Huntingdon Valley Resident To Run in Philly Marathon to Fight Cancer

Jennifer Franks of Huntingdon Valley will be among 27,000 people from across the county and around the world to be part of the 19th Annual Philadelphia Marathon.

Franks is taking on this physical challenge to honor her aunt Kathy, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma about six years ago and lost her battle to the disease in the spring of 2011. This will be Frank’s first event with Team In Training (TNT), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) sports endurance charity program.

Team In Training was first suggested to Franks by two of her friends who completed the program last year when they participated in San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Her friends could not say enough good things about the sports endurance charity program and convinced Franks to take on the physical challenge.

“I always wanted to run in a marathon, so I thought Team In Training was a good opportunity for me to train for it, while also having a chance to make a difference in the lives of other people by raising funds for cancer research and patient services,” said Franks.

TNT participants have the option of running or walking a full or half marathon, cycling a 100-mile century bike ride, or completing a triathlon. In addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention and safety. Participants are also given tools to help them fundraise. TNT also arranges airfare and lodging to send participants to the event of their choice.

Teams are now forming for the spring/summer season, which includes the inaugural Nike Women’s Marathon Half in Washington D.C., the San Diego Rock ‘n” Roll Marathon, Philadelphia Triathlon, New Jersey Marathon at the Shore, St. Luke’s ½ Marathon, and America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe. For more information, please call the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter at (800) 482-2873 or visit our website at www.teamintraining.org/epa.

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About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS mission is to 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.

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

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About Philadelphia Marathon

The Philadelphia Marathon, founded in 1994, is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by the city of Philadelphia on the third Sunday of November each year. Race weekend activities include a Health + Fitness Expo, Rothman Institute 8K, and Arctic Ease Kids Fun Run – all leading up to the Marathon and Half Marathon races on Sunday.

The course begins and ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Throughout the race, runners will travel past historic landmarks like Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell, through urban neighborhoods such as Old City, University City, South Philadelphia and Manayunk, and along the gorgeous waterfronts of the Delaware and Schuykill Rivers.