FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Laskowski
(248) 582-2900 Ext. 3110
Envoy to Run in 2004!
Canadian Diplomat Crosses Borders and Runs to Help Fight Blood Cancers
Madison Heights, MI, September 24, 2004 - As a diplomat stationed at the
Canadian Consulate General in Detroit, Philip Lupul's professional focus is
on U.S. - Canada border security and cooperation. As a runner, on October
24th, Lupul will exemplify the best of the friendship and goodwill that
characterizes the U.S. and Canadian border. On that day, along with an
estimated 7,000 other runners and walkers, and as part of the Detroit Free
Press Marathon and Half Marathon., he will navigate on foot both Detroit
area border links (The Ambassador Bridge and Windsor-Detroit Tunnel).
"My job is to increase understanding and cooperation between Canada and the
U.S.," said Lupul. "The Detroit Marathon crosses the Canada - U.S. border
not once but twice. As the only marathon to cross international boundaries
twice, the race symbolizes in a very real way the openness and depth of
friendship that exists between our two great countries. Both countries can
be proud of the cooperation that allows this unique event to occur."
To ready himself for the marathon, Lupul joined The Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society's Team In Training (TNT) program. Through that program, he has had
the benefit of a training schedule, group trainings, and coaches to
motivate him on his way to completion of his first marathon. "Hundreds of
thousands of volunteers have participated in the Society's Team In Training
program in the past 15 years," explained Jim Slaughter, Executive Director
of the Society's Michigan Chapter. "The outstanding efforts of Philip and
others are helping us cross the finish line when it comes to finding cures
for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma."
In addition to training for the October 24th event, Lupul has also
committed to raise funds to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"Leukemia is a disease that has touched my own family and, just in the last
year or so, my workplace has been devastated by cancers. I have lost a
co-worker to chronic lymphocytic leukemia and another of my co-workers lost
her 10-year-old son to cancer," said Lupul. "I am honored to run the
Detroit Free Press Marathon in memory of these two very special 'honoured
heroes.' Their courage, dignity and spirit in dealing with cancer made a
profound and lasting impact on all of us who had the good fortune to be
touched by them." Lupul notes that the same spirit of cooperation that
allows the Detroit Free Press Marathon to cross the U.S.-Canada border is
also evident in his fundraising activities. "My fundraising campaign has
received support from both the U.S. and Canada. I have been deeply touched
by the generosity and willingness of Americans and Canadians to unite
across our shared border to fight the common enemy of blood cancers."
About Team In Training:
Team In Training is the world's largest endurance sports training program.
The program provides training to run or walk a whole or half marathon or
participate in a triathlon or century (100-mile) bike ride. The program
also supplies each participant with a unique website to facilitate their
communication, information and fundraising efforts. Participants raise
funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services in
exchange for training, support, and lodging and airfare to the event of
their choice. Since TNT's inception, more than 220,000 participants have
raised $500 million. For more information about Team In Training and to
learn how you can support a Team In Training participant, visit
www.teamintraining.org
About Philip Lupul:
Philip Lupul is a career Foreign Service Officer and Diplomat with the
Government of Canada, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. He
is presently Consul and Immigration Program Manager at the Canadian
Consulate General in Detroit, Michigan, a position he has held since
August, 2001. For more information, contact:
Philip Lupul
Consul & Immigration Program Manager
Consulate General of Canada
Suite 1100, 600 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243-1798
Telephone: (313) 446-4740
Email:
Website: www.teamintraining.org/participant/lupul-192892
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, is the
world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood
cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's
mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and
to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its
founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $360 million in
research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year
alone, the Society made more than 812,000 contacts with patients,
caregivers and healthcare professionals through services provided at its
home office and by its 63 chapters nationwide.
For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the
Society's Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by
master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide
information, support and resources to patients and their families and
caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572,
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
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