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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN RAISES MONEY TO HONOR MOTHER LOST TO LYMPHOMA
April 6, 2006—Jerry Klusak of La Grange is participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training, the world’s largest endurance sports training program that prepares volunteers for marathons and other events that raise money to fight blood cancers.
Klusak lost his wife, Natalie, to colon cancer in 2004. Natalie was a Hinsdale kindergarten teacher and mother of four. She was just 44 when she died. Klusak says Natalie was a loving and generous woman and would be happy he’s helping others with cancer. “Whatever I can do, I’ll do,” he says, “because that’s exactly what my wife would want.”
Klusak chose Team in Training while running The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in honor of his wife in 2005. He says he was impressed by the number of runners he saw wearing the Team In Training purple singlets. “Here are all these people running in purple!” he said. He decided then to join the program.
Team In Training (TNT) was founded in 1988 by Bruce Cleland whose daughter had leukemia. Since then, 265,000 participants have raised over $600 million for those with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. TNT provides experienced coaches and a four-tofive- month personalized training program. It also pays for travel and accommodations to major races.
Klusak says his coach, Todd Brandys, has kept him motivated and prevented injuries to this former football player’s battered knees and back. “He ran with me for about five miles, talking to me, keeping me going,” said Klusak. “He’s been there for me every time.”
Klusak’s TNT training will prepare him to run The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October 22nd. Other volunteers will participate in a variety of events, including the WALT DISNEY WORLD triathlon in Orlando, Florida and the Apple Cider Century bike ride in Three Oaks, Michigan. Each participant trains in honor of a local blood cancer patient.
About Team In Training
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program (TNT) is the world’s largest endurance sports training program. It provides coaching for various athletic events, including full and half marathons, triathlons and a century (100-mile) bike ride. Participants raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services in exchange for training, lodging and airfare to the event of their choice. Since TNT’s inception in 1988, more than 295,000 volunteers have raised $660 million.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $360 million for research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made more than 441,000 patient contacts through services provided at its home office and by its 63 chapters nationwide.
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