Honored Teammate's First Silent Mile by Katie Powell

On Saturday, February 20, 2010, Team In Training held a Silent Mile. The silent mile was held in honor of those people who have lost their lives to blood cancers, and for those who have fought and won the battle against cancer. All Team in Training groups from Fall and Spring participated. Runners, walkers, cyclists, and triathletes all joined together on this special, and very chilly, morning to hear survivors speak and then walk/run 1 mile in silence. We had a terrific showing: over 50 people participated. Before starting the silent mile, we all gathered in a circle and listened to a few survivors speak about their experience fighting blood cancers.

It was truly inspirational, and a reminder about why being a part of Team In Training is so important. Nobody has to wake up early on a Saturday morning, put on running/cycling gear, and exercise in freezing cold winter weather…but we do. We do it because we believe in a cure, and we believe that we can make a difference in the ability to cure blood cancers.

As a survivor myself, I believe that the money The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has raised, through groups such as Team In Training, has saved my life. Nothing makes me prouder than to be part of such a wonderful group of people willing to sacrifice their time to help people like me live longer and healthier lives.

The Silent Mile was a reminder of why we all are training…we are training for a cure.