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."

Fun Facts Friday: The History Of Triathlon

Triathlon is becoming a very popular endurance sport. From youth triathlons to Ironman events, more and more people are becoming addicts. The combination of swimming, cycling and running makes it appealing to people of every age. Following is a brief history of this interesting sport...

Triathlon began on September 25, 1974 in Mission Bay, California when Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan worked with the San Diego Track Club to host the event. It consisted of a 6 mile run, 5 mile bike ride, and 500 yard swim.

Interestingly, the sport these two created was given the name "triathlon" because it involved three combined sports. But when Don ordered trophies to give to the winners of the race, the trophy company called to say they didn't know how to spell 'triathlon' because it wasn't in the dictionary. So, Don decided on its spelling on the spot.

Four years after the first triathlon, the Ironman was conceived on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, 1978. It began as a debate about who was the most fit- swimmers, runners or other athletes. Navy Commander John Collins decided to find out and came up with the idea to combine three existing races together to be completed in succession: the Waikiki Roughwater Swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (112 miles, originally done over 2 days) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles).

"Whoever finishes first we'll call the 'Ironman,' " Collins said. Fifteen men participated in the event on February 18. Only 12 finished. Gordon Haller won in a time of 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds.

Gordon Haller, the first Ironman

The sport has grown and changed quite a lot since its inception almost 27 years ago. Here are some interesting facts about triathlon...

• The youngest person to ever do an Ironman was 14-year-old Rodkey Faust from Rathdru, Idaho. He completed the February 1982 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 13:36:17
• Ironman Championships first appeared on television in 1980 on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
• Lyn Lemaire was the first female to become an Ironman in 1979. Her time was 12:55:38, placing her 5th overall.
• The slowest finish time ever recorded was 26:20:00 set by 73-year-old Walt Stack in 1981.
• The 17-hour-time limit was enacted in 1983.
• Dave Scott was the first Ironman to be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame in 1993. Dave is also a great supporter of Team In Training having been one of our national spokespersons. He is often seen at triathlon events wearing a TNT tri suit!
• Triathlon made its Olympic debut at Sydney in 2000 with the distances of 1500 meter swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run.
• Mike Reilly is the "voice of Ironman" and many triathletes long to hear his voice as they cross the finish line and he declares, "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN"
• In 1982, 23-year-old college student Julie Moss had one of the most famous Ironman finishes of all time and because it was filmed on ABC's Wide World of Sports, millions watched her as she literally crawled to the finish. Suddenly, the popularity of triathlon boomed.

For a little inspiration, watch this video of Julie crawling to the finish (WARNING: triathletes might shed a tear or two wathing this!):



Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

TNT hosted its 5th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Celebration at Saint Arnold Brewery Tuesday night. Beer, silent auction, and ugly sweater contest made the evening a great kick off to the holiday season.

You could host your very own Ugly Christmas Sweater event as a fundraiser. It's simple and costs very little to organize a fun party like this at home. Serve easy appetizers and drinks. Have a contest for the ugliest sweater and be sure to give the winner a little prize. Charge a donation to attend. Make your holiday fundraising FUN!

Cheers & Go Team!

TNT Glossary

You hear a lot of terms from our staff, coaches and mentors. If you're ever stumped over our TNT jargon, here's a list of terms you'll hear often...

• Refer-A-Friend: When you refer a friend to the TNT program, if that friend commits at commitment date, you will receive an additional $100 in your fundraising account.
• Alumni: You become an alumna/alumnus of the program as soon as you complete your first TNT event. We love our alumni and we look forward to welcoming you to the family!
• Staff Lead: The Team In Training staff person who is organizing your season/campaign. This person will be your fundraising advisor throughout the season and will typically accompany you to your event weekend.
• Coach: The person who prepares you for your event. Your coach will write your training plan and organize your group workouts. All your questions about training should be directed to your coach.
• Mentor: The person who, along with the staff lead, helps guide you in your fundraising. A mentor is part of our alumni and will be available to you throughout the season to answer any questions or concerns about fundraising.
• Honored Teammate: A blood cancer patient/survivor your team participates in honor of. Sometimes this teammate will visit you at group runs. You are free to post their photos on your fundraising web pages and tell your friends you're running in their honor. Your honored teammate gives you a connection to the cause if you don't already have one.
• Fundraising Commitment: Your fundraising commitment is the amount that you are committing to fundraise for LLS. Your commitment is determined based upon the costs to get you across the finish line of your chosen event, and then set to ensure that at least 80% of what is being raised directly impacts the mission of LLS. Your fundraising commitment includes a number of benefits including race entry, coaching, hotel accommodations (if applicable), training shirt, race day apparel, and an Inspiration Dinner.
• Commitment Date: Once known as "recommitment", this is the date we ask you to fully commit to the season. You are making a promise to complete your fundraising commitment. Once you give us your full commitment to the program, we are committing to you as well. At this point, we pay your coaches, purchase race entries, pay for your hotel room, purchase dinner tickets, purchase race day jerseys, etc. When you commit, you promise that even if you don't finish your fundraising, you will let us charge you the remainder.
• Final Funds Date: This is the date a couple of weeks before your event that we ask you to complete your fundraising minimum. If at this time you have not completed your fundraising commitment, you will be charged for the remainder.
• Fundraising 101 & One On One: Each season our staff hosts a Fundraising Workshop in which we present ideas for your fundraising campaign and teach the "dos" and "don'ts" of fundraising. We also schedule one on one sessions with participants to advise them and help organize their campaign.
• Mission Moment: Our mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. At the beginning of group runs and at other events, we typically will have a "mission moment" to remind participants of why they are raising all that money. Sometimes a cancer patient will speak. Sometimes a volunteer or staff person will share a story or statistic related to our mission.
• Group Run/Ride/Swim: These are the workouts organized by your coach for your team. You will train as a group with SAG support on the bike, water stops on the run, etc.
• Brick Workout: A back to back workout in the sport of triathlon. Triathletes must stack some of their workouts like bricks. Sometimes a brick is a swim followed by a run. Sometimes it's a bike followed by a run. Sometimes it's a run followed by a bike followed by a run. Brick workouts get mixed up, but it's always a back to back workout to train your body for triathlon.
• Fuel: Not for the car, but for your body! Food and drink are now considered fuel to get you going in this great new sport.
• Taper: The time period from 2-4 weeks prior to race day in which you begin to slow things down. Mileage decreases and workouts get a little easier to help you recover for race day.
• TNT Packet Pick Up: Not to be confused with race packet pick up, TNT packet pick up is the time you pick up your packet from our office. This will include your inspiration dinner tickets, race day Jersey, incentives, weekend schedule, etc. You must pick this up or have a friend pick it up for you at our office.
• Race Packet Pick Up: Each race will operate in a slightly different manner, but most of them will host an expo the day before the race. At the race, you pick up your race packet which includes items such as timing chip, race bib, shirt, etc. At many races, the expo also includes booths where you can purchase all kinds of fun race gear.
• Red Carpet: Entrance to our inspiration dinners is like a pep rally! You are cheered into the dinner because you're a rock star!
• Inspiration Dinner: The night before your race, you're treated to a dinner with guest speakers who will thank you for your great effort and remind you of the mission to inspire you for the next day's event.
• Finish Line: In your sport, it's the big, happy finish when you've completed your race. People cheer for you, you get a medal, eat some food, and live the rest of your life proud of yourself! In our mission, it's the day we hope for- when blood cancer ceases to exist. By being a part of Team In Training, you are getting us closer to that great finish line!
• GO TEAM! This is our famous TNT cheer. You'll hear it many times throughout the season, including on race day. Anytime we see someone in TNT attire, we shout out "Go Team!"