Denise Hanson's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
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Dear Friends and Family:
Howdy, everyone! I decided to start training for the third time to run and train with Team in Training. I will be running and training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 12, 2008. I have committed myself again for 7 months of intense training and fundraising for the Illinois Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team In Training endurance program. I felt fulfilled by getting involved previous years by giving back to the organization that helped my family. I reached a personal fitness goal while having a lot of fun and met many new friends. I had a great time when I trained for P.F. Chang’s Rock And Roll Marathon in January 2007. My goal this year is to finish stronger and faster than previous year while having fun as well.
Besides our wonderful hero, I am also running once again in memory of my biggest hero, my father – Mark Tente. He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocyte Leukemia (ALL) with Philadelphia Chromosome, a very rare form of adult leukemia, in September 2004. He was given a low chance of survival when he was first diagnosed. He dealt with months of chemotherapy and radiation at Fairview-University Hospital before going into remission in December 2004. He made huge strides during his treatment and amazed the oncologists who were treating him – even after the huge scare right before he was declared in remission. It was decided right before Christmas 2004 that he would prepare for a stem cell transplant. Both his sister and brother were considered a match – a huge miracle and very rare in families – but his brother stepped up to the plate and gave my dad the biggest gift he could ever give him. After the transplant, my dad developed some complications but continued to fight hard and not give up the fight. When the oncologists felt that he was stable enough, they transferred him to Fairview-Riverside Hospital where he received occupational, speech, and physical rehabilitation to recover from the complications he dealt with upon receiving the stem cell transplant.
Unfortunately, additional post-transplant complications caused him to lose his battle on May 15, 2005 surrounded by our loving family and his best friends who said their goodbyes. I know that he fought hard and never gave up during this whole journey although his body became too tired to fight. I will keep this same determination in my mind to help with the training and when I complete my third marathon in October 2008. I know that he was watching over me last year and will be watching me again this year.
As a member of Team In Training, I have a running coach, a training program and incredible teammates to support me. I have daily running schedules and weekend running sessions with my team. As part of the dedication to the LLS, I have agreed to help raise $1,400 by September 17, 2008. I am asking you to help me with the most significant part of this personal endeavor. Because I strongly believe in this cause, I feel that I am making an important commitment to ‘earn’ your contribution.
Would you please join me in this effort? I am asking for $26.20 – one dollar per mile, but will gladly accept a contribution of any amount, smaller or larger. If you gave last year, please give again. If you did not get a chance to give last year, please take the opportunity to give this year. Just use the self-addressed enclosed envelope along with any inspirational messages for my adventure or anything else you think would help or e-mail them to me at dmj_mn@yahoo.com. Please mail me your contribution by September 17, 2008 so I can start tracking my fundraising progress. Donations are 100% tax deductible and checks can be made out to LLS. Please do not forget to ask your Human Resources Director about matching gifts, which will double your donation. You can also donate online and follow my progress on my website at: http://www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilDHanson .
Thank you in advance for your support. On behalf of all the true heroes – my father and all those enduring serious illnesses – thank you for your generosity. Your contribution will go toward research to find a cure for all types of cancer. Along with that, you will be helping the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provide support services to families dealing with a loved one diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma like mine.
