Mission Monday: Motivation

Often times TNT participants are asked what their motivation is for their training and dedication to the program. What gets them to run mile after mile without taking a break? What stops them from pressing the snooze button in the morning for that early training? Each season, to help make Team In Training a more personal and meaningful experience for all participants, we have our beloved honored patients. Some of our participants have a personal connection, maybe they are a survivor or have someone close to them who has been affected by blood cancer, while others have no connection to LLS and want to help the cause. Team In Training's  honored patients serve as a beacon of light to all participants, reminding us why we train.

Our Disney World Marathon Team's honored patient this season is Maya Spadano, who, at only 4 years old, has been battling leukemia for over a year. Her strength and courage has inspired us all here at TNT, as has her father, Bob, who is running the half marathon in Disney for the Team. Yesterday at the group run training, members of the Disney Team got to meet Maya and her big sister Juliana, putting a face to their cause. Meeting Maya and Juliana, seeing them laugh and crack jokes (mostly at Bob's expense), really meant the world to the Team. It was the best reward after finishing their long run, to see the smiling faces of the little girls they were running for.

{Some of the Disney Team with honored patient Maya and her big sister Juliana!}