Bradford prepares for Alaskan night marathon
NE instructional assistant plans run for leukemia, lymphoma research
by KC Jones, feature editor

    With a large number of worthy causes for which to collect money, hard-working volunteers may be harder to find. However, Laura Bradford is training for the Mayor’s Midnight Run Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 22.

   Bradford, NE HPE instructional assistant, is participating in the North Texas Team in Training (TNT) chapter as a member. She is creating awareness and collecting donations to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

   TNT offers personalized training and team events. It offers a comprehensive endurance-training program for runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes.

   TNT’s goal is to increase funding to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles.

   “I really don’t consider myself a runner, but I really believe in what they are doing, so I committed to help,” she said.

   TNT is one of the most successful training programs boasting one in every 15 marathoners having been trained by them.

   “TNT gave me a mentor, a running coach, who gave me a schedule, and a great system. I would have dropped out without it,” she said.

   Bradford runs shorter distances four times a week and then a long run of 15 miles on Sunday. Unfortunately, Bradford’s schedule prevents her from running with the other team members who meet on Saturday at Trinity Park.

   “Team building is a big part of the event. The others are running together and bonding,” she said.

   When Bradford was introduced to the society’s TNT program, she fell in love with the children it benefits.

   “Kids are a big deal for me. Like I said, I am not a runner. It can be grueling. But when I think about the sick children, enduring their hair falling out, what seems like an endless illness and chemotherapy, I just take another step,” she said.

   Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children. But people of all ages and races are diagnosed with blood-related cancers.

   This year, 109,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the condition; another 60,300 will die. Fortunately, Bradford said, survival rates are increasing.

   Leukemia causes uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal and useless white blood cells to accumulate in the bones, preventing the production of normal cells.

   While the cause of Leukemia remains unknown, treatment methods and advances in research step toward a cure.

   That is why Bradford is raising money for the society. The mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

   Bradford is planning a three-on-three basketball tournament for Saturday, May 4, in the NE gym. The cost per team is $20, which will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

   Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and is limited to the first 25 teams. The tournament will have a winner’s and loser’s ticket bracket, so each team will play at least two games.

   Bradford must raise a minimum of $4,500 in donations to run in Alaska.

   “No donation is too small—everything helps,” she said.

   Tax-deductible donations can be received at Bradford’s office, HPE 202 or call her at 817-515-6157. To find out more, visit www.teamintraining.org.