Training for The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today to become a part of something great.

The Nike Women's Marathon, a Race to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, will be held October 18th, 2009 in San Francisco.   Team In Training (TNT), the world's largest charity sports training program, has slots available!  It's not too late to join!

Whether you're an experienced runner or interested in making this your first marathon, TNT can get you ready to run or walk the full or half marathon with months of training from our certified coaching staff!  In return you’ll raise funds to support lifesaving cancer research helping hundreds of thousands of blood cancer patients live better, longer lives. Find out more today before these slots are gone!

Join Team In Training and help save lives, one mile at a time. Find out more today!

Team I Do: Put yourself in the shoes of Dianne or Chuck, in Orange County, CA.  They met and began dating and fell in love.  Shortly after, Dianne was hospitalized and diagnosed with Stage IV Lymphoma.  With this terrifying news, Dianne told Chuck that he should run for the door – that her diagnosis wouldn’t be fair or fun for him.  Remarkably, Chuck said “Dianne, when God gives you a gift, you don’t give it back.”  And from that moment on, the pair knew they would fight tooth and nail to battle cancer and face the world, together.  Chuck proposed to Dianne at her hospital bedside.

Three months into a relationship, I can’t imagine that there are too many people who would have faced this threat the way that Chuck did.

After six months of excruciating chemotherapy and treatments, with Chuck by her side, Dianne is now in 100% remission.  And the two are due to be married this September.  Happily ever after ---

The story could end here, but instead, this astounding couple is selflessly turning their wedding celebration into a $10,000 fundraiser for Light The Night.  They are marrying on Friday and inviting their 60 guests to “walk with them after they walk down the aisle” as “[Team I Do|http://teams.lightthenight.org/TeamIDo]” on Saturday at The Light The Night Walk.

In addition, Dianne and Chuck are spending some time leading up to the wedding attending and hosting fundraising events – like a “Survivor Strut” Fashion Show.  And to top that all off, Dianne has also buddied-up with a Team In Training participant who is now training for a marathon in her honor.

Well, needless to say, this story just touched my heart.  Here they are, facing cancer (and kicking it's butt!), marrying the loves of their lives, and, if they didn't have enough on their plates, dedicating their special day to help LLS!   This type of generosity and selflessness does not come around often.   And I am honored to be a part of an organization with such beautiful supporters.

Do you know a unique fundraising or mission-related story?  I’d love to share it. Leave a comment or email me.