Team Aetna Supports Team Continuum
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009Aetna Employees Run New York City Marathon To Honor Aetna Member After His Death
By Robin Erickson, Internal Communications
Posted November 25, 2009
Aetna employees (from left) Linda Elder, Thomas Flores and Elizabeth Lassen get ready to compete in the New York City Marathon to raise money for Team Continuum, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing immediate, non-medical help to cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Linda Elder had never run a day in her life when she went out this past July and bought a pair of running shoes to enter one of the biggest races of all: the New York City marathon.
Elder, an Aetna senior administrative assistant based in Nashville, Tenn., said she felt compelled to compete after watching a videotaped message to Aetna employees from Paul Nicholls, an Aetna member who shared his courageous battle against cancer. In his videotaped message, Nicholls thanked Aetna for the extraordinary care and compassion he received during his illness.
Nicholls also challenged each of us to pick up where he left off and join Team Continuum, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing immediate, non-medical help to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Nicholls started the organization in 2003 and ran in the New York City Marathon despite his diagnosis with stage three multiple myeloma.
Elder and four other Aetna employees from across the country quickly rose to that challenge and together, ran and finished the New York City Marathon in support Team Continuum.
“Why did I do this? For my daughters, for myself, and to help others that are in the situation that I always prayed we would never be in … living with the diagnosis of cancer,” said Elder, who has lost her mom, father-in-law and sister-in-law to the disease. “When I crossed the finish line that day, I also started a new chapter in my life. I let go of the past that I could not change, and started looking to the future, which I have some control over.”
Elder said she was motivated to run after watching Nicholls’ touching video.
“Paul was not thinking of himself when he knew he was dying. He continued until his death to think about others and how he could help them,” Elder said. “I am in awe of his unselfishness and I am proud to raise money for an organization that supports his cause.”
For team member Thomas Flores, an Aetna care planner in Sandy, Utah, the run also had special significance. Flores has lost his three sisters, Helen, Augustine and Margaret, as well as his mom, Tilli, to cancer. Two years ago, his domestic partner, Leslie, was also diagnosed with the disease.
“Leslie continues to get stronger, and we are both grateful for programs like Team Continuum and other organizations that are working to find a cure as well as assist survivors and care givers,” Flores said.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Lassen, a senior account manager in Blue Bell, Penn., was also inspired by Nicholls video and said for her, the New York City marathon will now become an annual event.
“I signed up for the race within minutes of watching Paul’s video,” Lassen said. “I was honored to be able to run for such a good cause and plan to continue raising money, and running the New York City marathon, in support of Team Continuum in the years to come.”
Miguel Centeno, vice president of Strategic Market Development for the Northeast Region, who works with the Aetna Foundation in support of Team Continuum, said he was amazed by those who volunteered to enter the race.
“We should all be proud of the Team Aetna participants in the New York City Marathon, most of whom had never run before but were inspired to do so in support of this excellent organization,” Centeno said. “Our congratulations and thanks go to all of the participants, as they embodied the best of Aetna’s commitment to create healthy communities.”
Aetna also continues to support Team Continuum. Recently, the Aetna Foundation awarded the organization a grant for the “Cook for your LIFE!” program, which offers a series of free cooking classes to under-served, low-income breast cancer survivors from New York City’s Hispanic community.
“Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are common in the Hispanic community, and both factors worsen the prognosis for breast cancer survivors,” Centeno said. “So this program, which will provide participants with culturally relevant ways to incorporate healthy eating and cooking practices into their meals, is key to improving health outcomes for Hispanic women battling breast cancer.”
The other members of “Team Aetna” are:
Katherine Knoll, a customer service representative in Bismarck, N.D.
Susan Rzewuski, a project manager in Hartford, Conn.