Local students and residents can sign up to shape up for a good cause at the National Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program informational meeting in Goleta tomorrow.

Team In Training, a marathon-training program that raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, will host the third of five informational meetings at the Goleta Valley Athletic Club at 10 a.m. Saturday. At the meeting, Team In Training representatives will discuss the program’s annual marathon – scheduled for June this year – and will sign up new Team In Training members to join the 26.2 mile run from Santa Barbara to Ventura. Team In Training Campaign Manager Analise Maggio said she hopes to raise over $100,000 at this year’s marathon.

Team In Training currently has 23 members training for the June marathon, Maggio said, and she hopes to ultimately have a total of 80 members training for the run. Team In Training is free to join and members receive personalized attention from coaches and certified personal trainers to help them prepare for the marathon. In turn, members collect donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

“Our SB teams have contributed over $300,000 to the $6.1 million raised by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter just last year,” Maggio said. “That money funds patient aid and research that is crucial to furthering our cause: to find a cure for blood cancers and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.”

Seventy-five percent of the money raised by Team In Training goes towards research and patient services for people suffering from various types of blood cancers, and the remaining 25 percent funds the program itself, Maggio said. She said the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Team In Training Public Relations Manager Brooks Parton said Team In Training also aims to improve the health of its members with tailored training programs and nutrition clinics.

“Team In Training gives you all the tools you need to compete in a marathon,” Parton said. “The program helps members achieve their fitness goals while they raise money for a good cause.”

Sophomore business economics major Kristen Zimmerman completed the Nike Women’s Marathon with Team In Training last October. She said training for the marathon was challenging, but worth the effort.

“It was the best experience of my life,” Zimmerman said. “You’re helping with such a great cause. You’re running for yourself and for a cure.”

Team In Training informational meetings will also be held at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and at Santa Barbara Running at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24.