13 Miles for 13 Years Cancer-Free

When Holly O’Leary’s three-year-old son, Mike, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), she felt helpless. 

 

Unable to fight the disease for him, she sought an outlet of empowerment in the face of a frightening diagnosis. This came in the form of an endurance sports training program that raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

For 20 years, Team in Training (TNT) has worked to train and fundraise toward a cure. Holly O’Leary has been an active member for 13 of those years, doing the only thing she knew she could do for her son and those suffering from similar diseases: running, biking, swimming and fundraising.
Just like every other year for the last 13 years, O’Leary is ramping up for yet another TNT event: the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon. Only this year, she’ll have Mike by her side every step of the way. Having battled and overcome cancer, Mike is now a healthy 16-year-old junior at Eden Prairie High School.

O’Leary explains his motivation to join by saying, “I planted the seed in his mind. He’s come to many events and participated at many levels at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This year we’re celebrating with 13 miles for 13 years cancer free.”

The mother-son pair will raise money by being the beneficiaries of a speed-dating event organized by QuikDatz at the Medina Ballroom on October 12. This money will go to patient aid and research at the University of Minnesota to fight the disease that so deeply affected Mike’s early years.
“We’re some of the lucky ones,” says O’Leary. This mentality is what keeps her coming back each year to help support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in hopes that one day luck doesn’t need to be relied upon. She continues to explain her commitment to TNT, “This is part of who I am. It’s not something I even think about or debate about, it’s just something that I do.”

As for race predictions O’Leary laughs, “Mike thinks he can kick my butt when it comes to running.” We’ll see if he can outrun his mom as they train together and make their way towards the finish line in a special race for the happy and healthy O’Leary family.