John Mahoney, a Team In Training (TNT) cycle coach, originally decided to take on the challenge of a century ride, planning on doing it once. Then, at the Inspiration Dinner, he heard a mother speak about her son, who was diagnosed with blood cancer at age two. That's when he realized that even an 80% survival rate was not good enough - and he decided he'd be continuing with TNT until a cure was found.

In 2003, he met a 12-year-old girl named Nicole who had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. John decided she would become his honored hero. Nicole remains cancer-free today and will soon be graduating from college with a degree in nursing. She plans to specialize in pediatric oncology.

Says John, "I will continue to ride until our mission is complete - finding a cure for blood cancers!"

It began with recovery from a broken leg and a new road bike. David Mayell began his journey with Team In Training (TNT) as a participant, then became an alumnus and mentor. Eventually he went on to become head cycling coach for the Westchester/Hudson Valley chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

"Team In Training has helped to teach me the true definition of giving, dedication, teamwork and courage," says David. "It proves that when people come together for a purpose, they can make a difference in the world."

David has raised more than $20,000 for the fight against blood cancers. "Team In Training has taught me many lessons, but above all it has shown me that a group of individuals can do spectacular things when they work together toward a common goal," says David.

Paul Rosenberg joined Team In Training (TNT) four years ago in honor of family and friends who have fought blood cancers. For him, raising money to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was a no-brainer. In his words, "TNT gave me an opportunity to contribute in ways that my donation couldn't. It gave me the opportunity to bring the cause home for so many of my friends and family members. More importantly, joining TNT inspires others to join you - and your potential contribution to people who really need you increases exponentially."

Paul comes back every year because of the people. "Our honoree teammates are more courageous than I can or will ever be," says Paul. "They take on the world's hardest endurance events while they battle with their health, and they do it every day. I feel privileged to be their friend."

As a child, Milind Patel used a road bike to commute everywhere. But as an adult, he didn't use it for almost 25 years, until Team In Training's (TNT) America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride inspired him to try biking as an endurance sport. During the training and the event, he had the chance to meet many members of TNT and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, people who have become like family to him. With their encouragement, he went on to win a "Triple Crown" as a triathlete.

Says Milind, "TNT's mission and the team's selflessness are two major motivational factors for me. I feel lucky for all the wonderful moments I shared with so many while taking part in all the events."

Five years after her mother died from complications due to Hodgkin's lymphoma, Allison Linares joined Team In Training (TNT). Then, in 2003, she lost her stepfather from a stroke due to leukemia. Losing two parents to blood cancers just made Allison more committed to help fund and find a cure. After working as a mentor, then a coach, in 2011 she became a triathlete herself.

Allison says she knows that, by raising funds to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission, there may be one more mom at her daughter's wedding or one more graduate at that college commencement.

"I can't imagine NOT being a part of Team In Training," Allison says.

Jen and Bill Moss got an amazing bonus when they decided to participate in Team In Training (TNT). They met through the program in 2005. Jen had been volunteering for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 9/11 in memory of her grandmother, Doris McCafferty. Bill was looking for a way to honor his mother, Margaret, who had lost her battle with leukemia in 2000.

Together they've completed 17 events with TNT, raising $48,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Through TNT, they not only found a way to honor the people they loved, but they also found each other. Today their two daughters enjoy running in local "tot trot" races and helping their parents volunteer for water-stop duty at TNT group training sessions.

Lynne Taylor is a Team In Training (TNT) alumna, mentor and coach. She did her first event in April of 1997, thinking it was going to be a one-shot deal. But she fell in love with the program and went on to run several half and full marathons, raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Says Lynne, "Team In Training is THE most amazing thing that I have ever done in my life. My parents joke that I spend more time with Team In Training than I do with my own family. I say Team In Training is my family, too!"

John Kellenyi, Board President, participated in his first Team In Training (TNT) event, the Marine Corps Marathon, in 1999. Since then he's lost several friends to blood cancer, and his passion for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) mission has risen correspondingly. Says John, "The results achieved by LLS-sponsored research, in the form of dramatic improvements in survival rates and tremendous assistance for patients, fuels my motivation."

In 2007, John was proclaimed the Million Dollar Man. By then he had raised over $1.4 million dollars for LLS. An inspirational quote from John was even featured on a Starbucks Coffee Cup: "People say, oh, I could never do that! But when you meet cancer patients, you understand the bravery and spirit those people show each and every day. You'll be surprised by what you can do."

Helen Harris was inspired by coworkers to join Team In Training (TNT) and found it especially important after a friend and coworker of many years lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Once she participated, she met honorees who were fighting heroic battles with blood cancers. Then, at age 39, she was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, hers was early-stage and very treatable.

Says Helen, "One of the things I love most about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is that the research we fund develops treatments that are effective against other cancers, which will get us to the ultimate goal we all share - making the C-word a thing of the past!"

John Hyland has served on the New Jersey Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) board since 2000. He was inspired by his aunt, Nancy Hyland, who lost her fight with leukemia.

After years of working with LLS, John himself was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2010. Says John, "When the diagnosis happened, I knew I would have tremendous support from LLS. I was very fortunate to survive the disease, and when the opportunity came up to participate in an Ironman event with Team In Training I didn't hesitate. It would give me the unique opportunity to actually raise funds for critical research for the exact cancer I survived."

The Iron Team went on to raise $681,730, surpassing their goal of $500,000.