B IS FOR...

[This month, February, I thought I would reprise a month worth of BEST YEAR YET blog posts that I did last year in 2018 for the patient families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  I have adjusted the text a bit to fit 2019.  Enjoy!  Tim]

Continuing on our 26.2 day journey through the ABCs of CANCER (see the last two days of the BEST YEAR YET blog) in relation to running the Chicago Marathon, today is the letter B.

B IS FOR....

• BELIEVE
• REHAB
• AMAR GAJJAR (the doctor of the patient who did this letter)
• IV
• NEVER GIVE UP!

I know this is probably a "Captain Obvious" moment, but this patient's fight was with Brain Cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society:

"Brain and central nervous system tumors are the second most common cancers in children, making up about 26% of childhood cancers (Leukemia is the most common of childhood cancer, accounting for 30%). There are many types of brain tumors, and the treatment and outlook for each is different."

I mentioned in previous posts that a year ago I had a chance to go to Memphis and to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as part of the team of St. Jude Heroes who ran the 2018 Boston Marathon.

We SAW what we have been talking about....raising awareness for...raising money for...FIRST HAND.  It was a trip that I will forever remember.  At one point on the tour of the Hospital, I turned to one of my teammates and said, "It's aways been real, but today, IT.JUST.GOT.REAL!"

We met a 17 year old high school senior who, during his freshman year, was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.  Chandler went on to tell us, in a lighthearted way, how it all went down. As I was looking at him and listening to him speak, I knew that his journey was more than a lighthearted stroll for the past 2 1/2 years. 

HE.IS.A.WARRIOR!

A runner before he was diagnosed, he wanted to run again and give back to all who took care of him (and still does), so he committed to run the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, running the Half Marathon (see the story HERE) as a St. Jude Hero.

B IS FOR B.R.A.I.N.

• BELIEVE
• REHAB
• AMAR GUJJAR (one of the docs who is doing amazing work!)
• IV
• NEVER GIVE UP!

So if the kids are NEVER giving up....all of us can do that as well!

If your name begins with the letter B, would you consider a donation to St. Jude at my donation page HERE?

Thank you.