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CNN Saturday Morning News
Summer Shape-Up: Interviews With Donna McKelvey, Chrissy Lomax
Aired August 31, 2002 - 08:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as the summer winds down, so does CNN's Summer Shape Up.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Aw, shucks. That's right, this is the last installment of our 15 week series. We have a lot in store for you this morning.
CALLAWAY: Coming up, we're going to talk to actress and fitness expert Suzanne Somers. She's going to talk to us about staying fit. But first, now that you are hopefully feeling a bit more in shape, you can use exercise to help others, right, Miles?
O'BRIEN: That's right. There are several organizations out there that offer training programs for running, biking or triathlon. In exchange for the guidance, participants promise to raise money for the cause. Among them, as you might see here in a moment, the AIDS drive joins In Motion For Arthritis and Team In Training floor Leukemia Society.
Joining us now to talk about their experience is Donna McKelvey from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Chrissy Lomax, a Team In Training participant and coach.
Good to have you both with us.
DONNA MCKELVEY, LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY: Good morning.
CHRISSY LOMAX, TEAM IN TRAINING COACH: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: All right, Donna, let's begin with you. Just tell us about the concept, how this all came to be.
MCKELVEY: Certainly. Team In Training is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's largest fundraising campaign, but it also is the world's largest endurance sports training program. We train individuals to either run or walk a marathon, to cycle a century ride, which is 100 miles, or also to participate in a triathlon.
O'BRIEN: And then what do they have to do in order -- in exchange for that training?
MCKELVEY: Well, the participants receive a four to five month comprehensive training program from certified coaches that tell them exactly what they have to do every day. They receive a monthly training schedule. They have group training sessions. They have clinics on nutrition, injury prevention, sports injury prevention. And the most unique part of our program is each of our individuals are training and, more importantly, fundraising in honor of individuals dealing with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
O'BRIEN: All right...
MCKELVEY: And that's the motivation for this program.
O'BRIEN: Now, Chrissy, not long ago -- well, actually it is a little while ago, a couple decades ago -- doctors were telling you you would barely be walking after a car accident.
LOMAX: Exactly.
O'BRIEN: And now you're in training for some serious endurance athleticism. How much does that, your personal experience, come to bear as you do this training and do it for this cause?
LOMAX: Well, I've had a lot of loss to cancer in my life, unfortunately. And finally I found a way to actually raise money for the cause and get myself in shape at the same time. And there's nothing more motivating than meeting somebody that you've actually played a part in saving their life from losing a few toenails on the marathon course.
O'BRIEN: Well, yes, it kind of puts things in perspective, I imagine. But I, you know, I'm curious, you can train for a marathon on your own. This essentially makes it more of a group experience. How does that change the whole experience for you?
LOMAX: The whole experience with Team In Training is phenomenal. The first marathon I did was by myself for myself in San Francisco of 2000. And it was during that marathon that I noticed all these people wearing purple TNT T-shirts and saying they were running to, for this person and for that person. And I talked to these people during the course and asked them what is Team In Training about? And that's when I learned the difference.
O'BRIEN: OK, so right there in the middle of the marathon you became a true believer?
LOMAX: Yes, I did. And as soon as I finished that marathon, blubbered myself all across the finish line, I...
O'BRIEN: I can relate to that, boy.
LOMAX: I did. I couldn't believe I did it because the doctors just 15 years beforehand told me you'll never walk again, possibly. And I finished a marathon. Then I got on the phone with TNT and...
O'BRIEN: Donna, how common, well, Chrissy has an unusual story, of course, because of her personal experience. But the fact that, how people hear about this and how they come to you, is this frequently the way it happens?
MCKELVEY: It's a combination. Most people may have a connection to either having a friend or family that's been diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. But the beauty about Team In Training is about 85 percent of our participants are first time marathoners or century riders or triathletes.
O'BRIEN: So this is a good, for a novice, this is a good way to start, of course, because you have a group of people around you to help you do the training, right?
MCKELVEY: Exactly. The group camaraderie that is formed with this group is overwhelming. You get to train on weekends with individuals that are just a motivated are you are and are doing the same thing. They want to get in shape, get healthy, but also do it for a cause.
And our participants tell us that this is a life changing experience. When you cross the finish line, it's overwhelming, the sense of accomplishment. But when you couple that...
LOMAX: That's true.
MCKELVEY: ... with the fact that you not only did it for yourself, but you did it for somebody dealing with a blood related cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma or Hodgkin's Disease, or myeloma, it's amazing. It really is a life changing experience.
O'BRIEN: Chrissy, does it change the way you train, your attitude about training? Does it make you a little tougher? And also, before you get away, I wanted to find out what you're in training for now.
LOMAX: Yes, it does make you a little tougher when you remember the reason that you're doing this. And when you're out there and you have a survivor on the sideline of the street holding up a sign saying "Thank You," you know that they're saying thank you because you are helping them live just by being out there and losing a few toenails. And it makes complaining so hard to do, so hard to do.
O'BRIEN: All right, quickly, we're just about out of time. Donna, how do you get a hold of Team In Training if you're interested?
MCKELVEY: Certainly. People can log onto our Web site, which is www.leukemia-lymphoma.org or dial 800-482-TEAM. We look forward to seeing as many participants as possible in our quest to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
O'BRIEN: Ladies, it was a great pleasure.
Chrissy Lomax, Donna McKelvey...
LOMAX: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Talking about Team In Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We appreciate you both being with us on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
LOMAX: Thank you very much.
MCKELVEY: Thank you so much.
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