Cassie Whitfield competes in her second marathon

By Courtesy Ann Bleiker
Posted Monday, June 9, 2008

Raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

HOCKLEY, Texas – On Sunday, June 1, Cassie Whitfield, wife of eight-time PRCA World Champion Fred Whitfield, competed in her second Rock-N-Roll Marathon in San Diego, Calif., in an effort to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Her first marathon was in 2006 and both times she has raised $4,500 for the LLS program. This year’s marathon featured over 23,000 runners, with over 5,000 of those participants being involved in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® program.

“I had never attempted to run a marathon before the 2006 event, but I got involved in the Team in Training Program and it was a very rewarding experience,” said Cassie, who grew up in the San Diego area. “In 2008, I again decided to lace-up my running shoes to honor all those individuals who are battling this deadly disease.”

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® is the world's largest endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Since 1988, more than 360,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $850 million.

By helping to raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services, participants receive personalized fitness training by certified coaches for a period of four to five months, training clinics, a supportive group of teammates, a website to help with fundraising and lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the United States and abroad.

“I don’t think I would ever go through the whole marathon thing if it wasn’t for the cause,” said Cassie, a mother of two beautiful daughters. “Team in Training is responsible for getting me prepared for this endurance challenge and the friendships and people you meet along the way makes for an incredible experience.”

So will Cassie lace-up her shoes again for another marathon?

“I don’t know that I will run another marathon but I plan on continuing to raise funds for this great cause,” Cassie said. “God has blessed my family and me with good health but there are so many unfortunate children and families out there that have to battle this disease every day. The least I can do is my part in raising money to help in finding a cure for cancer.”

To learn more about the Team in Training program visit www.teamintraining.org.