Consider it a Christmas gift for a cousin who never lived to see the holiday in 1998. Pete Campbell, a local resident of Farmingdale, will participate in the St. Anthony's Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL, as a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT). The event is of Olympic proportions, involving a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike ride and topped off with a 10K run. Campbell's goal is to raise $5,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help find a cure for the diseases which include Hodgkin's disease, myeloma and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), the disease that claimed Campbell's cousin, Dennis Drohan's life four years ago.

Drohan developed a rare and aggressive form of the disease in June of 1998. Six months later, two days before Christmas and 10 days shy of his 38th birthday, Drohan lost his battle against the disease. He left behind a wife and three young children. Campbell hopes with funds raised by events such as the triathlon, that a time may come when other families may never have to face such a devastating loss.

Funds raised by events for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society goes to improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well as help fund research. Today, thanks to previous research studies, survival rates for children diagnosed with leukemia is over 80 percent and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma have a survival rate of over 40 percent.

Campbell is actively seeking donations or pledges for the triathlon. All donations are tax deductible and checks may be sent to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Att: Pete Campbell, 31 Bernard Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735. Corporations and business owners can display their company logo on Campbell's running shirt for a donation of $500 or more.

For more information, contact Peter Campbell at 293-3417.