Honored Teammate

Welcome to the Greater LA Cycle Team!!

My name is Laura Maloney, and I am your Honored Teammate for this season. I am so excited to have that honor.

Okay, a little bit about me... A few years ago, I found myself single again, with three kids. Then I met the man of my dreams, Charlie Maloney (you will know him as Coach Charlie), and everything was awesome!

A few week later, I received that dreaded call from my doc, and found out that I have CML, Chronic Mylegoneous Leukemia, a blood cancer. My life was turned upside down. But with the help of Charlie, my kids, and my friends, I got through it. I lost my hair, was down to 92 pounds, but other than that I was a hottie, if you appeal to the Anorexic/Alien look! I went through a series of treatments and although progress was slow, I appeared to be winning the battle!!

During this time, Charlie felt helpless, and wanted to give back in some way, so he joined TNT. He participated in the Lavaman - 2004 in Kona. It was an awesome experience for both of us. We can truly say, that TNT is our new family!!! I was blessed with a few months of remission, however, I was back to fighting the battle again and living each day to the fullest. Charlie continued to do events in my honor, and I continued to cheer the teams on, and then one beautiful day, September 15^th, 2005, I was told that I was in complete remission!! So I did what anyone would do after being sick for so long, I did my first triathlon with TNT, and hiked the Grand Canyon with the Hike for Discovery team. On August 19^th, 2006, Charlie and I were finally married. I've also completed the Honolulu Century Bike ride in Hawaii with Charlie as my coach and, last season, I completed my first Marathon. I just celebrate 4 years in remission and this upcoming September, I will have 5 years in remission, which is a big milestone for a survivor.

Unfortunately, due to the harsh drugs, treatments and chemicals that my body had to endure for 4 years, it has aged my internal body and I am currently going through several health issues because of this. My goal as well as TNT as a whole is to find better treatments so that children and adults that are diagnosed, can reach remission will not have to endure any further health problems, and ultimately find a cure!!

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and I thank you in advance for caring for a cause that is so close to my heart.

Laura Maloney – fspiritsb@aol.com