In May 2011, I did something I never thought I would — I completed a half-marathon. I wouldn’t have succeeded in running 13.1 miles without the support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. After the loss of a family member to cancer in 2009, I wanted to find a way to give back, and TNT proved the perfect first step. While I raised funds in support of my half-marathon, the organization offered training, coaching and support prior to my event.

Since 2011, I’ve stayed involved with the organization, first as a mentor and coach to others training for their own endurance events, then as a committee member for the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter’s annual Red & White Ball and, of course, through the magazine’s annual online travel auction to benefit LLS. This month marks the third Red & White Ball and my second as the Silent Auction Chair. Publisher and CEO Francis X. Gallagher is serving as the co-chair of the event for the third time, and Global Traveler is proud to be the Diamond Honoree this year. I can’t wait to share pictures from this year’s event; the photo on this page is from last year’s gala.

This month also kicks off GT’s online travel auction. Turn to page 46 for a sneak peek at the items up for grabs this year. If I were you, I’d bid and bid fast for those 1 million IHG Rewards Club points!

Don’t miss the recap from our GT Tested Reader Survey awards event in December on page 34. As always, it was a fantastic evening spent under a starry Los Angeles sky. Travel with us as we continue around the globe in this issue, visiting St. Petersburg, Dallas, Dublin, Glasgow, Basel, Beijing, Mexico and Greece.

Join us next month as we take a closer look at green travel, just in time for Earth Day. In the meantime, enjoy your journeys.