Search Results

Jaimie Potvin

Finding cures for cancer is especially close to my heart. In 2011, my brother, Cory was diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma. Our dad was already a two-time survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so we truly believed he would survive blood cancer too. When his treatment showed no signs of improvement, it was devastating. Cory died six years ago and I still miss him so much every single day.

Shirley

The Boston Marathon marked my 33rd fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the 27th race with Team In Training (TNT), and the 6th Abbott World Marathon Major. With the support of amazing friends, teammates, and colleagues, I reached a lifelong goal—raising over $126,200 for LLS personally and over $1.6 million with the incredible teams I’ve been part of throughout the years, such as Team Child and Dynamite Runners.Inspired by my best friend, Christy, who donated her bone marrow to save her sister's life, I joined LLS as an intern in 2017.

Boyd

Greetings from a friend in Canada! I am a two-time blood cancer survivor and marathon runner all because of the love of friends in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)! I had a life saving stem cell transplant from an American Naval Serviceman named Nathan Barnes who was in Japan when he saved my life. (2011-12). My stem cell transplant was May 2012!! A year after my stem cell transplant a friend took me to Alaska and ran a marathon for me with Team in Training! (2013).

Nicolasa

The first time I heard of Team In Training (TNT) and raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was when my friend and I wanted to run the Nike Women's Half in D.C. We filled out the application and got accepted and started raising money, not having a clue about where this path was going to lead us. It was at that time that I began to realize the impact leukemia and lymphoma have had on my family and friends, whether they or a loved one had gone through treatment. I wrote all of their names on my singlet and carried them with me along that course.

Sandy

In the summer of 2006 I received a letter in the mail much like what you get around the holidays telling of the adventures over the past year.  My friend had recently moved to Tucson with her family.  She shared pictures of their kids and told about the transition from the Seattle area to Tucson.

Types of Complementary Therapies

An integrative healthcare team evaluates the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient and then recommends specific therapies and lifestyle changes as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Team members consider the scientific evidence, identify risks and benefits, and take into account individual preferences when they advise patients about complementary therapies.

Talking About Cancer

Telling people about your diagnosis is a very personal decision. Some people with cancer choose to tell only close family. Others find it helps to let more people know about their diagnosis. Take some time to consider what and how much you would like to share about your diagnosis and how you want to share this information. By letting friends and family know about your diagnosis, you give them the chance to offer their support.

Here are some tips and things to keep in mind when telling someone about your diagnosis:

Katie

Twenty years ago I did two things that shaped my life.

Jeannine

I got started with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) when our good friend, Tim Mauro, ran for Man of the Year and my husband, Larry, was his “campaign manager.” Tim’s father-in law, Bob, was battling non Hodgkin lymphoma. Watching them battle with him and seeing everything they did to help was such an inspiration, and seeing how many people were bonded together, raising money to find a cure, was amazing.

Cassie

Cassie Fetsch is a regular volunteer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Minnesota chapter. When school is out, staff members can count on Cassie to be in the office folding letters, stuffing and labeling envelopes, counting Team In Training brochures, cleaning out drawers or putting together pizza boxes. Since Domino's sponsors LLS's Pennies for Patients program, they donate all the boxes to ship campaign supplies. This year, Cassie assembled boxes for more than 800 schools!

Ron

This started 11 years ago when my mom was first diagnosed with lymphoma. I wanted to do more and saw the purple team always out running events I was entered into. I wanted to join and did in 2010. I have run in countless events over the years with Team In Training (TNT). Then my mom passed in May of 2017 while I was training for the Walt Disney World event. I was crushed and continued to run in her honor. My mom was supposed to be at the finish line at my 2018 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and it did not happen.

Heather

The world works in mysterious ways, it truly does! When I first volunteered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) program in 2015, I never in a million years thought I would be fundraising in honor of my husband Dave. I started out fundraising for my step-grandmother Margaret and his grandmother Pearl. Eventually, the list of people I ran and fundraised in honor or memory of grew to way over 20! All that time it turns out I was fundraising for Dave, too, we just didn't know it yet!

Katharine

My mother, Nancy, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a FLT3 mutation in March 2022. Over the next year and a half, she went through multiple rounds and regimens of inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy. At every step along the way, every member of my mom's care team kept mentioning how the outlook for patients like my mom was so much better now than it had been even 10 years ago thanks to advances in medicine.

Cathy

I had blood cancer and for that, I’m lucky. I’m not being facetious, I really believe I’m lucky. The doctors told me that Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is highly treatable and this is the cancer to have if you’re going to get cancer. But that’s not the only reason why I’m lucky. The very first philanthropic effort that I did with my BFF was when we were 17 years old and allowed to donate blood. This is one of the first times I realized I was lucky. By giving blood I could give the gift of life. It’s something I also had in common with my husband who is an avid blood donor.

Mental Health

The term “mental health” includes your emotional and psychological well-being. Your mental health guides how you handle stress, manage relationships and make decisions. Mental health, like physical health, is important to your overall well-being.

Emotions like sadness, anger or stress are normal and healthy responses to difficult life events, such as a cancer diagnosis. However, sometimes persistent feelings of sadness, stress or anxiety can be caused by a mental health disorder. Don't ignore any of these feelings. Talk to your healthcare team about how you are feeling.  

Ally

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in October 2024 and began chemotherapy (my last is April 25). My best friend and I were supposed to run a half marathon together in March 2025, but due to my health, I had to skip it. She wound up fundraising through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) on my behalf and ran the NYC half marathon. Our next goal is to run the NYC marathon together!

David

I walked into urgent care with a cough, they took an X-ray and discovered a mass in my chest that was 18x14x13 cm. I was hospitalized that same day and then was officially diagnosed with stage 3 mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). This occurred in 2018 just days after my 23rd birthday and only seven months after I moved to New York City. 

I decided to run the NYC marathon this year with Team In Training (TNT) because 2023 marks five years of being cancer-free!  

Paul

Thank you on behalf of the Freeman Wilner Family for this Honored Hero Award in memory of my father, Dr. Freeman Wilner, he was a hero to many.

Storm

When ten-year-old, Storm Owens was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, he was just finishing his spring season with his hockey team. Despite the effects of chemotherapy, he continued on-ice training with his coach and remained confident that he would beat this. He was determined to get back in the net by the fall season.

In early October, Storm's scan results were negative and his port was removed. On October 18, 2016, he was cleared to return to the ice and had just two practices before his first game on October 22, 2016.

Andreas Strasser, Ph.D., MSc, FAA

A Pioneering Researcher Developing Targeted Therapies for Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma

A cancer researcher trained in cell biology, immunology and molecular oncology, Dr. Strasser has made major contributions leading to discoveries that have found that defects in cell death can cause cancer and impair responses to chemotherapy. With this knowledge, his research team is able to develop new treatments. 

John

I've been a cancer survivor since my bone marrow transplant at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in 2004.  I have minimal side effects and continue doing what I love -- spending time with family and friends, cycling, and teaching high school photography and video production.  One year after my transplant I did my first Team In Training event, a century ride in Lake Tahoe.  I continued to do four more events.  My high school video students put on a film festival every year to support the Northwest Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  

Bonnie

My dad, Larry Vogl, was diagnosed with leukemia out of the blue in November 2014. In the picture, he is with my three boys and my nephew (his four grandsons). They are the reason for the fight!

I am also the oldest of six kids, and my dad has always done and will always do anything for us - putting his kids first.

He is my inspiration for running, yet, my journey seems to pale in comparison to his. I look forward to sharing the Team In Training miles with my youngest sister Jamie, and representing our whole family in honor of our dad. 

Dental Health

Dental care is an important part of overall cancer care. Good nutrition also plays a big role in dental health. Problems with the teeth, gums or mouth can interfere with eating well. Poor nutrition can lead to dental problems.

Visit the dentist at least four weeks before treatment begins if possible, and

Lauren

In the fall of 2022, my cousin lost her battle with leukemia. She was the most lovely (a word that makes me think of her) and kind person, and at the memorial service, Kate's sister said Kate had said, "There is nothing better than to be young and to run." This sentiment stuck with me for a long time as I am also a runner, and I started thinking about how I could honor her in my own way. The family had directed those who wished to donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), so I researched and discovered Team In Training (TNT).

Denise

I am passionate about Team in Training (TNT) because I am a cancer survivor, diagnosed with ovarian germ cell cancer (27 years ago at age 31). I had surgery, several rounds of chemo, and was then CURED! I joined TNT the following spring to ride El Tour de Tucson, a 111-mile bike race in Arizona (November 1997).