Hopatcong Woman Runs to Raise Money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

When Hopatcong resident Lisa Smith isn’t helping her husband manage L&S Auto, she’s training to participate in the Long Branch Half Marathon.

“I’m training to run the half marathon in Long Branch in May with the Team in Training organization,” Smith said. “Team in Training helps train people for marathons, half marathons, bike rides and hikes. In exchange members raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”

So far Smith’s risen almost $800. She hopes to reach her goal of $2,000.

Team in Training was founded in 1938 by Bruce Cleland of Rye, N.Y., in honor of his daughter Georgia, a leukemia survivor. He, along with 38 others, raised $322,000 for the LLS’s Westchester/Hudson Valley chapter. Since then, the organization has trained nearly 500,000 walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers. Over the years, Team in Training has also risen over $1 billion to fund lifesaving cancer research.

Running is something Smith has always liked to do, as friends and family have inspired her.

“My 9-year-old nephew likes to run and I’ve always liked to run as it really is a stress reliever for me especially after a long day of work,” Smith said. “I’ve always wanted to run a 5k marathon. My friend challenged me to run the half marathon and when I heard about the Team in Training foundation I was like why not and I really wanted to become involved as it seemed like a good thing to do.”

The foundation offers two four –to-five-month training programs.  Participants can choose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s traditional Team in Training program, which has a more hands-on training with coaches and TNT Flex, a customized online program that allows participants to run and train at their own pace.

Those like Smith who are training with Team in Training through the TNT Flex program receive personalized training and weekly training and fundraising updates through the internet, e-mail or phone.

“Team in training sends you a guide to help you with your training sessions so you can run and train on your own,” Smith said. “They also send you a schedule so you usually train for about four days a week and rest on Sundays.”

However, you don’t have to run a marathon to help fight leukemia, as anyone can help donate to the cause.

 “Anybody can help by donating always,” Smith said. “The foundation is always looking for people to get involved as every little bit helps.”  

Any money donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society goes to helping patients and families in battling diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. 

About 76 percent of donated money goes to program services such as professional education, public health education, research, and patient community service.  The other percentage of donated money goes to total supporting services such as fundraising and management and general services.  The foundation receives no federal funding and receives money through donations.

Smith will be participating at the Long Branch Marathon, which will be held on May 1 and starts at approximately 8:30 a.m. The marathon is a part of the New Jersey Marathon festival. The 13.1-mile, one-loop course passes through Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Oceanport.

If you are interested in donating to help Smith's cause, donations can be dropped off at Smith’s donation box at L&S Auto in Hopatcong. Donations can also be made online on Smith’s fundraising page.

Checks can also be made to the LOS foundation.

For more information about Team in Training and the New Jersey Marathon Festival please check out these websites:

http://www.teamintraining.org/

http://www.njmarathon.org/