One HPU student, Bradley Krack (pronounced crock), of Fremont, Calif. didn’t need HPU’s Club Carnival to organize his extracurricular activities.

Krack came to Hawai‘i last August as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Kane‘ohe Bay Marine Corps Base. He has his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and is now studying Chinese in HPU’s modern language program.

“ HPU students who are looking to join an organization that can add values, meaning, and great benefits to their lives,” Krack said, “should consider The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.” Team in Training , The Hawai‘i chapter is sponsoring to a run fundraising marathon in Alaska this summer.
“ The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is dedicated to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma,” said Krack, who joined the organization last August.

Krack learned about the society when his attempt to train for the Honolulu Marathon ended “disastrously” he said. An injury prevented him from running the marathon, but he was able to walk it with his mother, Jeffrey, and her friends from Silicon Valley’s (TNT) chapter.

“ It was such a great experience, getting to see all of these people together clad in purple and green and racing for a great cause to raise funds to cure diseases,” Krack added.

Krack joined the local TNT and is now training for the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon Run Hawai‘i half marathon in Anchorage, on Jun. 23.

“ My commitment to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is to raise $4,800,” he said, adding that “seventy-five cents of every dollar goes directly to the society for research, patients, and education.” He added, “The Hawai‘i chapter of TNT will be racing for [local recipient] Sarah Grace, a three-year-old girl, who is recovering from acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). After two and a half years of treatment, she’s doing extremely well.”

“ I will also be doing this for my friend Jay who unexpectedly came down with blood cancer during his sophomore year [at Northwestern University] and sadly passed away shortly after,” added Krack.

According to the Society’s Facts 2006-2007, an annual publication that contains the most recent statistics from SEER, the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, states that the four major forms of leukemia are divided into four categories; acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic signify the cell type involved. Acute leukemia is a fast progressing disease that affects cells that are not yet fully developed, thus making it impossible for them to function. “Chronic leukemia,” according to the Society’s data, “progresses slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of more developed cells, which means these more mature cells are able to carry out some of their normal functions.”

Lymphoma has two major categories: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In general, lymphoma is a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. About 56 percent of the blood cancers that occur each year are lymphomas: a lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell) undergoes a malignant change and begins to multiply and kicks out the healthy cells creating tumors that enlarge the lymph nodes or other parts of the immune system, according to the society’s data.

In a press release on Mar. 1, the society’s TNT stated that TNT “is the world’s largest endurance sports training program which provides personalized coaching, group training and support, and the chance to meet new people and be a part of a team.”

It goes on to say, “in addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers training events and clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention, and safety. Participants train in honor of local keikis who are either in treatment or survivors of leukemia or other blood cancers. They can also train in honor of friends and family members who have battled this horrible disease.”

Students, faculty, and staff can help by joining the society, or volunteering to participate in a fundraising run, or support Krack with a donation that would go towards his race for a leukemia and lymphoma cure. You can do so at www.active.com/donate/tntsdh/tntsdhBKrack.

Or, if you dare, Krack said, “challenge yourself and help save a life. Instead of going home to family and friends, make it a personal goal this summer to run the half marathon in Alaska. It’s not too late to sign up!” And it’s on the same Web site, or e-mail bkrack@campus.hpu.edu for more information.

For additional TNT information, call the Hawai‘i chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at 808-534-1222; or visit www.teamintraining.org.