Local marathon runner participating in San Diego event
Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Jill Hudson
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EMC Sports - Having experienced the challenge of running in the Rome Marathon last year, Sandra Ryan is lacing up her shoes for another - this time in San Diego, California on June 3.
St. Lawrence EMC File
Sandra Ryan ran in Maratona di Roma in March, 2011, raising $12,300 for the leukemia and lymphoma. She considers it one of the proudest moments of her life.
In an email to her supporters Ryan wrote, "I wanted let everyone know that I have signed up to do more fundraising for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) of Canada and RUN ANOTHER MARATHON!"
She thanked everyone who supported her with last year's Rome Marathon.
"I want to thank everyone that supported me last year in Ottawa's first race for Teams in Training and assure you that this year will be even better than last year!"
Ryan is trying to raise $10,000 in both personal and corporate donations.
"Please pass this on!" noted the runner. "Every cent stays in CANADA to help make blood cancer patients and their families more comfortable during this difficult time. If you are able to, please make a donation and be a part of the cure!"
Ryan discussed some of the facts about Leukemia. First of all - there is no known cure. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. She said Leukemia and lymphoma are the leading fatal cancers in young men under 35. Every 34 minutes, someone is newly diagnosed with a blood cancer in Canada. Every 72 minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from a blood-related cancer in Canada, 90,000 Canadians are presently living with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease or myeloma.
She stated that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada-sponsored research has been the catalyst for effective treatments of Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas and other common kinds of cancer, including stomach, breast and lung cancer.
She is looking forward to this run.
"I can't wait. Rome was obviously incredible - I had never been there before. But San Diego - it's the Rock & Roll Marathon. It's a big party. It's going to be a totally different event," said Ryan.
She adds there are many people along the way to cheer on the runners and knows that she needs to prepare for the run in terms of the climate and heat.
"It's going to be significantly warmer. From what I can understand, you are pretty much in the desert. You are on the strip at some point but you are off in pretty warm sandy areas for the race."
Ryan has recently received her training schedule from professional coach, Rick Hollard from Team in Training (TNT). She told the EMC that she stays fit year-long, has lost some weight since last year's run and plans on trimming some more before the marathon. She plans to stick to the training advice of her coach.
According to its website, TNT is the first and largest, endurance sports charity training program with more than a half million runners, walkers, tri-athletes, cyclists and hikers having raised over $1 billion to fund lifesaving research. People who sign on are coached by world class coaches and mentors - who teach the runners about nutrition, hydration and equipment. "Train each week with teammates who share your enthusiasm and will encourage you mile after mile," it says.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and services for patients. In 1988, LLS created TNT, in which participants raised funds while training for an endurance event. Money raised from this program has made possible blood cancer research, which has helped find better therapies and treatments that have prolonged and improved the lives of people living with cancer.
This year Ryan is a mentor and she is looking forward to helping someone who will be running in a TNT race for the first time. Last year Ryan's father had an active role in Sandra's fundraising and he is doing that again this year.
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