Jeff Wicks's Team In Training Page
Racing for a Reason
As you know, my brother Chris battled Hodgkins lymphoma for over 15 years. He passed away on December 10th, 2007. In his 31 years, Chris inspired many people with his love of the outdoors, his ability to always remain positive, and his passion for life despite his physical challenges. It is with this same passion that I am choosing to honor my brother and his life by taking on the challenge of competing in a half-ironman triathlon this August as part of the Team in Training program. Team in Training is a fundraising program which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS. Each year, they train 35,000+ walkers, runners, cyclists and triathletes for the event of their choice (marathon, ½ marathon, century bike ride, or triathlon). The group has excellent coaches who provide a daily training schedule, advice on gear and nutrition, organize group runs, and keep the motivation up with regular communication. In return for their training and support, I have pledged to raise $4,000 to help LLS fund cancer research and support blood cancer patients and their families. While raising money can be a challenge, it’s not nearly as big of a challenge as the 15 year battle my brother endured. During the course of Chris’ battle with Hodgkin’s Disease, he had his spleen removed, stem cell replacement, underwent clinical trials, PET scans, CAT scans, blood work, feeding tubes, acute kidney failure, radiation and chemotherapies, and too many blood transfusions to count. Yet every time he had the energy, Chris wanted to be outside enjoying life. Personally, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way of honoring his battle than for me to undertake this 70.3 mile outdoor challenge. The LLS’ mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease, and myeloma. They also strive to improve the quality of life of the patients and their families through counseling, financial reimbursement, and funding for research. Of every dollar that is donated over 75% of it goes directly to meet patient needs or researching a cure. Your donation can help people like my brother and the other 2,200 people who are diagnosed weekly with some form of blood cancer. I will not only accomplish my goal for the memory of my brother, but for the millions of people who live with cancer, including our team hero: three-year old Ian, who just happens to share the same birthday as my brother, July 4th. I will gladly accept donations after April 1st, however, the sooner I meet my fundraising goal, the sooner I can focus my energy on preparing for the 70.3 miles of swimming, biking, and running. If you would like to corporately sponsor me, I would be happy to assist you in that process as well. Please keep in mind, that many corporations have matching programs and will match any donation you provide. It’s an easy way to double your contribution! Thank-you in advance for your consideration in supporting this effort. If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me, or check out the Leukemia and Lymphoma webpage at www.lls.org. Jeffrey Wicks PS. Feel free to follow my progress by visiting my blog at http://jeffwicks.spaces.live.com/ LLS Tax Identification # 135644916
