Doug Andrews, Brian Rennie and Mike Rochelle Ride Moab for Carolyn Scharpen!
What is this TNT “Call To Action” about?
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has set up a program called “Team In Training” (TNT), www.teamintraining.org. TNT is the world’s largest endurance sports training program of runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes who raise money toward cures for leukemia and lymphoma. These people sign up for various events on behalf of an “honored hero” that has leukemia or lymphoma. Such events occur throughout the year in all parts of the country.
I ran a 1/2 Marathon on May 18th in one hour 59 minutes and 43 seconds and rode the 55 mile offroad race in Moab, Utah on November 1st, 2003 in honor of Carolyn Scharpen (shown with Scott, her husband, above) with Brian and Doug. She is the sister of a friend that I went through my undergraduate years with and by extension I have known her for 18 years. She is an intelligent, loving and caring person who is action-oriented. She has a loving husband, Scott, and two young children, Kyler and Megan. They are dedicated Christians who are admired by many and loved by all who know them well.
Several months ago Carolyn began noticing pains in her chest. One thing led to another and she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January 2003. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, to attack the malignant cells warring in her body. Having completed her initial chemo in June, Carolyn recently completed a second, shorter round of Chemotherapy. She is scheduled to begin 5 weeks of radiation in mid. November. Please keep her and her family in your constant prayers! Please see her email address below to send emails of encouragement.
Scott and I set 4 objectives for this TNT “Call To Action” on behalf of Carolyn:
1. Support Carolyn emotionally, spiritually and physically during her cancer treatment.
2. Increase awareness regarding key activities and events for Carolyn, our honored hero, and the people running, walking, cycling, etc. on her behalf.
3. Increase awareness of Leukemia and Lymphoma and efforts by researchers to find a cure.
4. Raise substantial funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society & TNT - $10,200 or more towards finding a cure.
You Can Help
1. You can sponsor me(completed), Brian Rennie or Doug Andrews in our Moab ride with a tax-deductible donation, or contact me to find out about others who need support.
2. You can send emails of encouragement to Carolyn at “scharpen@cox.net”
3. We need dedicated and committed people to sign up to walk, run, ride or swim in an event near you. TNT has wonderful coaches and mentors who will help you with training and fundraising. I will also help you if needed. Each person will raise $1,200 - $4,000 to attend the event of their choosing. Each of them will need to set up a site like this one and spread the word about our honored hero, provide her with support AND drive money AND understanding to a community that needs to know about Leukemia and Lymphoma. Don't worry, I'll help you!
EXCITING UPDATE! Brian Rennie and Doug Andrews have signed up for Moab!
Why I Run / Ride
In November 2001 I completed by first marathon, a goal that was a life journey milestone for many reasons. But first, let's back up, as the story begins many years earlier.
In the summer of 1992 I began having chest pains and trouble breathing. Initially, the doctors could not diagnose the problem. The initial list of potential diagnoses was daunting – lung cancer (I was living in L.A. at that time), heart problems -- you get the drift. As a relatively newly married couple, this was a time of searching for meaning in life that my wife, Arlene, and I had never experienced – fear at a level we hadn't fathomed when we said, “I do.” Fortunately, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a lifelong, yet usually non-lethal (& non-communicable) lung disease. During sarcoid attacks, the alveoli in the lungs harden causing scar tissue in the lungs and difficulty transferring oxygen to the blood. During the second and most difficult episode, I gained lots of weight and had facial swelling due to the steroids used to counter the disease. I asked the doctor if exercise would make it worse. He said he didn't think so. I asked if it would make it better. He said that he didn't think so.
As God directed it, I connected with a good friend, Wade Fransson, who had an even more serious illness and through better health and nutrition practice made a miraculous recovery. I began taking whole food supplements and working out to aid my recovery. At times, I could hardly walk around the block without gasping for breath (my friend, Dan Apartian, will remember these times!) Slowly, but surely I gained strength and for 8+ years I haven't had an episode.
I've climbed Mt. Whitney twice, failed it the first time, ran a marathon and continue to train to decrease my physical limitations. This experience has given me an even stronger focus on the spiritual side of life and has grown my empathy for others that are suffering.
Another friend, Debbie Slavin, who participated in my 2001 Regional Leadership Forum, introduced me to Team in Training of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She runs several marathons a year for honored heroes who are either going through treatment or are in remission. She and her leadership forum graduates choose to give back to society by taking on a cause and donating time and money to it. I chose to run the 2001 Dallas White Rock Marathon on behalf of my niece, Christina Rippl, who at 19 has been in remission for 7 years!
You can make a difference too! Join or contribute now!
Carolyn Scharpen's Walkers/Runners/Riders/Swimmers
- Mike Rochelle - Dallas Trails 1/2 Marathon, May 18th, 2003 - $1,200 raised so far. (COMPLETED)
- Mike Rochelle - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - $3,600 raised so far. (COMPLETED)
- Brian Rennie - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - Needs to raise $3,600. ($650 to go)(RIDE COMPLETED)
- Doug Andrews - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - Needs to raise $3,600. ($1,300 to go)(RIDE COMPLETED)
- Doug and Brian personally paid the balance for their ride for charity. They have until December 1st to continue to raise funds so they can recieve a refund. Please consider clicking on the donations page and sending a donation in their name.
Updated November 9th, 2003
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has set up a program called “Team In Training” (TNT), www.teamintraining.org. TNT is the world’s largest endurance sports training program of runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes who raise money toward cures for leukemia and lymphoma. These people sign up for various events on behalf of an “honored hero” that has leukemia or lymphoma. Such events occur throughout the year in all parts of the country.
I ran a 1/2 Marathon on May 18th in one hour 59 minutes and 43 seconds and rode the 55 mile offroad race in Moab, Utah on November 1st, 2003 in honor of Carolyn Scharpen (shown with Scott, her husband, above) with Brian and Doug. She is the sister of a friend that I went through my undergraduate years with and by extension I have known her for 18 years. She is an intelligent, loving and caring person who is action-oriented. She has a loving husband, Scott, and two young children, Kyler and Megan. They are dedicated Christians who are admired by many and loved by all who know them well.
Several months ago Carolyn began noticing pains in her chest. One thing led to another and she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January 2003. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, to attack the malignant cells warring in her body. Having completed her initial chemo in June, Carolyn recently completed a second, shorter round of Chemotherapy. She is scheduled to begin 5 weeks of radiation in mid. November. Please keep her and her family in your constant prayers! Please see her email address below to send emails of encouragement.
Scott and I set 4 objectives for this TNT “Call To Action” on behalf of Carolyn:
1. Support Carolyn emotionally, spiritually and physically during her cancer treatment.
2. Increase awareness regarding key activities and events for Carolyn, our honored hero, and the people running, walking, cycling, etc. on her behalf.
3. Increase awareness of Leukemia and Lymphoma and efforts by researchers to find a cure.
4. Raise substantial funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society & TNT - $10,200 or more towards finding a cure.
You Can Help
1. You can sponsor me(completed), Brian Rennie or Doug Andrews in our Moab ride with a tax-deductible donation, or contact me to find out about others who need support.
2. You can send emails of encouragement to Carolyn at “scharpen@cox.net”
3. We need dedicated and committed people to sign up to walk, run, ride or swim in an event near you. TNT has wonderful coaches and mentors who will help you with training and fundraising. I will also help you if needed. Each person will raise $1,200 - $4,000 to attend the event of their choosing. Each of them will need to set up a site like this one and spread the word about our honored hero, provide her with support AND drive money AND understanding to a community that needs to know about Leukemia and Lymphoma. Don't worry, I'll help you!
EXCITING UPDATE! Brian Rennie and Doug Andrews have signed up for Moab!
Why I Run / Ride
In November 2001 I completed by first marathon, a goal that was a life journey milestone for many reasons. But first, let's back up, as the story begins many years earlier.
In the summer of 1992 I began having chest pains and trouble breathing. Initially, the doctors could not diagnose the problem. The initial list of potential diagnoses was daunting – lung cancer (I was living in L.A. at that time), heart problems -- you get the drift. As a relatively newly married couple, this was a time of searching for meaning in life that my wife, Arlene, and I had never experienced – fear at a level we hadn't fathomed when we said, “I do.” Fortunately, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a lifelong, yet usually non-lethal (& non-communicable) lung disease. During sarcoid attacks, the alveoli in the lungs harden causing scar tissue in the lungs and difficulty transferring oxygen to the blood. During the second and most difficult episode, I gained lots of weight and had facial swelling due to the steroids used to counter the disease. I asked the doctor if exercise would make it worse. He said he didn't think so. I asked if it would make it better. He said that he didn't think so.
As God directed it, I connected with a good friend, Wade Fransson, who had an even more serious illness and through better health and nutrition practice made a miraculous recovery. I began taking whole food supplements and working out to aid my recovery. At times, I could hardly walk around the block without gasping for breath (my friend, Dan Apartian, will remember these times!) Slowly, but surely I gained strength and for 8+ years I haven't had an episode.
I've climbed Mt. Whitney twice, failed it the first time, ran a marathon and continue to train to decrease my physical limitations. This experience has given me an even stronger focus on the spiritual side of life and has grown my empathy for others that are suffering.
Another friend, Debbie Slavin, who participated in my 2001 Regional Leadership Forum, introduced me to Team in Training of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She runs several marathons a year for honored heroes who are either going through treatment or are in remission. She and her leadership forum graduates choose to give back to society by taking on a cause and donating time and money to it. I chose to run the 2001 Dallas White Rock Marathon on behalf of my niece, Christina Rippl, who at 19 has been in remission for 7 years!
You can make a difference too! Join or contribute now!
Carolyn Scharpen's Walkers/Runners/Riders/Swimmers
- Mike Rochelle - Dallas Trails 1/2 Marathon, May 18th, 2003 - $1,200 raised so far. (COMPLETED)
- Mike Rochelle - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - $3,600 raised so far. (COMPLETED)
- Brian Rennie - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - Needs to raise $3,600. ($650 to go)(RIDE COMPLETED)
- Doug Andrews - Moab, Utah, November 1st, 2003 - Needs to raise $3,600. ($1,300 to go)(RIDE COMPLETED)
- Doug and Brian personally paid the balance for their ride for charity. They have until December 1st to continue to raise funds so they can recieve a refund. Please consider clicking on the donations page and sending a donation in their name.
Updated November 9th, 2003