Five Featured Runners
Lesley Spencer - age 55, composer/producer
Lesley joined Team In Training in 2003. At that point in time Lesley was feeling professionally burned out and overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for her aging father. Her TNT experience was uplifting and transforming. It helped her to overcome her mid-life crisis and successfully complete her first ever marathon, receiving top fundraising honors. “I used to think there was nothing I could do to make a difference in the world,” she says, “but since I joined TNT and started meeting the people we’re helping, I’ve learned that nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve learned that even a small thing can make a really big difference in the life of a cancer patient.” Lesley has also served on a patient services advisory board at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and produced Survivor Meditation CDs in English and Spanish for cancer patients which are available for free download at: www.thecancercrusade.com
Marty Yundt – age 53, police sergeant
Marty joined Team In Training in 2004. A respected Lake Zurich police officer for the past 29 years and former member of the N.I.P.A.S. emergency services team — the largest multi-jurisdictional S.W.A.T. team in the country — Marty is rebuilding his life after a divorce. His friendship with Lesley Spencer led him to TNT and the realization of his lifelong dream of completing a marathon. No stranger to helping others, Marty embraced the opportunity to “run for a cure” for blood cancers, and found a sense of community along the way. He runs for TNT with the complete support of the city of Lake Zurich from the mayor, the city council, the city workers and the entire law enforcement community.
Mimi Noonan – age 44, veterinarian, patient honoree mother
Mimi joined Team In training in 2004, the same year her son Keegan was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. “Keegan handled his diagnosis better than I did and I needed to do something about that,” Mimi says. “I had to find a way to keep my mind moving in a positive direction and I thought that my running would be good for both Keegan and me.” Although Mimi has herself become a role model and provided much motivation to others, she claims that it is the other TNT participants who keep her motivated: “The stories of surviving cancer give us all hope, and the stories of surviving loss give me courage,” she says. Mimi’s tireless efforts to raise money for blood cancer research and to "never forget the people who still need our help" is an inspiration to many. Keegan photos
Vanessa De Ingardia – age 38, patient honoree, certified financial planner practitioner
Vanessa joined Team in Training in 1998. Vanessa is a lymphoma survivor who has lived through three open heart surgeries, and yet less than a year after her third and final heart surgery, ran her first marathon with TNT, finishing in four and a half hours. Vanessa’s story is amazing and inspiring. She has many words of wisdom to impart to people who are physically or spiritually ailing: “Basically life is a reflection of your inner-most thoughts,” she says. “We all have power and energy beyond our wildest dreams. For anyone facing any kind of difficulty right now, I would say remember that. Believe what’s inside your heart, and your dream will come to you. Never, ever let go of your faith!”
Ron Williams – age 70, marketing consultant
Ron, a seasoned marathoner, joined Team in Training in 1998, the same year his grand nephew, Russell Witek, was diagnosed with leukemia. Russell was in remission for two years, then relapsed and ultimately received umbilical cord blood stem cells which saved his life. Running for a cause gave Ron a new sense of purpose: "I felt much better about the time I spent training because it had some benefit." Ron’s association with Team In Training has deepened over the years. In addition to being a top fundraiser, he is a member and vice president of the Illinois Board of Trustees and a member of the National Board of Representatives. He has completed all of the 31 Chicago marathons to date - one of only nine runners to do so - and a total of 14 marathons for TNT. Ron's coach, Steve Auernhamer, says, "It takes a pretty extraordinary person to accomplish what Ron has and he inspires all of us to set our goals a little higher." Ron has no plans to ever quit running or fundraising. Russell photos
