MellowJohnny really hates it when I talk to people about him having cancer. I can understand that. He’s kind of a private person and he’s shy about this awful disease that took away a big chunk of his childhood.
However, the reason why I’m putting so much time and effort into this cause is not to run a marathon, but to raise money. My reasons for doing this are as follows:
MellowJohnny's with his favourite mountain behind us.
Three good reasons to raise money for this cause.
When Darcy’s mom was told that her 8-year-old son had a potentially fatal disease, I can’t even imagine how she felt. Leukemia. In the 1980s, it was one of those diseases that you heard about, but no one really experienced much of it. Cancer in general wasn’t as prevalent as it is today. At one point, the doctors did not think he would make the night. Even as a bonus “parent,” it makes my heart jump. Somehow this boy made it through the night, through the next few years of his childhood undergoing intense chemotherapy and radiation, through his teen years, through his twenties of “finding himself,” and through part of his thirties with two children.
The doctors told him that because of the success of his treatment that he would save the lives of other children with the same disease. I think those words really resonated with him and they resonate with me too. THIS is exactly why I’m doing this and why I’m doing this now.
When I was told that in return for our efforts we would be able to run in a marathon (in Spain!), I talked to Roger, our Saskatoon coordinator, about how I felt guilty about going. He told me that if it wasn’t for this incentive that their campaign would not be so successful and the money would not be raised. He convinced me that it was okay to do this for a great cause, and in return get to go someplace that I will likely never have another chance to go to.
It’s been an incredible journey so far and it will continue to be an incredible journey right up until April 22.
