A Team LIVESTRONG Story: St. Anthony’s Tri
by Colleen Legge (LIVESTRONG Staff)2 Comments
This past weekend was the first triathlon of the season for Team LIVESTRONG as I met 46 athletes ready to race in St. Petersburg, FL. This year it was 2 day event as we had our youngest triathlete, Anna Daccache, at 13 years old take on the Meek & Mighty on Saturday and then the 45 others took off from north shore beach for the Olympic distance on Sunday. This group raised $47,200 in total and came back strong in our second year at this prestigious triathlon.
No different from any other event in that I am always anxious to hear the stories, meet survivors and see them cross the Finish Line. On Saturday we met as a team for lunch and were able to share with each other why we were there. For the most part our teams do not meet until they are on event but it is the common thread of being affected by cancer that connects us instantly. I heard people sharing personal stories of surviving cancer, others sharing who they race for and those that simply couldn?t sit idle anymore and wanted to join in on the fight.
I also loved hearing how people fundraise. Stephen Grieger got his daughter Ada involved by having a lemonade stand in his conference room at work, another person took down names from her supporters and added let to a very festive tutu that she donned on the run course. I love it how people look at what is around and how they can take their personal fundraising to make people aware of the services that we provide. I love it that each one of these athletes are now the voice in their own community I knowing what we do and how we navigate people through their cancer experience.
With any weekend we certainly have those that go above and beyond. I was able to meet Anna Daccache, our 13 year old from Connecticut this weekend and wanted to share a bit more of her story and why she had to join LIVESTRONG this year. Below is an interview with Anna:
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Anna Daccache and I am from Greenwich, Connecticut
In what event are you taking part?
I am taking part in the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.
What is your cancer story?
I had never even realized until last summer that so many people near and dear to me (friends, grand parents, family friends) had had cancer. Last summer when my friend’s father got a brain tumor and died that was the last straw. I couldn’t stand around watching people suffer from such a cruel and fatal disease, so I decided to take action.
What made you become a part of Team LIVESTRONG?
For my 13th birthday I made a LIVESTRONG page and got people to donate, but I still had a hunger to be part of the movement. I began to look through the Team LIVESTRONG events and it stirred something inside me. A voice in my head was telling me that I could no longer sit around and wait for someone else to do the job, I had to get up and join the revolution.
What is your one piece of advice you would give to a cancer survivor in your situation?
I would advise that no matter how much you hurt and no matter what the doctors tell you, never give up on your life. If you know it or not someone will always be there for you, and in the end that can make the difference, whether it’s your last wish to see their face, or they are the ones to pick you up from the hospital at the end of your treatment.
You too can be a part of Team LIVESTRONG. Visit www.teamlivestrong.org for all the Team LIVESTRONG marathons, half marathons, triathlons and multi-distance bike rides. Make a difference through sport.
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