New York City Triathlon, 2007 [above]

last year was one of the most amazing years of my life. while my family was deeply saddened with the loss of both my grandparents, I flew back to New York last winter determined to embrace our tragic loss with a triumphant return [to life]… some how, some way. what I hadn’t realized was that finding that path turned out to be two brochures in an enormous pile of mail that had collected over the month I had been away. that next weekend I strolled into an information session and joined Team in Training to honor their memory as well as contribute to one of the many amazing organizations they believed in so strongly.

so you might be wondering how I did? well, to begin with I spent six amazing months training for one of the most challenging physical races of my life thus far, lost four inches from my waist, met some of the most inspiring people in New York City, raised over $4000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and even managed to convince my parents to fly all the way from Ohio to New York City for the race. they in turn got to see the Big Apple, discover Zabar’s and [involuntarily] walked more than they have ever walked in their entire lives.

here I am one year later and am now a mentor, helping others to embark upon their own journeys. this year, I will train for the New York City triathlon and would like to raise more than $1875 in honor of those family members, friends, and friends of friends who are our survivors. every morning before the sun rises and as the mercury dips well below freezing, the evenings that are too dark to see my teammates at a distance, the moments of wanting to give up and go back to sleep, the swims in Coney Island… the training, the devotion, the heart and dedication it will take to make it to race day… it is all for the survivors who are only here today because of the research made possible in part to the fundraising we do for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

with this, I ask that you please take a moment and maybe drink two less lattes today or look under your couch cushions or forward this link to others and please make a donation to help support my second journey to give back, honor and embrace those who are our survivors.

thank you for taking a moment to hear my story. I hope that you will find your way back to my page again and again and again for many updates!

thank you!

:miriam