Not too long ago, I had a difficult time going about my life. I found it difficult to do even the simplest of tasks. I would go to work on autopilot and then go home and do nothing. I kept telling myself that I needed to get out to exercise. I needed to find something to bring meaning into my life. Volunteering sounded good, but volunteer to do what?  I wanted  and needed to leave my house. Eventually I found the courage to take that first step. Where did I go, you ask? I went to the Santa Barbara City College Track with my old running shoes. I began to run. I ran to relieve my stress. I ran to challenge myself. I wanted a sense of accomplishment. It was an accomplishment to even get to the track! Now I wanted to push myself and see how far I could run and for how long.

During one of my evenings at the track, I saw the marvelous Santa Barbara Team In Training Chapter training for their marathons. I immediately remembered having seen their purple brochures around Goleta and Santa Barbara throughout the past few years which brought back strong feelings of interest and admiration. I had always wanted to join, but because of past circumstances, the time had not been right. But now, I felt, the time was right. I decided to take a chance, so I researched the group and their connection to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As a national voluntary health organization, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to curing Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and Myeloma. The Society also seeks to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Team In Training program benefits the Society by professionally training its participants to become walkers, runners, cyclists, and triathletes. In return for their training, the participants raise money that goes towards research to finding a cure for all blood cancers. Leukemia is the number one killer of children and it affects adults of in greater numbers- most often people over 60.

The Team In Training program along with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are collectively about health. I, as a young lady, have so far been blessed with good health and I found Team In Training as a way to give back to those who are in need of good health. My family has been touched with cancer (although not blood cancer) and if  I can help to find a cure for cancer, then more power to me. These are the reasons I have joined this wonderful organization of dedicated coaches and participants.

Before joining Team In Training, I was running three miles a day. Now I am up to 13 miles once a week! I have so far raised $700 dollars towards my fundraising goal of $3000. I have chosen to participate in the P.F. Chang's Marathon in Arizona on January 14, 2007. I will be running the full marathon of 26.2 miles- a feat that I could never have foreseen!

Some of my teammates have been personally affected by leukemia in their families and it is for them that my teammates and I run to save lives. I enthusiastically invite you to help support my cause to do something wonderful for those that need our help. Your donations are greatly appreciated. If you have been wanting to do something great, this is your opportunity to give back and to support healthy living for all!

Please make donations on or before December 31, 2006, however, if extra time is needed, donations will gladly be accepted after this date . Please make donations via my website: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgla/starauset82

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