Team in Training
Encyclopedia
Team in Training, also known by the acronym TNT, is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
's endurance sports training program. The program provides training for a half marathon
, marathon, triathlon
, century (100-mile) bike ride, or a cross-country ski marathon. Team members raise funds to help support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
in exchange for certified coaches, training, sports education clinics, a personal fundraising
web site, support from staff and teammates, a fundraising mentor, event fees, and lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the United States and abroad. The Society uses at least 74 cents of every dollar raised for cancer programs, funding research to find cures to leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and myeloma - the blood cancers - as well as assistance with the often overwhelming burdens faced by patients and their families currently fighting blood cancers.
The "Team" in Team In Training stands for Train, Endure, Achieve, and Matter.
As of 2008, TNT has had more than 360,000 volunteer participants raise over $850 million to support blood cancer research and patient services for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Team in Training athletes following training plans designed by noted coaches such as Dave Scott
, Arnie Baker
, and Jack Daniels
.
A 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune
cautions runners new to charity program
A few of the more vocal critics of charity runners in the running community are running author and New England Runner columnist Tom Derderian, veteran running Broadcaster Toni Reavis, and Jim Hage of the Washington Post.
Team In Training was founded by Bruce Cleland in 1988 Rye, New York. Cleland created a team to train for a marathon in New York City in honor of his daughter Georgia, a leukemia survivor. The team raised $322,000 for the Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter, which helped Team In Training grow into what it is today. Runner’s World magazine recognized Bruce Cleland as one of their “Heroes of Running” for his major contribution in founding TNT.
TNT has 64 chapters, with numerous locations in the United States and Canada.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , founded in 1949, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of...
's endurance sports training program. The program provides training for a half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
, marathon, triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
, century (100-mile) bike ride, or a cross-country ski marathon. Team members raise funds to help support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , founded in 1949, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of...
in exchange for certified coaches, training, sports education clinics, a personal fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
web site, support from staff and teammates, a fundraising mentor, event fees, and lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the United States and abroad. The Society uses at least 74 cents of every dollar raised for cancer programs, funding research to find cures to leukemia, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and myeloma - the blood cancers - as well as assistance with the often overwhelming burdens faced by patients and their families currently fighting blood cancers.
The "Team" in Team In Training stands for Train, Endure, Achieve, and Matter.
As of 2008, TNT has had more than 360,000 volunteer participants raise over $850 million to support blood cancer research and patient services for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Benefits of TNT
Most of the funds raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society go to research and patient care. Funds are used for patient financial assistance, bone marrow donations, prescription drug co-payments, patient mentoring programs, patient transportation, and medical research.Team in Training athletes following training plans designed by noted coaches such as Dave Scott
Dave Scott (triathlete)
Dave Scott is a U.S. triathlete and the first six-time Ironman Triathon World Champion. He won the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii six times in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, and 1987. Only his rival, Mark Allen, managed to match these six titles eight years later...
, Arnie Baker
Arnie Baker
Arnie Baker is a bicycle coach, racer, and writer.He has coached road and mountain bike racers to several Olympic Games, more than 120 U.S. National Championships and 40 U.S. records...
, and Jack Daniels
Jack Daniels (coach)
Jack Tupper Daniels is a former professor of physical education and cross-country running coach at Brevard College, in North Carolina. He received his doctoral degree in exercise physiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
.
Criticism
Charity running in general has been criticized for several reasons. Some of the more common complaints are:- The increased cost a race must incur to accommodate charity runners, which is then passed down to race entry fees.
- Inexperienced participants in races displaying a lack of "Runner's Etiquette", such as walking five abreast and obstructing other runners.
- The lack of dedication a charity runner has to the sport. For instance, they may focus all attention on their one fundraiser marathon and never run again.
- The perceived kickback to the runner/fundraiser, who in effect receives a free vacation in exchange for his/her fundraising efforts.
A 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
cautions runners new to charity program
But while marathons can be rewarding and life changing, they can also be grueling, unpleasant events, especially if you're new to the sport. If you're also fundraising—no easy feat—you might feel pressured to keep pushing with training when you shouldn't. And some running coaches worry that the charities are more interested in raising money than in the health of the runners, a charge the charities deny.
A few of the more vocal critics of charity runners in the running community are running author and New England Runner columnist Tom Derderian, veteran running Broadcaster Toni Reavis, and Jim Hage of the Washington Post.
History
In 1949, the de Villiers family lost 16 year old Rober Roesler de Villiers to leukemia. His death lead to the creation of a foundation called Roesler de Villiers, which is now known as the Leukemia & Lymphomia Society. The organization's mission is "Our mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families."Team In Training was founded by Bruce Cleland in 1988 Rye, New York. Cleland created a team to train for a marathon in New York City in honor of his daughter Georgia, a leukemia survivor. The team raised $322,000 for the Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter, which helped Team In Training grow into what it is today. Runner’s World magazine recognized Bruce Cleland as one of their “Heroes of Running” for his major contribution in founding TNT.
TNT has 64 chapters, with numerous locations in the United States and Canada.