Stand Up To Cancer

In the 90s there was that phrase -- "we are all six degree from one another." Six degrees from connection, from affecting one another, from change, from what?

If statistics show that one in three women and one in two men will get cancer, then where am I? In my life, I have been one degree from several people who have been diagnosed with cancer: my grandmother with ovarian, my father in-law with prostate, my friend Gary with brain, and my sweet cat Janie with liver.

I needed to do something other than sit by watching and feeling sad.

I came to Team In Training by way of my friend Heather. At the kick-off party, I heard a young man by the name of Kyle Garlett speak about his life's challenges these past 20 years. Kyle spoke about his living with lymphoma and leukemia and how the disease had ravaged his body, but not his mind. His attitude towards cancer is that it happened, and it's his choice how he will rise up to live with it.

Kyle has been in remission several times. He has endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and a heart transplant. And still he rises. One of the ways that Kyle lives with cancer is by being a participant in triathlons. AMAZING!!!! Here is a man who could take the road of "woe is me." Instead he lives his life head-on, learning about this disease, his body and what he can do. Kyle has approached his cancer as a way of living. For him there is no backing down.

I was sold. Not only was I going to do a triathlon and raise funds for cancer research, but also I was about to be surrounded by others and their greatness of character. It was a win-win situation.

Being a part of Team In Training has been one of the highlights of my life. I was now within a group of motivated and enthusiastic people who realized that being in shape had far more to do with health and strength of character, than the vanity that we have been inundated with in our society.

Training for a triathlon is nothing compared to those that endure the daily regime of chemotherapy, daily pills, needles, x-rays, doctors' appointments, etc....you are the true warriors. You magnificent people who rise up each day, greeting your day head on, determined to survive. My training and finding my body's strength and will power was one small way I could choose to give back, as well as relate to the millions of brave souls who do not get to choose.

Being involved with Team In Training reminded me that we are not alone. That living is what we choose to focus our energies on. That we are more than our circumstances; we are our reactions and the steps we take with what life has given us.

So, if we are all just six degrees apart, what's your story?

-Yael Canavan