Before I began working with cancer patients, I was an international-level endurance sports coach, and some of my athletes achieved world champion status, Pan-American champion status and even Olympic game appearances.

After being introduced to the concept of exercise oncology – including the many studies demonstrating the benefits of exercise and activity during and after cancer treatment – I began training cancer patients.

Today, I direct my own exercise oncology research programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducting clinical trials that examined the effects of exercise in many different physiological systems in breast cancer survivors and acute leukemia patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy.

These programs are designed to examine the effects of exercise training on the mitigation of side effects of anti-cancer treatments; on survival; and importantly, on patient quality of life.

The PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon is an amazing opportunity for me to promote exercise as a powerful intervention that has been shown, through empirical evidence, to benefit cancer patients on multiple levels.

Also, racing in the triathlon is the perfect opportunity for me to endorse the fundamental importance and absolute necessity of clinical trials on the improvement of life. Without clinical trials, it is virtually impossible to test new interventions or any strategy to improve the quality of our lives.

I've witnessed the power of exercise, through clinical trials, and have seen incredible positive changes in the lives of many patients.