The following article was submitted by Mark Hamilton, a coach with Team in Training. 

Early every Saturday morning, a group of people gather on the B&A Trail at Arnold Station, near Kati’s Touch, a memorial for Kati Fisher.  

These people range in abilities, from first-time walkers to Boston Marathon participants, but they all have the same goal—to find a cure for blood cancers while training for endurance events.

This past Saturday morning at 7 a.m., approximately 50 Team in Training participants and alumni from across the state met up with participants and alumni from Anne Arundel County's chapter for statewide training.

This was the longest mileage day for most, with half-marathon participants going 12 miles, while full marathon participants ran or walked 20 miles. The morning started with a welcome, information about the routes, safety reminders for sharing the trail with bicyclists, and a reminder that donations of Band-Aids for Alyssa Klebasko’s drive were being accepted.

Then, as the Anne Arundel County Team does each week, there was a mission moment. Team in Training Maryland participants were told about the hand cast in the stone at Kati’s Touch—Kati’s hand—and to continue giving high fives to all who are taking steps to battle this disease. Next, a special guest was introduced. Deborah McMahon, mother of Sarah McMahon, spoke of her daughter who lost her valiant battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in July, after being diagnosed one year ago.

Finally, the participants were off, down the trail. Along their path, they experienced a silent mile—a tribute to those in whose honor and memory they train for and raise funds.

In the next few weeks, these Teammates will participate in the half and full marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival, the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, the Marine Corps Marathon, and the New York ING Marathon. All the while, the funds they have raised are already being put to good use for research and patient and family advocacy efforts.

To find out more about Team in Training and future events, visit www.teamintraining.org. Together, we will find a cure.