Cancer Patient Inspires Team in Training

ATLANTA -- A seven-year-old Decatur girl with leukemia is providing inspiration to members of the Nike Run Team, who are raising thousands of dollars for cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program.

"She captures everyone's heart when you look at that smile and those bright eyes," said team coach Joanna Berentsen, who appeared on 11 Alive News Saturday Today along with Kate, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in April of 2007. "We know that when our days are tough or we're tired, we're not going through nearly as much as Kate's been through. We do it in honor of her."

Kate turned 7 years old today. She told 11 Alive's Jennifer Leslie that she's doing well and feeling good. Kate's mom, Carolyn, is a past mentor and alum of Team in Training.

The program started 20 years ago. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people nationwide have trained for marathons and other endurance events while raising close to a billion dollars to help find cures for blood cancers and improve the quality of life for patients.

"We take all levels of athletes from the couch potato to the experienced athlete," Berentsen said. "We provide training programs, coaching, nutrition information and injury prevention to help them train for endurance events"

In turn, participants raise money.

"Seventy-five percent of the money raised goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," Berentsen said. "The rest goes to the cost of the trips for the events."

Team in Training is currently recruiting for two major events; the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 18th and the Women's Running Magazine St.
Pete Half Marathon in St. Petersburg, FL on November 22nd.

For more information, check out the "Moms on the Move" group on atlanta.momslikeme.com.