Suzanne Alexander

Hey guys,

So here I go, training once again for another run. This April 25th , the Country Music ½ Marathon will be my 6th half marathon. Over the last few years I have run for different organizations, raising money for different charities. I have always been aware of Team In Training, the group of runners in those purple shirts that seem to outnumber any other running group at these events. I know there is power in numbers and I have decided to join them this year! Team In Training raises funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Over the last few years I, like many in this world, have had friends go through their battles with some form of cancer. I am currently training with my good friend Jim Asker who has done an amazing job of beating cancer. He's back full force into his running routine, about to tackle his first full marathon this year, since his recovery from stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Nan Kelley

Nan Kelley, who GAC viewers know well, also battled cancer. I was amazed at Nan's strength and courage throughout her chemo and radiation treatments. I often tell Nan that I don't know if I could've handled it the way she did, with grace, strength and hands down, a great sense of humor. Nan is better and looking great. What people may not know is that as Nan was on her road to recovery, her husband Charlie was diagnosed with colon cancer. How in the world was this even possible? That's exactly what everyone was thinking, I mean what were the odds of that happening. I can tell you, thank God, that Charlie had surgery and doctors said they caught it early and he is okay.

So these are the people that have been my inspiration for stepping up and signing up for Team In Training. Jim, Nan and Charlie, and also my friend Leslie who battled back from Hodgkins Lymphoma as well as my Aunt Lu who is a breast cancer survivor. It's something that our family doesn't talk about much but I want her to know that I love her and that I'm thankful everyday that she is okay and here for me to bother-Ha! She'll laugh at that! I call her everyday asking for her help on learning Italian, as she speaks it fluently.

All of these people not only have surviving cancer in common but they all have a tremendous sense of humor. Really, I don't think they are ever serious about anything! So as you can see, I've got a lot of motivation. And I can tell you from experience, it is better to run for someone than to just run for the sake of running. There is nothing like being at mile 10 and your calf locks up on you and the thought of calling it quits enters your mind. But then I think of the people I'm running for and the pain that they endured, not by choice, and I know it is a lot worse than anything I could feel out on that running course.

My mission with Team In Training is to personally raise $1800. I need your help to reach that goal! Please check out the link below if you'd like to help in this fight against cancer. Thank you very much for your support.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR DONATION »

Sincerely,

Suzanne Alexander