Run4Hope to make a difference in the lives of others and save 40% on your race registration! Sign up today and run for one of 15 charities including Team in Training!
Jacqueline’s Story:
Running a full marathon at age 60 is not something I ever imagined I would be doing!
I started running when I was in my early 40’s. I enjoyed lunch time runs and participating in the occasional 10K with work mates. Then on October 17, 2011 my life changed forever, my mother died, just a few weeks after her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. Devastated by the loss I wanted to do something to fight back. I decided I would run the BMO Vancouver half marathon in May 2012 and raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
I joined Team in Training and began training and fundraising. My daughter decided to join me; it was such a wonderful experience crossing the finish line together! We ran in my mother’s memory. Training with Team in Training was an amazing experience. TNT offered training and support from their coaches and fundraising experts. I received a welcome package with lots of fundraising and training tips and had ongoing support by email and phone. But I got even more than that. That winter and spring was a tough time for me, but training for the run and focusing on fundraising helped me better cope. The night before the run we attended the Team in Training pre run dinner. We met other runners who had lost a loved one to blood cancer, including a woman who had lost her son.
I remember my Mum talking about AML and telling me how it not only affected adults, but children as well. She said that didn’t bear thinking about. She was always thinking of others even as she was suffering. But it wasn’t all sad; I shared a meal with participants who were also survivors! I was so inspired!
This May I will be running in the BMO Vancouver Marathon, it will be my first full marathon! Once again with the support of TNT I am training hard and raising funds for LLSC. I still think of my Mum when I am on those long training runs, but I also think of how in her name I am helping LLSC find a cure for blood cancers.
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