WHY

Why is the sky blue?

Why are you blue?

Why did I do that?

Why do I do what I do?

Why do you do what you do?

Why is that man bald? (actual question overheard a little girl as her mom)

Why am I bald?

Why do you run so much?

Why do you read so much?

Why do you sing so loud?

Why do people live that way?

Why did I live and others didn't?

Why do I react that way?

Why did I react that way?

Why is my wife so important to me?

Why are my boys so important to me?

Why does my body hurt so much?

Why do I want success (whatever success is)?

Why do I want to live a significant life?

Why do people take advantage of others?

Why?


If you want to know, deep down to the root, keep asking WHY?


Go MAKE a difference today!

.2...FOR THE FAMILIES

We have been on a journey for the month of February.

The ABCs of CANCER....a 26 MILE/LETTER journey through the eyes of the patients of ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL.

We showed, each day, a letter of the alphabet and how the patient/artists described what that letter meant to them in relation to their time at St. Jude.

Some were lighthearted and funny.  Some where straight out honest and heart wrenching (remember the letter Y just a couple of days ago?).

I mentioned yesterday, that in a marathon, you can't stop at mile 26 and think you are done. 

There is still .2 miles to go.  

352 yards.

Almost one lap around the track.

At this point in the race, you can see the finish and the feeling of accomplishment sweeps over you (at least it does with me...every time).

Life is a marathon...not a sprint.

Unlike a marathon race that is 26.2 miles long, in the marathon of life, we don't know how long it will be.  We just know that it is supposed to be many, many years.

So even though our journey is over, like the marathon race itself, there are MANY who are still in the race.  

Still fighting.  

Still battling.  

Day in....Day out.

As we take our ".2" to reflect....we acknowledge ALL those who HAVE run and those still in the race.  

YOU are the true HEROES of this journey.  

Thank you for giving us your insights into what your race looks like.

THAT is why I run as a ST. JUDE HERO!

FINAL NOTE:
Each day in our ABCs of CANCER journey, we asked that if your name corresponded with the letter of the day, to consider a donation to ST. JUDE via my ChicagoMarathon St. Jude Heroes donation site.  I am blessed to report that over this time, we have had $405 come in, which takes our total to over $1550....half way to our goal of $3000!  You ALL are amazing.  So, if your name begins with ANY letter of the Alphabet, would you consider a donation to St. Jude at the link below?  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago

Z IS FOR...

MILE 26...LETTER Z.

Z IS FOR...ZOFRAN

• Zzzzz....as in sleepy b/c chemo makes me tired
• Ondansetron is the generic name
• (helps me) Feel better
• Ran through IV at hospital & pills at home during treatment
• Always have Faith
• (helps prevent) Nausea & vomiting

MILE 26.

We can see the end.

What a journey it has been.

We're not quite done.

In a marathon, you still have .2 miles to go....352 yards....almost one loop of the track around the football field. 

We're almost there.....but not done yet.

I remember after getting involved with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, raising money and awareness by running marathons as a St. Jude Hero, learning how far medical science has come in treating pediatric cancer.

When St. Jude opened in 1962, the survival rate for a child with cancer was 20%....1 in 5.

Today, the survival rate is over 80%...4 in 5.

BUT....we're not quite done yet.

Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude, once said, "No child should die in the dawn of life."

Until the survival rate is 100%....the race isn't over.

Tomorrow, we'll finish out our ABCs of CANCER journey....with .2.

Until no child dies from cancer......

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter Z, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Boston Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago

Y IS FOR...

MILE 25...LETTER Y.

Y IS FOR....YUCKY!

• Needles are YUCKY and scary.
• Throwing up is YUCKY.
• Taking medicine is super YUCKY.
• Cancer is mean and YUCKY.

Maybe today's should have read, "Y IS FOR HONESTY!"

Many kids have no filter.

They tell it straight out.

"Mommy...that man is bald."

"Mommy...that man has a gray beard."

"Mommy...Cancer is MEAN and YUCKY."

ANYONE who is in the fight....knows it's a fight.

They know it's not fun to be sick.  It's not fun to be a human pin cushion.

IT'S YUCKY!

BUT.....if we can embrace the YUCKY and keep fighting....we'll win!

I have a friend who usually tags his posts on Facebook with #embracethestrugglecelebratethevictory

So, if you know someone in the fight....be there for them.  Listen to them.  Embrace the struggle with them.....AND....CELEBRATE THE VICTORY!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter Y, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Chicago Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago

X IS FOR...

MILE 24...LETTER X.

X IS FOR..."I get eXTRA....when I come to St. Jude."

I remember growing up that I wanted to have my tonsils out.

I had friends who did.

I had family members who did.

I never did.

Still to this day, they are still in there.

You want to know why I wanted them out?

ICE CREAM!

I wanted eXTRA ice cream like those that did.

Our artist today is living the eXTRA life.

• hugs
• love
• chemo
• MRI
• medicine
• friends
• family
• doctors
• care
• nurses
• early appointments
• tired teachers
• stuck caregivers
• scans
• needles
• flying 
• snacks
• water

ALL of the eXTRA here is GOOD....so they can get better!

But where's the ICE CREAM?

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter X...ok, not very many of you does this apply to, so how about if you know of a word with X in it, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Chicago Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago

W IS FOR...

"We are chemo Warriors."

MILE 23...LETTER W.

When you have been on the path and have fought...YOU.ARE.A.WARRIOR!

I have a friend that I met through running.  She has gone through multiple battles with cancer.

She is one of the strongest people that I have watched, from a distance, NOT letting this vile disease disrupt her life.

I call her the Warrior Princess.

I know she has "days."  She's talked about it...posted about it...but always embraced it.

"We soldier on and fight it through.  We can't deny, sometimes we cry."

Being a warrior doesn't mean you don't hurt.

It means you embrace the struggle....and celebrate the VICTORY!

For those who are not in the fight, help, support, cheer, those that are, ANY way you can!

We are all BETTER TOGETHER!

So, for all who are going through the struggle...through the battle...as our artist today said, "...fight it through!"  

YOU.ARE.A.WARRIOR!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter W, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Chicago Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago

V IS FOR...

"VINCRISTINE is the chemo that goes into my VEINS.  Sometimes my VEINS blow because of too many needle pokes.  I will be VICTORIOUS over cancer after my treatment."

MILE 22...LETTER V.

Thoughts from MILE 22:

• I'm tired
• It's only 4.2 miles to the end
• My body is screaming at me
• Can I do this?
• YOU.GOT.THIS!

I'm sure there are many other conversations that I have had with myself at this point in a marathon.

You know you're getting closer, but it's still a ways away.

You've "hit the wall" ("Sometimes my VEINS blow...."), but you know you have to keep moving forward.

There is VICTORY waiting for you....but you have to finish.

Running.....running a marathon... is NOT hard, compared to battling for your life.

When in Memphis last year visiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the TEAM who ran the 2018 Boston Marathon as St. Jude Heroes, met up and we toured the hospital.

Near the end of our tour, we met up with a 17 year old patient, at the time, who was going through brain cancer.  He was well enough, during his treatment, to run the  2017 St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon.  

One of our TEAM asked him what he does to get through the pain while training.  He said, "I told myself that I would stop when I was in pain.  Running is not pain.  I know what pain is by going through brain cancer."

WOW.  Makes you question who the real HERO is in all of this?

So run.  

Fight.

Know you will be VICTORIOUS after the race.....after the treatment.  Actually, you are already VICTORIOUS for going through the battle!

FINAL NOTE: 

If your name begins with the letter V, would you consider a donation to St. Jude via my Chicago Marathon donation page?  Any amount is greatly appreciated.  The link to the donation page is below.  THANK YOU!

heroes.stjude.org/timpetechicago