I know there’s been a lot of TNT (aka, “The Purple Menace”) bashing. I haven’t taken part, although I’ve experienced some of what has been said. I believe it’s just a group effect mentality - I know there’s a name for it, where individually, people would never act as they do in a group. The same thing happens after soccer games, high-profile court case outcomes, etc. That same group mentality can have positive effect, too. The TNT coaches give one last inspiring speech the morning of a race - ‘Hills and Valleys’, representing they’ve already done the work, had their ups and downs, and now it’s race time and it’s cake. There’s more to it, of course, but the awesomeness of what each one has done to get there and knowing their fellow purple jerseys have done the same is strong bonding stuff. I can give them some leeway. OK, I’m biased. My sister ran her first marathon, in Ireland, for TNT, in honor of my brother who died of lymphoma many years back. She went on to become a TNT coach. She has also improved her marathon - at 50 years old, she’s run a 3:10. It inspired my wife to sign up and she did her first marathon in Maui. As a family, we’ve been a bit more involved with TNT than most.
My sister’s daughter is a typical teenager, going through phases such as dying hair black, trying to be anti-this and that without a whole lot of thought behind it. I guess she’s maturing now, because she’s inspired to do a marathon. Below is her solicitation. Feel free to donate to her cause.
I’m writing to you because my mom called me while I was half-asleep and asked if I would like to run a marathon. No, really, I am.
Ever since my mom started volunteering with Team in Training 5 years ago, I’ve had this sort of admiration for the cause it promotes- finding the cure for cancer. I promised my mom that if a cure hadn’t been found by the time I grew up, I’d run a marathon with Team in Training. I’m nearly 16 now, I’ve only recently realized that I don’t really have to wait until I get older.
Because of that early morning phone call, I am running the Nike Women’s marathon in San Francisco on October 23rd. Well, that’s not quite the reason I’m running it.
I'm running it because I'll be training for and completing the race with Team in Training, the main fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This means that in addition to running the race, I'll be raising $4000, 75% of which will go directly to cancer research and patient services and support.
On top of this, the particular race that I'm running benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Last year $10 million were raised from this one event alone. I think that's pretty amazing. So many lives were made better from the money raised. And that was just one race.
So, how could I not want to do my part in this? True, a lot of lives have already been made better, but there's so much more we can do.
And if you think about it, there are far too many people whose lives have been affected by leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related cancers. I’ve lost an uncle to lymphoma. I hardly even remember him. But from what I do remember, and from what my family tells me, he was one of the most interesting and awesome people you could ever meet.
We can’t bring back the many loved ones that have been taken away from so many families and friends, but we can make things better now, even find a cure for the future.
If you understand why I’m running this race, and you want to do your part too, please donate. It can be a little or a lot, because it still contributes to the cause. Like I said before, 75% goes directly to the cause, and 100% is tax deductible. I’m aiming to have raised my goal by August 1st.
Also, let me know if there’s anyone with a blood-related cancer you’d like me to dedicate my race to. After all, I’m running for them.
Help a teenager fulfill a PE credit. And make the world a better place.
Sincerely,
Mairi Glover
P.S. For $500 or more, a company can be a corporate sponsor.
Donations can be made out to LLS and mailed to:
Mairi Glover
512 Camino de Guadalupita
Santa Fe, NM 87505
