Throwback Thursday

Bruce Cleland at the 1988 New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon began in 1970. Founded by Fred Lebow, president of New York Road Runners, the first race consisted of several loops around Central Park. Of the 127 who started the race, only 55 crossed the finish line with Gary Muhrcke winning in a time of 2:31:38.

Today, the New York City marathon is one of the world's largest and the course takes runners through all five boroughs. We have a special place in our hearts for this great race because it's the birthplace of Team In Training.

In 1988, Steve Jones of the United Kingdom won the race in a time of 2:08:20. But to us, the win goes to Bruce Cleland who finished in a time of 5:23:33, but whose race changed the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society forever.

Cleland formed a group of 38 runners to compete in the race that year. Their goal was not only to complete 26.2 miles, but to raise funds for leukemia research. At the time, Cleland's young daughter Georgia was enduring leukemia. The group of runners raised more than $320,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team In Training was born. Since then, more than 600,000 athletes have done marathons, half marathons, cycle events, triathlons and hiking events through TNT and together they have raised $1.4 billion.

Today, for our "Throwback Thursday" we honor the man whose passion and vision started it all. Thank you Bruce Cleland! You're a champion and a hero.

*Cleland's daughter Georgia is all grown up now. She runs marathons and is on staff with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Is Caffeine Good For Endurance Athletes?

According to legend, coffee was discovered in the Ethiopian highlands by a goatheard called Kaldi. It is said that his discovery was accidental, something that happened when he noticed that after eating the "berries" from a certain tree, his goats became so spirited they did not want to sleep at night.

Later Kaldi reported this to the local monastery who began making a drink with the berries and discovered they were able to stay alert for the long hours of evening prayer. Finally word spread about the energizing effects of these berries, even reaching the Arabian peninsula and finally, it spread all over the world.

Today coffee is grown in many countries, all of whom can trace their heritage to the trees in the ancient coffee forests of Ethiopia. Approximately 75% of Americans drink coffee on a regular basis. 

Caffeine is a drug. It is well absorbed from the stomach and intestine and peak blood levels occur about 45-60 minutes after consumption. Caffeine stimulates the brain. It increases blood pressure and pulse rate. It also increases stomach acid. Some coffee drinkers report acid reflux, anxiety and even insomnia.

Because of some of its negative effects, consumption of caffeine in the general public is something often heavily debated. Is it good or bad to drink coffee? Some studies suggest that caffeine has some health benefits. For example, by stimulating the brain, it is said to make you smarter. It is suggested that it can aid in weight loss and could lower your risk for Type II Diabetes. It might even help decrease your risk for developing Alzheimer's. Some research shows that there are antioxidants in coffee too.

So, with all the mixed research, what are your thoughts? Should endurance athletes drink coffee? It seems that a vast majority of triathletes and runners regularly drink coffee. Although the International Olympic Committee lists caffeine as a restricted drug (in high levels), most athletes consume coffee to give them energy to endure. Some athletes have come close to the restricted amount in drug testing and were almost banned from participating in their competition.

It is suggested that caffeine before a long race (i.e. Ironman or marathon running) may have some benefit because  the longer the race, the more important fat is as fuel. According to a 2014 article by sport nutritionist Cynthia Sass, there are some important guidelines for endurance athletes drinking coffee...

1. Don't over do it. The maximum amount of caffeine recommended for enhancing performance with minimal side effects is up to 6 mg per kg body weight (about 16 ounces of coffee per day for a 150 pound woman).
2. Avoid high calorie coffee drinks. Instead, keep it healthy with options like almond milk and cinnamon instead of cream and sugar.
3. Stay consistent with your intake. Don't have 2 cups one day and 4 the next. Your intake should be steady so your body adjusts which counters dehydration.
4. Continue to drink water as your main beverage of choice! You must stay hydrated.
5. Do not drink coffee or any caffeinated beverage six hours before bedtime.

What about you? Do you drink coffee before your workouts or races? What are the positives and negatives you have discovered?

Running Movies

For thousands of years, humans have been into running. There's something fascinating about doing something athletic with just your body. A sport with no equipment, just your feet. Whether you're competing against other runners, or simply trying for your own personal best, running is freeing. And it's such a great metaphor for life, representing challenge, pain, strength, determination, and the spirit of freedom we all seek.

Because of our great interest in running, it's no surprise that Hollywood has tackled the sport so many times. Following are some running movies you might enjoy watching as you train for your marathon (these are not listed in any particular order)...

1. Chariots of Fire (1981). This a running movie classic which tells the story of two runners in the 1924 Olympics, one a devout Scottish Christian and the other a Jewish Englishman.
2. Forrest Gump (1994). Forrest is unable to walk as a child, but finally he's set free and falls in love with Jenny and with running. When Jenny leaves, Forrest sets out on an epic run that lasts 3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours. Now, if you're hoping to copy Forrest's run, you can see a MapMyRun style analysis of his route HERE.
3. Prefontaine (1997). There are two biographical movies based on running legend Steve Prefontaine. This one is told in a quasi-documentary theme from the point of view of 3-time U.S. Olympian Bill Dellinger played by Ed O'Neill who was an assistant coach of the University of Oregon and Nancy Alleman who was Pre's girlfriend when he died at age 24.
4. Without Limits (1998). The second biographical movie released on the life of Pre, this one is exceptionally well written. Produced by Tom Cruise, this one focuses more on the relationship between Pre and his coach Bill Bowerman (played by Donald Sutherland). The film also touches on the creation of Nike shoes.
5. Saint Ralph (2004). This fictional tale follows 14-year-old Ralph, a Catholic school boy who is seeking a miracle to save his mother's life. Ralph thinks God will give him that miracle if he wins the 1954 Boston Marathon. Although the film is not based on reality, some of the running scenes introduce us to real training methods such as hill repeats, intervals, pacing, race strategy, nutrition, weight training and more. And it has an interesting TNT style connection with the idea of running to save life.
6. Spirit of the Marathon (2007). This documentary is a must see for runners. It follows elite runners as well as common runners as they prepare for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. If you enjoy marathoning at any level, you will enjoy this film.
7. Running on the Sun (2000). This documentary portrays the aches, pains, and extreme challenges of the Badwater Ultramarathon through Death Valley National Park. The race stretches 135 miles from Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level to Whitney Portal at 8,360 feet high.
8. Transcend (2014). The story of Kenyan marathoner Wesley Korir who won the 2012 Boston Marathon as well as many other marathons. Korir later won a seat in Kenyan Parliament and founded the Kenyan Kids Foundation to help his poverty stricken nation.
9. Running (1979). Starring Michael Douglas, this film was produced during the first running boom in America. It's about a character whose life is falling apart as he struggles to qualify for the Olympic Marathon.
10. Four Minute Mile (2014). Released at the Seattle International Film Festival, this movie focuses on an inner city high schooler who discovers running as an outlet. He connects with a neighbor who is a has-been track coach who recognizes his great potential.
11. Running America (2010). This documentary follows ultrarunners Marshall Ulrich and Charlie Engle as they attempt to set a new speed record for crossing the country on foot in 2008. Running 3,063 miles from San Francisco to New York City, Ulrich makes it in 52.5 days. Throughout the film, we see the many ups and downs and the reality of what it's like to persevere when your body is shutting down.
12. Personal Best (1982). This film showcases a fictional group of female track runners training for the 1980 Olympic trials. The movie earned great praise for its authentic portrayal of women's sports in the early 80s. In the end, the athletes are left with only their "personal best" after the U.S. boycotted the Olympic Games.
13. Marathon Man (1976). Dustin Hoffman plays runner Thomas "Babe" Levy who gets caught up with Nazis and stolen diamonds and must use running power to escape the bad guys in the streets of New York City.
14. Across the Tracks (1991). Long before Brad Pitt was a super star, he played the part of Joe, one of two brothers who use running to reconcile their differences. Set on winning a scholarship to Stanford, he's a good student and high school track star. His brother (played by Ricky Schroder) is a delinquent, but leaves his rebellious life behind when introduced to running.
15. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962). This black and white film tells the story of rebellious tennager Colin who turns to running as a means of emotional and physical escape.
16. Run For Your Life (2008). This touching documentary tells the story of Fred Lebow who helped grow the New York City Marathon from 55 finishers in 1970 to one of the world's largest races. From his beginning as an immigrant to a marathon runner to president of the New York City Road Runners, Lebow made his mark on the running community. He died in 1994 of brain cancer.
17. The Jericho Mile (1979). This Emmy award winning television film tells the story of Larry Murphy, a man serving a life sentence at Folsom Prison for shooting his father. He spends his free time at the prison running. A track is built at the prison and Larry ends up running a faster mile than the Olympic runner.
18. Running Brave (1983). This film is based on the story of Billy Mills, the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. His 1964 victory in the 10,000 meter run is considered one of the greatest upsets in track history.
19. Endurance (1999).  Ethiopian Olympic champion Haile Gebresalssie plays himself in this Disney produced film which tells the story of his growing up in rural Ethiopia. His father, brother and wife all play themselves in the movie which recreates the events that led to his 1996 Olympic victory in Atlanta. There is some great running footage in the film which does not include Geb's 10,000 meter victory at the 2000 Olympics or his two marathon world racords, but it does an amazing job of sharing his story.
20. Jim Ryun: America's Greatest Miler (1999). This documentary tells the story of Jim Ryun's becoming the first high school runner in the world to run a sub 4 minute mile. His 3:55.3 record lasted for 36 years. The film even includes exclusive footage of Ryun setting the record at the Kansas state championships.

There are many more films about running. What are some of your favorite running movies?

Mission Moment Monday: Running Through CML

Less than three months ago, on November 25, 2014, Louis Huerta heard news from his doctor that would shake his world.

Louis had been on a journey since January to achieve greater health. For the past 10 months, he had been on a healthy diet and exercise program and had successfully lost 80 pounds. When he went to see his doctor for a physical and learned he had leukemia, he was shocked.

"Why," he wondered, "what did I do to cause this?" He discovered that his disease was the result of a random genetic mutation of a chromosome called Philadelphia Chromosome. Louis had been working so hard to lose weight and become healthy because his doctors had always told him that this would solve all his problems. He finally got healthy, then found out he had cancer. "I laughed out loud at the irony," he said.

His diagnosis was Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), a very rare cancer of the white blood cells. Typically it occurs in older adults, but can occur in anyone of any age, including children. Louis is only 33 years old.

At first, he was frightened and decided that the best way to overcome his fears was to educate himself. Immediately Louis began researching CML and discovered that although the life expectancy for CML patients 15 years ago was 3-7 years, some very significant strides have been made to completely change this statistic. In 2000, the development of a targeted therapy called imatinib brought a great victory for CML patients and increased life expectancy to 14 or more years. Patients on this therapy are being monitored and it is thought that in many cases, these patients will go on to live a full, normal, healthy life just by taking one pill each day.

Discovering that he would simply take one small pill every day and may never have to do chemo or radiation or bone marrow transplant (very rare treatment protocols these days for CML patients), Louis began to tell family and friends, "I have bad news, but mostly good news". This therapy has various side effects. Each patient is different, but most patients feel just like Louis: "like I'm not even sick".

Initially, Louis experienced a few minor side effects and at first he was hypersensitive to these, but soon realized that these side effects were not truly causing harm. He actually felt good. After six weeks of taking his pills, he had a follow up appointment with his oncologist. "I will always remember January 27, 2015," he said, "I went to see how the Gleevec (imatinib) treatment was going for me."

"All my blood numbers were in the normal range and the key indicator of the Philadephia Chromosome was halved," said Louis, "The treatment is working!"

One of the greatest passions Louis has developed since his journey with health and fitness began is running. He was thrilled that running would not be taken from him when he began treatments for CML. The beauty of a targeted agent administered in pill form is that if patients don't have severe side effects, they can continue a normal life, doing what they love.

Louis loves running and has decided that Team In Training is going to bring him to his next goal- to run a half marathon! Currently, he is training for the Rock N Roll San Diego Half Marathon on May 31. His coach, Dan Walmer said, "he is a champion and an inspiration for people".

If you would like to make a donation to this amazing champion, please go to his fundraising link HERE.

*The drug Louis is taking, imatinib (Gleevec ®), is one of the greatest success stories at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. LLS's funding of Dr. Brian Drucker led to the development and approval of this therapy which has increased survival rates and quality of life for CML patients dramatically. To see more, check out the video below.

Annual Awards Reception

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 21 and join us for the Team In Training Annual Awards Reception at Saint Arnold's Brewery. This is a fun celebratory event in which we acknowledge the many great achievements of our campaign over the past year as well as recognize some of our alumni who have made our campaign so successful.

We need your input! Please visit the online FORM and cast your vote for the following areas:

• Mentor of the Year
• Upstart Award
• Bridge Builder Award
• Grassroots Grasshopper Award
• John Olson Award (the embodiment of the TNT mission in daily life)
• Janie Mitts Moore Award (the continued dedication and contribution to the campaign)
• Robert LaRocque Award (fundraising excellence)
• Allen Family Award (impact made by a family on the mission of LLS)

Let us know if you can make it to the event. Attendance is strictly limited to 100 people. You can RSVP at EVENTBRITE today.

Bubble Run

Can you imagine running through bubbles for three miles? Fun, right? We are excited about the Bubble Run coming up in Houston on May 23 and would like to invite you to partner with us in having some great fun while bringing us closer to ending blood cancers.

To join the LLS in funding life-saving research while running 5 kilometers of "frothy goodness", go to the BUBBLE RUN website and register for the race. Once you've registered, go to REASON 2 RACE and set up your fundraising website. Send your link out to everyone you know and ask them to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Following the event, the top fundraiser will receive a trophy. This is a great event for people of every age. We invite kids, parents, grandparents, friends, everyone! Join the LLS for a fun little race and help us make someday today!

For more information, contact Amanda Payne at Amanda.Payne@lls.org.

• Register for BUBBLE RUN
• Sign up at REASON 2 RACE
• Email out your fundraising link
• Top fundraiser gets a trophy

Fun Facts Friday: Friday the 13th

Are you superstitious? Do you quake a little when you realize the day is Friday the 13th? If so, you are not alone. Apparently, approximately 21 million Americans suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia, two terms that mean "the fear of Friday the 13th".

Following are 13 facts about the day...

1. There is at least one Friday the 13th in every year and at most there are three (there will be 3 this year including today, March 13 and November 13).
2. In any 400-year period, there are 688 Friday the 13ths.
3. The first reference to an unlucky Friday the 13th came in an 1869 biography of the composer Rossini who died on Friday, November 13, 1868.
4. Tupac Shakur was killed on Friday the 13th.
5. Fidel Castro was born on Friday the 13th.
6. The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is 14 months.
7. On Friday April 13, 2029, the asteroid 99942 will make its closest encounter with the Earth.
8. On Friday, October 13, 1307, officers of King Philip IV of France raided the homes of Crusade warriors, imprisoned them, and tortured them to death.
9. Alfred Hitchcock was born on Friday the 13th. His 100th birthday would have been Friday, August 13, 1999.
10. Mediaeval Christians thought Friday unlucky because Christ was killed on Friday and the number 13 as evil because Judas Iscariot was the 13th disciple at the Last Supper.
11. Research in Finland has shown that women are more likely to die in traffic accidents on Friday the 13th than any other Friday (figures for men show no difference).
12. The British Navy is said to have built a ship named "Friday the 13th" which on its maiden voyage left dock on a Friday the 13th and was never heard from again.
13. Friday the 13th is considered a good day to register for your first 13 mile run with Team In Training!*

* OK, that last one is not so much a fact, but it's our belief that you will not regret the decision to sign up for a half marathon (or even a marathon or bike ride). Summer season at TNT is off to a great start and it is not too late to join us for the San Diego Marathon Weekend or America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe. Contact us TODAY!

Take 5, Save Lives

While researchers continue to work diligently to develop better therapies for blood cancer patients, we continue to work diligently at LLS and TNT to raise funds on behalf of these researchers. Their work is bringing us closer to a world without blood cancers.

Please consider helping us help them! Become a Team Captain and recruit 5 or more friends and family members to form a team. Our summer season has already begun, but it is not too late to join the San Diego Marathon weekend or America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (in Lake Tahoe).

Will you consider taking 5 of your friends on the adventure of a lifetime? You can use your healthy bodies on behalf of those with unhealthy bodies! If you choose to become a team captain, you can earn up to a 25% discount on your fundraising commitment.

Contact us today at teamintraining_txh@lls.org

Together, we can save lives!

What It's Like To Coach For TNT




*the following is based on combined stories from several coaches on what it feels like to coach a marathon event for Team In Training

So I’m all decked out in a crazy purple wig, big purple sunglasses, and green “Coach” shirt. I have my pockets full of gels, salt, baby wipes, Vaseline and Bandaids. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve also slipped a couple of ibuprofen in there too. Not that I would ever dare give that to a TNT participant! They’re for me. For when I enter the “Bite Me Zone” at around mile 22 and every participant I try to help goes a little bit crazy on me. Some will cuss. Others will cry. A couple might threaten to kill me.

In addition to the overstuffed pockets, I’m also carrying cow bells and whistles and pom poms. And my mobile phone. I have some leftover garbage bags from the start line and a sweatshirt a participant handed me at mile 3 when she warmed up and just didn’t feel like tying it around her waist and figured I could take care of it for her. I’m standing at mile marker 5 but I’ve already logged 15 miles.

The plan was for me to coach in Zone One and then move over to Zone Four. At our coach meeting yesterday I was assigned these zones. We decided that zone one would be miles one through five. My coaching partner and I would run and cheer and help out any of our purple cancer heroes. Not that too many need help in those first few miles, but the main job for us is to pace and sweep. I’ll touch on that in a moment, but first I have to mention the coach I’m paired up with.

She’s  got an even bigger purple wig on than I do. She’s wearing a purple tutu and about 500 purple beads. She’s even got purple makeup on, including long purple eyelashes. All 10 of her cowbells are tied together to make as much noise as possible. And she carries this tiny bullhorn. She’s tiny too so I’m not sure how she runs with all this on, but I’ve watched in awe as she runs with the 7 minute milers and then cuts back to walk along with the 14 minute milers. Her energy level is greater than that of my 4-year-old daughter at home.

We cover zone one with passion. We don’t just help out runners wearing TNT singlets. We jump in there to assist anyone who looks like they need some encouragement. I’ve screamed “Go Team” 103 times so far today.

Finally, the last TNT participant struggles toward us at mile 5. If she doesn’t pick up the pace, she’s going to be swept. My partner (I’m just going to start referring to her as Perky Peggy) and I surround her. I ask if she needs a gel. “No,” she says, “I really need to go to the porta potty so I think I’ll stop.” I explain in my kindest voice that if she stops, she’ll get swept and say “why don’t you try to get to the next aid station and go there.” Perky Peggy reaches over and grabs her hand and tells her that she’s an amazing hero and she can do this. We get her past the sweeper and she’s safe.

Now Perky Peggy and I have to get all the way to zone four. That’s miles 12-14 on the marathon course. We will no longer see any of the half marathoners because their turn toward the finish happened a couple of miles back. So, we’re with the full marathoners now. By this point, most of the purple singlets need our help in some way. One guy is pretty upset because his gels fell out of his pocket at the last aid station and he had planned on taking one again now. I pull out my assortment of gels and say, “with or without caffeine?” This makes him smile. He takes a caffeinated one.

An honored teammate from another chapter comes running by. He’s a 20-year-old Hodgkin lymphoma survivor running his first marathon. He’s tired. I run alongside him for a few minutes while he tells me his goal is to finish in under four. I tell him if he can beat cancer, he can do anything. “Go Team” I say as he runs ahead. By now, I have said this 212 times.

Perky Peggy is running with a young lady who is limping. She’s got IT band issues and she’s crying. Then I see one of my guys! He’s looking strong and I’m pumped. I run with him for a couple of minutes as he tells me he’s on pace for a new PR. I don’t want him to lose concentration so I tell him to keep up the great work and I’ll see him later.

We’re out in zone four for what seems like an eternity. By now, the cold winds of the morning are gone and the sun is beaming. I dig through my pockets and discover I have some sunscreen and Chapstick at the bottom. I’d forgotten about those! And by now, our slower participants are coming through. The walkers are pretty tired and sunburned. I gladly help them apply sunscreen.

One of my favorite participants comes through (just have to say that they’re all my favorites, but this one is special). She’s a 68-year-old sweetheart whose grandson is a leukemia survivor. She proudly wears his name on her back: “Running for Jordan”. I am thrilled to see her and know that she’s made it this far in the marathon and that she’s a good distance ahead of the sweeper.

Now we’re five hours into the race and it’s time for Perky Peggy and me to head to the toughest part of the marathon course- miles 22-26. All the other TNT coaches from other parts of the country are here now. We are on a mission: get every single TNT runner and walker to the finish line before time runs out.

Some of us affectionately refer to this area as the “Bite Me Zone” or the BMZ. In the BMZ you hear it all. You see it all. At mile one it was shocking to see people pull over and pee on the side of the road. Now, no one is peeing because if they stop, they might not start again. So, they are all slowly and painfully making their way to the victorious end.

Here, we say or do whatever we can to keep them moving. I notice that some want me to talk to them. They don’t care what I say as long as I entertain them with my talking to distract them. Others want me to be quiet. My talking is “annoying” right now. But they don’t want to be alone, so I just go along quietly til they are ready to finish on their own. Everyone is different and my job as the TNT coach is to assess their needs and meet them the best I can.

I do all of this with great energy and enthusiasm. At least that’s the way it appears. The truth is, I’m pretty worn out now myself. I’ve been running and walking anywhere from 6 minute miles to 16 minute miles all day long! My IT band hurts. The bottoms of my feet are covered in blisters. I have logged 23 miles so far today. I’m sunburned and losing my voice because by now I have screamed “Go Team” 507 times today. But by golly, no one on this course is going to have a clue that I’m this exhausted. They won’t know that all my fellow TNT coaches hurt as badly as the participants, maybe worse. We will ignore our pain and forget ourselves in these last miles because none of this is about us. It’s about these heroes who have chosen to conquer this great challenge.

Finally, our last TNT participant is coming through. She’s not from my chapter. But I hear her name is Janet. All 18 of us coaches will surround Janet and run her into the finish line. I find out that she’s a 27-year-old leukemia survivor. She finished treatments only one year ago and this marathon is her way of celebrating her anniversary. So, I can’t help myself. A couple of big tears fall down my cheek.

As Janet runs with a wall of TNT coaches surrounding her, the crowd at the finish line gets louder. There’s cheering. There are cow bells. There’s music and noise and it almost feels like we’re at a rock concert and Janet is the rock star. Her mom and dad see her and they’re screaming. Her brother holds a poster that says “Janet is my HERO”. We cross the finish line and she’s handed a medal. Now she’s crying. I’m crying. The other coaches are crying. We are a crying mess!

I limp over to the TNT tent to see if there are any snacks left. I grab a Coke and some chips. I sit and pull off my shoes. My feet are bleeding. My legs are on fire. My whole body aches. Yet somehow I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life. I feel more thrilled than the day I ran my very first marathon. Somehow, this experience coaching others and seeing them achieve something so great is more beautiful than just about anything else I’ve ever known.

Later in the night, after I’ve showered and napped, I get dressed to go out and celebrate with the participants from my local chapter. I look at myself in the mirror and feel satisfied. I can barely talk now (I screamed “Go Team” 1,000 times today). Before I leave, I smile at the man in the mirror and say, “congrats Coach, good job and Go Team” (that’s 1,001 times now).

Creative Idea From A Child

When 9-year-old Ben was visiting his friend in the hospital, he heard the parents talking about an issue they were having. Ben's friend Caleb has leukemia so his family is very careful about keeping away the germs. Their constant hand washing has caused their hands to be very dry and cracked.

Ben got to thinking. What could he create to help Caleb's family with their dry hands? That's when he came up with the idea of combining lotion and soap, a product he calls "soshen". His soshen was a hit! Now, Ben sells soshen online with 20% of the proceeds being donated to Texas Children's Hospital.

The soshen comes in a variety of scents and according to customers, it works great! You can try it out by ordering online HERE.

**TNT participants, what are some creative ways YOU can help patients and raise funds? We would love to hear from you about the many great ideas you have. Feel free to comment below.

Send A Valentine's Day Card to A Child

Being in the hospital on Valentine's Day is no fun for anyone! But there will be many children spending this day hospitalized at Texas Children's Hospital. Many of those kids are blood cancer patients.

If you would like to brighten up the day for these kids, click HERE to send a card to a child in the hospital and the cards will be hand delivered on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14. Be sure to send the link out to your friends so the kids at TCH can all receive lots of love.