Triathletes Harness the Power of Physical Activity to Help Find Cures for Blood Cancers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past six years, the Events DC Nation's Triathlon, a Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI) event, in Washington, DC, has become the premier multisport event in the mid-Atlantic region, and the only triathlon in the country dedicated to building awareness and raising money to fund treatments for blood cancers and access to the patients who need them.

This year, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the sole beneficiary of the Nation's Triathlon, has more than 200 Team In Training (TNT) participants set to run, swim and bike in the largest international distance triathlon, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

One of those heroic competitors will be lymphoma survivor Joe Liu, 47, of Alexandria, VA. On New Year's Eve 2012, just months after receiving his lymphoma diagnosis, Lui committed himself to getting off the couch and tackling a big physical challenge. Liu did just that this past June, when he completed his first Olympic distance triathlon in Warsaw, VA. He then committed to participating in the Nation's Triathlon, so that he could give back to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which has been so helpful to him during his cancer journey. 

"I love training because it reminds me that my body and mind still work," said Lui. "My lymphoma may not have a cure, but new and better treatments are on the horizon to turn it into just another chronic, manageable disease. I am grateful for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the resources they give patients like me. I am grateful for the research that LLS has supported to understand the underlying mechanisms in blood cancers and advance new treatments."

At its 25th Anniversary milestone this year, TNT, the flagship fundraising campaign of LLS, has trained more than 570,000 people and has helped LLS invest almost $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough cancer treatments that are saving lives today. TNT alone has raised more than $1.3 billion since it began in 1988.

"The Nation's Triathlon is more than a race. It's an opportunity for Team In Training participants to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients, as well as make a positive impact on the quality of life for patients with blood cancer and their families," says Chris Fenton, Vice President, Team In Training. "Our partnership with CGI has enabled the Nation's Triathlon to raise more than $13 million to help LLS fund blood cancer research. Last year's Nation's Triathlon raised 1.3 million."

The 2013 Nation's Triathlon is one of the most historic courses in the world.  The swim will take place in the scenic and calm Potomac River, where participants will swim past Arlington Cemetery and under the Memorial Bridge. The bike course winding route takes participants past the Potomac River, the White House, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, United States Peace Institute, and the Kennedy Center. The run route is a challenging and beautiful single-loop that takes participants past the Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, National Holocaust Memorial, U.S. Mint, Hains Point, and many more historical monuments.

For additional information on Team In Training, please visit: www.teamintraining.org.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to curing blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services for patients and their loved ones.

Major LLS fundraising campaigns include Team In Training, Light The Night, School & Youth, Man & Woman of the Year and Regatta. To reach the widest possible audience, LLS partners with national and regional level companies and brands, including Nike, Disney, Burlington and others.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.lls.org. Patients and caregivers should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

About Competitor Group
Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI) is the leading active lifestyle resource dedicated to promoting the sports of running, cycling and triathlon. CGI is a portfolio company of the investment firm Falconhead Capital, which specializes in growing companies in the consumer sector of the leisure and lifestyle space. CGI owns and operates more than 50 events around the world, including the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, Land Rover TriRock Triathlon Series and Columbia Muddy Buddy Series; which will deliver more than 600,000 professional and amateur participants in 2012. CGI publishes four magazine titles including Velo, Inside Triathlon, Triathlete and Competitor with a combined monthly circulation of 600,000. In addition, the company hosts a captive lifestyle community online at Competitor.com, delivering over 3 million monthly unique visitors and 25 million page views. CGI recently acquired and soft launched Race It Race Services, an online registration platform that provides marketing, product and other essential race services for endurance industry events of all sizes. Further information about CGI and its media properties can be found at Competitormediakit.com.

Washington Sports & Event Management
Washington Sports & Event Management, LLC (WSEM), producers of The Nation's Triathlon™ and The Washington DC Triathlon™, was founded in 2006 by Charles Brodsky with a mission to produce health and fitness events in Washington DC. In an effort to promote fitness and reduce obesity among the nation's youth, in 2007, WSEM launched Achieve Kids Tri, Inc., a Washington DC based 501(c)(3) organization led by Molly Quinn, dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through the sport of triathlon. A summer camp series held in partnership with local Departments of Parks and Recreation and YMCAs, ACHIEVE includes camp locations in Washington, DC, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and Waterbury, CT.

Contact: Kristin Hoose
(914) 821-8973
Kristin.Hoose@lls.org

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society