Rallying for the cause Rallying for the cause (January 05, 2005)

Seven Jordan employees come to Michael's aid

by Alexandria Rocha

Last September, Michael Gourdin stumbled into Sarah Roberts' classroom at Jordan Middle School a bit confused and definitely lost.

Since Roberts was not one of his teachers, Gourdin apologized and said he was recovering from cancer. After she helped him find his class, her wheels began spinning.

Roberts, who has been involved with the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT) for the past few years, wanted a way to include the seventh-grader into the organization's efforts. She figured TNT would be the perfect fit.

TNT is the world's largest endurance sports training program, in which the volunteers train to run or walk a whole or half marathon, participate in a triathlon or 100-mile bike ride. While they train, the volunteers raise funds through bake sales, restaurant nights, direct appeal letters, among other avenues, for cancer research.

Since 1988, more than 220,000 volunteers across the nation have helped raise $500 million. By helping to collect funds for lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services, the volunteers receive personalized fitness training and have access to a wide variety of training clinics by certified coaches for four to five months.

"The fund-raising is really the big piece of this. It makes you feel connected to the cause. Michael is the real reason we're doing this," Roberts said.

So far, the group of seven Jordan employees has raised about $1,500 in Gourdin's name. In accordance with the national organization's guidelines, each cyclist-in-training has pledged to raise $2,400, each runner $1,800.

The five volunteers training to run a half-marathon -- Millie Balsam, Lee Gregg Sharon Ofek, Marti Jacobs, and Vickie Perry -- have until the final run date, Feb. 6, to raise their funds. The two cyclists -- Roberts and Molly Golden -- have until their big ride on March 12.

Each program has a specific weekly training schedule. For example, the runners participate in a long run every other weekend, with weekly track training and strengthening and core conditioning events. The cyclists do long rides, such as 45 miles, every other weekend and have 60-minute spin classes every week.

When they're not teaching, running, biking or fundraising, the Jordan group tries to regularly visit Gourdin, sometimes to bring his family homemade meals.

On the last school day before winter break, three of them came to present their honoree with a $200 gift card they hope will be used to buy a PlayStation 2. Since his immune system is so weak, Gourdin is confined to his home, and his father, Paul Gourdin, said video games have helped out immensely.

For more information on Jordan's TNT, call the school at 494-8120.

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