Fun Facts Friday: Cycling

It's time to kick off Summer Season here at TNT and that includes one of our favorite events, America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe. Our amazing cyclists will ride up to 100 miles on event day which means they will log many miles of training over the next few months.

How much do you know about the popular sport of cycling? Here are a few fun facts about this fascinating sport.

1. Cylcing was one of the 9 original sports in the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
2. 28 years before the first Olympics, the first recorded bicycle race happened in Paris, France.
3. The Tour de France was established in 1903.
4. Before Babe Ruth joined the Yankees, cyclists were the highest paid athletes.
5. On average, a professional cyclist rides 25,000 miles per year. That's the equivalent of riding from L.A. to New York 10 times.
6. Shaving legs is not done to look good (although it does help show off those great cycling muscles). Scraping gravel off your injuries is much easier with shaved legs. It's easier to apply ointments and get those frequent massages.
7. Spandex is also not for looking good. There are plenty of jokes out there about cyclists in their spandex, but the truth is there is a legitimate reason for it: chafing! If you ever spend several hours on a bike, you definitely don't want your clothes moving.
8. The fastest speed a person has ever gone on a bike is 167.043 miles per hour.
9. The longest tandem bike ever built was 67 feet and could seat 35 people.
10. It is estimated that there are over one billion bicycles in the world.
11. Half a billion of those bikes are in China.
12. In 1935, a cyclist named Fred Birchmore rode his bike around the globe. While the entire trip covered 40,000 miles, he padaled 25,000 miles. The rest was traveled by boat. He wore out seven sets of tires.
13. Famous engineers including Henry Ford and the Wright brothers kicked off their careers by producing bicycles.
14. The most expensive bike ever was auctioned for $500,000.
15. A 2000 survey by the communters in Copenhagen, Denmark concluded that people who commute by bicycle are so healthy that they are 39% less likely to die of any cause than those who don't ride bicycles.

Training & Fundraising YOUR Way

TNT Your Way is a fun way for you to make any event you participate in a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Whether you choose foot racing, mountain climbing, adventure racing, kayaking, a 10K swim, you name it... it can be a TNT fundraising event.

Here's how it works:

1. Register for your event on your own. Do a 5K or a triathlon. Or get creative and sign up for a cross country ski event. Do something big like an Ironman or go somewhere fun like the Paris Marathon. When we say "your way", we mean "your way". Once you register for your event, contact your local TNT staff and tell them you're ready to fundraise with "TNT Your Way".
2. Set up your fundraising webpage. You receive the same fundraising tools with TNT Your Way that you do with the traditional Team In Training fundraising. Your local staff is available to help you create your fundraising strategy. You set your own goal amount. Whether you raise $1 or $1 million, it's all done Your Way.
3. You can be reimbursed for qualified race expenses. It is with pride that we can say that 80% of all funds we raise through Team In Training goes to support our mission of curing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and improving the quality of life of patients and their families. To keep in line with that commitment, we can reimburse you up to $200 for every $1,000 you raise. Qualified expenses include race entry, airfare and baggage fees, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation.

TNT Your Way Options:

1. TNT Your Way (On Your Own): There is no fundraising commitment. Raise as much money as you can. There is a $50 registration fee to join and this covers your TNT training shirt, personal fundraising website and staff support.
2. TNT Your Way (With The Team): The fundraising commitment for this option is $750. With a $50 registration fee you will receive all of our TNT coaching support, weekly group training sessions, a training shirt, personal fundraising website, race day apparel and fundraising support. For every $1,000 you raise above the $750 commitment, you can be reimbursed $200 for qualified race expenses.

Contact us TODAY at 713.840.0483 and ask to speak to a TNT staff person about TNT Your Way!

"You're off to Great Places!

Today is Your Day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So Get on YOUR WAY!"

~ Dr. Seuss

Halo House, A Home Away From Home

When 26-year-old Derek was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he was a young dad and husband fighting a tough battle against his disease. When his cancer returned, he and his wife Emily left their home in Florida to seek life-saving treatments at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

His frequent and lengthy trips to Houston quickly depleted the young family of all their savings, and Derek's greatest concern was the fact that he would be leaving his wife and children destitute. Derek's oncologist, Dr. Nathan Fowler, was deeply disturbed over his patient's troubles and began to share this with his family. Derek became the Fowler's inspiration to open Halo House, a home away from home, for patients with blood cancer.

Approximately 150,000 men and women will be diagnosed with a blood cancer in 2015 and this number continues to increase each year. Last year, thousands sought care for their blood cancer at MD Anderson. These are not patients who live just in Houston, but who come from all over the country to receive treatments.

Cancer is very expensive. A recent Harvard University study suggests that more than 62% of all personal bankruptcies are caused by overwhelming medical expenses (even though 60% of those had health insurance). There are so very many costs involved.

Founded in 2009, Halo House Foundation is a 501c3 public charity whose mission is to help save the lives of cancer patients battling leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma by offering them access to clean, affordable temporary housing so that they can pursue life-saving treatment.

The Halo House Foundation provides a fully furnished apartment to patients and caregivers while they are undergoing treatment at Houston's Texas Medical Center. For only $20 per day, Halo House becomes their temporary home. But it's not just a place to sleep. Halo House also provides guests with some meals, shuttle tokens, and a personal ambassador who welcomes each guest and supports them throughout their stay.

Since opening its first apartment in January 2011, Halo House has provided over 9,000 days of housing to families in need. But they have received over 1,300 applications and are currently only able to help a fraction of those who apply, so they are continuing to solicit donations and support as they plan the future of this great foundation.

Their vision is a 24,000 square foot building with 22 fully furnished apartments (each with their own kitchen), a community room with a library for social and educational events, a non-denominational quiet room for reflection and meditation, a small fitness center, a laundry facility, a large covered patio, and an abundant peaceful "green space".

Blood cancer continues to increase in incidence each year and we love the great organizations helping these amazing patients. Halo House was inspired by a wonderful young patient who sadly, did not survive his lymphoma, but his doctor and the good people at Halo House proudly honor his memory each day as they welcome patients into their beautiful home away from home.

If you know someone in need of the services provided by Halo House Foundation, please let them know applications are available on the Halo House Foundation website at HERE.

The Halo House is always in need of donations and sometimes in need of products such as sheets, towels, toiletries, etc. for the apartments, so please contact them if you would like to help.

Contact Info:
Phone: 713.665.8852
Mailing Address: 4010 Blue Bonnet #110, Houston TX 77025

*Halo House is hosting a 5K fun run on April 25. Visit the website HERE and sign up!

Houston Marathon Weekend

"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live." Stuart Scott

On January 18, our local TNT participants hit the streets of Houston on a mission: to wipe out blood cancer. So far this season, they have raised $186,500 and that number will continue to climb as many donations are still pouring in.

This weekend was filled with passion, energy, laughter, tears, and lots of love. There were so very many amazing stories from our participants. Blood cancer survivors were out running and coaching. Friends and family were running in honor or memory of loved ones. Beating blood cancer is a long, tough journey just like a marathon. And when we work together as a TEAM to conquer these diseases, we get closer to the finish line a lot faster.

The weekend began with the TNT Inspiration Dinner at the Four Seasons with good food, silent auction, and excellent guest speakers. Melissa Wilson of Fox 26 in Houston spoke along with her husband David and son Caleb who is currently in treatments for leukemia. Melissa told us all that she is continually reminded that her son's battle against leukemia is not a sprint, but a marathon. She recognized the fact that treatments and long term survival rates have dramatically improved over the past couple of decades thanks to research.

Amanda Payne, Texas Gulf Coast TNT Director, recognized our top individual and team fundraisers. The funds raised by our participants go into the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society- to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

The evening ended with the top fundraising team award which went to Team Super Sue. Will, Rachel and Rebekah Van Natta, Sue's family, spoke about one of our all time top individual fundraisers Sue Van Natta who raised $100,000 for TNT. In August 2010, Sue (affectionately known as "Super Sue") died after a 5-month battle against breast cancer, but her legacy lives on through her family and friends.

Coaches and participants got up early Sunday morning and headed to the start line of the Chevron Houston Marathon & Aramco Houston Half Marathon. It was a beautiful day. Several of our participants ran fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon! Our amazing coaches were out all day cheering and running alongside participants to encourage them to keep moving forward.

One of our participants, Ashley McCamant, was featured throughout the morning on Channel 13. She is a local nurse who years ago donated her bone marrow to a baby girl named Anna. Ashley and Anna's dad Tom ran the half marathon together. You can see part of Channel 13's interview with Ashley HERE.

We would love to hear from all of you! Your inspirational stories give us hope. You help light the fire of passion in us on staff at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thank you for taking the time to raise awareness and funds to wipe out blood cancers! In the famous words of Helen Keller, "alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." Thank you for coming together as a TEAM to pound the streets of Houston. GO TEAM!!!

Melissa Wilson with her husband David and youngest son, 7-year-old Caleb

Will, Rebekah and Rachel Van Natta speaking at the Inspiration Dinner

Rebekah Van Natta wore her mom's famous cape during the half marathon

TNT Mission Zone where 200 signs were posted, reminding everyone why we run

Texas Gulf Coast at Walt Disney World

Top Fundraiser Arlene Navo at the VIP reception

Magic filled the air at this year's Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. More than 500 TNT participants from all over the country who raised more than $2 million ran the half marathon on Saturday or the marathon on Sunday. A few did both for the "Goofy Challenge". A few even added a 5K on Thursday and a 10K on Friday for the "Dopey Challenge".

Texas Gulf Coast sent 14 participants and together they raised $50,000. Although it was cold most days, the marathon heated up a little and it even rained some. But tough weather conditions were not enough to keep our team from running through Magic Kingdom and the other Disney parks, ending in Epcot where there was music, dancing, and celebrating with some of Disney's coolest characters.

Our local top fundraiser, Arlene Navo, has raised $8,000 so far and is continuing to raise funds through the remainder of the month. For her great effort, Arlene was invited to the VIP reception and greeted by Goofy upon her arrival. As she prepared to leave, the king and queen of Disney, Mickey and Minnie, arrived to congratulate her on a job well done.

All 14 of our local TNTers are true champions for our mission. Thank you for helping us to make someday today at Disney! Y'all heal up, wear those medals with pride, and may your magical experience live in your memories forever.

GO TEAM!

Texas Gulf participants after the inspiration dinner

3:00 a.m. and ready to head to the start line for the half marathon

Waiting at the start for the marathon to begin

Three members of "Team Super Sue" participated in Disney

On the course at Animal Kingdom

TNT coaches coming in to the finish line with the final runner

Mission Moment Monday: Chuck and His Champions

Charles O'Toole (Chuck) was a strong, brave, devoted husband, father and grandfather who led a very full life. At the age of 55, he discovered he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

With his wife Sharon and three grown children (Kevin, Kelly and Kristin) fighting on his side, Chuck, courageously endured his intense battles against an aggressive disease. Because of his history with cardiomyopathy, Chuck couldn't do AVBD which meant he had to do many different chemo agents, autologous stem cell transplant, radiation and clinical trials. Through it all, he developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and a secondary cancer.

For three years, Chuck endured treatments. With unwavering strength and faith, he and his family struggled through the cancer journey together. But in the summer of 2014, Chuck's journey came to an end. With his wife and children beside him, he took his final breath. Now the four of them have chosen to honor their beloved husband and father by participating in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon together as a team, Chuck's Champions.

Sharon, his adorable, spunky wife is the team captain. Through tears and laughter, she remembers her husband. The two met as teenagers and married at the tender age of 20. They were about to celebrate 40 years of marriage when Chuck's life ended. Sharon is a registered nurse, something she often found both a blessing and a curse during the three years of her husband's cancer treatments. "It was a constant struggle to balance the knowledge of the inevitability of the disease with the hope and faith that the inevitability would not occur," she said.

For the kids, seeing their dad so sick was incredibly difficult. Kevin and Kelly both live out of state and were thankful for the times they got to visit their dad. Kristin was living in town, pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Her dad told her to focus on her studies, but it was tough because she was there to see the many hardships and setbacks her dad endured.

This family will run the streets of Houston on January 18 with many emotions. Surely they will miss Chuck and think of him every step of the way, and just as surely, they can be proud of their great accomplishment. They were champions for Chuck during his illness and they continue to be champions for him and the millions of others enduring blood cancers.

Chuck's Champions, thank you all for your bravery! Thank you for sharing your amazing journey with us. We will all continue to fight blood cancers til there is a cure.

*If you would like to make a donation to Chuck's Champions, CLICK HERE.

Charles O'Toole, a wonderful man who is greatly missed

Sharon O'Toole: "He loved God and his family first and foremost.
We were blessed to have him in our lives.
I just wish I knew why he had to be taken from us so soon."