Bob Garman

We got involved with Team in Training 4 years ago in honor of Muriel's younger brother Gerard. He was in his early 40s when diagnosed with colon cancer - during treatment they found it had spread to his liver. After 18 month battle, he passed away leaving a wife and young daughter behind.

Year two I found out a fellow retired AF communicator, Lt Col Don Toenjes, was suffering from Mantle Cell Lymphoma and was getting experimental stem cell treatment. We became friends with him and his wife Norma and through their friends and family were able to raise a lot of money for TNT. Since then they have remained loyal donors. His cancer is in remission but still uncurable.

Year three I ran in honor of a deceased two year old from Leukemia (Calvin Keener) who was the son of two AF Majors stationed in St Louis and a 16 year old son of a friend of Norma and Don's who was still getting cancer treatment. His name was Andy Pickerel and him and his family lived in Iowa. Tragically, Andy passed away about 2 weeks before the VA Beach Half Marathon. His family had orange wristbands made for friends and family during his treatment and they were nice enough to send me ten for my teammates that year - the inscription read: BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS - Duet. 31:6 (AWP). For both VA Beach and Marine Corp Marathon I wore the purple TNT band for Calvin and the orange band for Andy - helped a lot when the next hill seemed a little steep or the weather was a little hot. My wife also became a more active TNT member by joining as a walker for Va Beach and doing her first endurance event ever!

This year I am running in honor of my Mom who is a two-time survivor of breast cancer and Muriel is still walking for her brother who she misses very much. She also manages a Curves gym and several of her members have friends and family fighting cancer.

Go Team,

Bob

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