One Medal TCB2 Terri is from the San Francisco Bay Area. On June 2, 2013, she crossed the finish line of the acclaimed San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon. While she has completed half marathons and other races before, this was the first time she accomplished a full marathon. “The course was no joke but I completed all 26.2 miles,” Terri shared recently. Her One Medal honorees during her training and runs are her sister Lourdes and cousin Beatriz.

Nike Women’s Half Marathon was my very first race last year, through Team In Training. Each finisher receives a beautiful Tiffany necklace at the finish line. I was so honored to finish the race and to know that I made a difference by raising funds to help find cancer cure. To honor my cousin Beatriz, I shared my necklace by wearing it for 48 hours and sent it to her who deserved it more than I do.

Just one week after completing her first marathon, Terri received some devastating news about her mother-in-law. “We received news that Mom had leukemia, then two weeks later, she passed away. She was a breast cancer survivor, a warrior and a true inspiration.”

Terri’s next event will be the 10th San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon, the largest women’s running event in the world – on October 20, 2013. Her One Medal will be earned in memory of her mother-in-law Mary, her cousin Beatriz and sister Lourdes.

“A family member told me once ‘Why do I continue to run? I run because I still can. I run because not all can. I run to raise funds. I run because chemo treatments are NOT fun (I’ve been there)!’,” Terri shares. “For me, it perfectly explains why I do what I do!

Like the other members of Team in Training, I am raising awareness to help find cure and more effective treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.”

Terri’s passion and compassion is evident to everyone she touches. She is a One Medal hero.