Photo of the Day: Inspiring Athletes Who Raise Money to Fight Cancer

Columbia residents Lake Frey, 10, Kellie Frey, and Braylon Frey, 7, held up signs Saturday of loved ones who are living with, or have passed away from cancer.

The Braylons were participating in the Team in Training event held Saturday in Columbia.

The program, put on by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, organizes training programs for marathon runners and other athletes, and raises money for the cure of blood diseases, such as cancer, said the Maryland Team in Training campaign coordinator, Karen Rafala.

The training event in Columbia attracted about 120 athletes and supporters from around the region, including runners and bikers from Baltimore, Frederick, Anne Arundel, Hartford and Howard counties.

The Freys were holding up signs with pictures of family members on Columbia Road on the “Silent Mile,” where athletes, starting at , ran or biked, and looked - in silence- at signs of people stricken by cancer.

 It’s “who they want to remember in their training,” said Rafala, whose office is based in Owings Mills. “We have made a lot of advances in our cures, but we’re not there. Until we’re at 100 percent to find a cure or improve quality of life for all patients, we’re not done with training and fundraising. “