The first triathlon to benefit blood cancer research to take place September 14, 2008 in Washington, DC

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the Nation's Triathlon today announced a new partnership that will leverage the surging number of triathletes and popularity of the sport to help raise money for blood cancer research. Utilizing the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) world-famous Team In Training (TNT) endurance sport training program, which has raised $850 million and trained 360,000 people, the newly branded Nation's Triathlon To Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the first triathlon in the nation dedicated to raising money to help cure blood cancers.

This year's race, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, 2008, is projecting to raise more than $3.3 million to support research, patient education, and support initiatives.

"LLS's goal is to do for triathlons what we've done for marathons over the past 20 years," said Nancy Klein, LLS Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications, speaking of the fundraising program that grew from 40 runners in 1988 to more than 360,000 in 20 years. "LLS is once again getting ahead of the wave, and we're ready to put the muscle behind this campaign and, more importantly, triathletes are ready for the spaces to open to them."

The new partnership comes at a time when the popularity of triathlons is growing exponentially, outpacing the capacity of existing triathlons. For example, TNT's triathlon program has grown dramatically since it was first introduced in 1999 In Fiscal Year 2007 trained more than 5,800 triathletes. Nation's Triathlon, launched two years ago, has grown significantly as well from nearly 500 participants in its first year to a projected 3500 participants this year. Utilizing Washington, DC's magnificent vistas and plentiful parkland, the race can continue to grow with the support of TNT to become the largest triathlon in the world. The capacity will not only widen the field for triathletes, but will contribute significantly to boosting LLS's revenue.

"We are proud to forge a partnership with LLS," said Charles Brodsky, founder of the Nation's Triathlon. "The money they have raised over the years has contributed significantly to research that is helping bring us closer to a cure every day. To support such a worthy cause, while also giving people the opportunity to participate in a sport that promotes fitness and good health is an exciting opportunity. We look forward to growing our triathlon program and providing competitors with a world-class event in a world-class city."

Nation's Triathlon
Nation's Triathlon, founded by Charles L. Brodsky, is the premiere Olympic distance triathlon in the United States. Set against the magnificent and patriotic setting of the nation's capital and its monuments, participants in the Nation's Triathlon will swim 1.5K in the Potomac River (a course that will take them under the Memorial Bridge), bike 40K through downtown D.C. out onto Clara Barton Parkway and Rock Creek Park, and run 10K through downtown D.C (past the White House, Washington Monument, National Mall, finishing on the plaza of the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue). The finish line will be located on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Navy Memorial and National Archives. The awards ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. In addition to the awards ceremony, a Finish Line Festival will offer merchandise and refreshments as well as entertainment for the whole family.

Participants will be required to pick up race packets and attend a mandatory safety briefing on Friday, September 12 from 12:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. or Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.- 8:30 p.m. at the Old Convention Center Site at 11th and H Streets, NW. Participants will also have access to a Fitness and Wellness seminar series, sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, which will offer briefings and seminars on a range of topics, including holistic health, injury prevention, life wellness, nutrition, triathlon lifestyle balance, and other topics.

To register for the race, go to www.thenationstriathlon.com. Registration is already 75% complete so interested participants are urged to register soon.

Major sponsors for the Nation's Triathlon To Benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society include: UnitedHealthcare - Official Healthcare Provider and sponsor of The UnitedHealthcare Sports & Fitness Expo; Timex - Official Timekeeper for The Timex Timing Zone; and JetBlue - Official Airline and Sponsor for The JetBlue Airways Finish Festival. Additional sponsors include: City Sports, Crocs, Coke Zero, Dasani, and Race Train Fitness.

Team In Training
LLS's Team In Training, the world's largest endurance sports training program, succeeds by harnessing the dedication of people who cling strongest to its goals and by providing four to five months of personal training, making triathlon doable, even for first-time athletes. Husbands, wives, parents, children, and friends of cancer patients - sensing the finish line is just ahead - raise more than $100 million each year supporting researchers and patients. The financial support has created equally dramatic improvements in the way leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are diagnosed and treated from new drugs that can cure to improved therapies that make treatment less harsh on the body.

For additional information, call 800-482-TEAM or visit www.teamintraining.org.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: 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, LLS has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS 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, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

To register for the race, go to www.thenationstriathlon.com. Registration is already 75% complete so interested participants are urged to register soon.