Moms in Training: Moms wanted for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Cancer is an equal opportunity disease. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. You can be young, old, rich or poor. Cancer doesn’t care. But there are people and organizations who do care. There are countless patients, families, caregivers, researchers, doctors and so many more who are in the front lines battling cancer. One organization who continues to fight the fight is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Locally, the LLS Tri-State chapter is trying to get Moms mobilized to help by participating in their Team in Training program or more specifically for Moms in Training.

I was contacted by Maggie Stuart from LLS to help spread the word. I was happy to share the information for a few reasons. The first is that cancer has hit close to home for our family as we have watched one young girl we personally know and love battle this horrible disease. Luckily, after two bone marrow transplants and spending over 6 months in the hospital undergoing countless tests and treatments she is cancer free. But that doesn’t mean that her journey is over. She still needs to return for follow ups and testing throughout her life to make sure it doesn’t return. Secondly I was familiar with Amy & Ella’s story since they not only attend our church but Amy is also a teacher in the Mason School District where my girls attend school. Pictured on right is Amy & Ella (photo courtesy of LLS).

Here is what Maggie wrote:

LLS and TNT are launching a new program called Moms In Training. Moms In Training is an eight-week, flexible & social workout program for moms of all ages. Our moms meet with a coach at Weller Park in Montgomery on Saturday mornings who trains them to complete a short-distance event, and we work with each mom to fundraise at least $500. We had our first group train this past spring and 13 moms completed the Flying Pig 5K and 10K. Together, these 13 moms fundraised $11,000 for LLS!

We’ve gotten great feedback from this first group of moms, and want to grow the program since it was such a success. The faces of the program are Amy & Ella Boynton, pictured. Amy is a teacher in the Mason School District, and her daughter, Ella, is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia. Amy did Moms In Training last season, raising nearly $3,000! She is due with her second baby any day now, but Ella is going to remain our Honored Hero for our Fall Season Moms In Training group. Our Fall Season Moms In Training program kicks off in early August and our Moms will train for the Queen Bee short distance event on October 11th

Moms in Training – photo courtesy LLS

Here is a little more information about Amy & Ella’s journey from the LLS press release:

Amy and Bryan Boynton of Liberty Township, Ohio, never expected to spend their child’s birthday in a hospital, but Ella was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on May 28, 2013, just days before her second birthday. Since May, 2013, Ella has received countless spinal taps, blood transfusions and chemotherapy treatments. Though she is continuing to receive treatment, Ella is considered to be in remission from ALL and is doing well. With the toughest part of s treatment almost behind them, but with nearly a year and a half left to go, the s shifted some of their focus and energy on giving back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), an organization they consider to be helping to save their

ALL is the most common type of cancer in children ages one through seven. Through research funded by LLS, the five-year survival rate for children with ALL has increased to 90% from just 3% in 1964. Team In Training (TNT) is the largest fundraising campaign of LLS and is responsible for raising $1.4 billion in its 25 years.

If you are interested in becoming a part of Moms in Training, please contact Maggie Stuart for more information or visit Moms in Training online.