WELL ON YOUR WAY

January is the time to set goals, whether they are fitness training targets, workout plans, making new friends or giving back to the community. One such worthy program that will cover all of these goals is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada's Team In Training program.

Runners, walkers, and triathletes of all levels challenge their fitness by participating in world-class endurance events (such as marathons, half marathons or triathlons), while also making a difference in the lives of the 100,000 Canadians living with the third most common cancer in North America - blood cancer.

North Delta resident Kara Norman was one such participant last year. Not only did she have a personal goal to run a long distance event, she was also motivated to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Leukemia had impacted Norman's family in a very life changing way. In 1968, her oldest sister was terminally diagnosed with the disease when she was just shy of four years old.

Treatment at that time was limited, and the overall prognosis was poor.

While the survival rate has drastically improved since her sister lost her fight with the disease, Norman is still very much motivated to raise funds and awareness in support of the research and development of new drug treatments. She wants all blood cancers to be cured so others do not have to go through what she and her family went through.

With the support of Team In Training, her teammates, Team In Training mentors and their certified coaches, Norman completed her first half marathon last October in San Francisco.

The Team In Training training season begins Feb. 9 in Vancouver, throughout the Fraser Valley, as well as via their online Flex program for their summer races.

The races that you can register for are: the popular Mayor's Marathon and Half in Anchorage Alaska, the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon & Half, the Subaru Victoria Half-Iron Triathlon, and - for those looking for a local marathon - the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon.

Contact Team In Training and find out how you can do your part to help find cures for blood cancers, while doing something amazing for yourself. Visit www.TeamInTraining.ca/bc.

You can also join Team In Training (and me) for an informational session and free workout (by yours truly) on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at the South Delta Recreation Centre.

RSVP to Zahida at 604733-2873 ext. 5212 or zahida.jaffer@lls.org. Let's get fit and fight cancer together.

PJ Wren is a local personal trainer and writer in the Delta area. She can be reached at www.gofitgals. com or workout with her on Feb. 3.