Meet Cole & Charlotte - our 2011 Honored Heroes

 

Cole Christian

Cole, age six, was diagnosed with ALL in 2008 and will complete treatment on September 4th 2011! He enjoys playing games and sports, especially hockey, eating macaroni and cheese, and spending time with his family and new puppy. Cole hopes to one day be a hockey coach.

Charlotte Grimm

Charlotte was diagnosed at age two with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and is currently undergoing maitenance therapy. Now three years old, Charlotte loves dancing and being a big sister.

 I haven't met Cole or Charlotte yet, but I can already tell that when I do, just as I did with Noah, I will fall in love.

ALL - Acute Lymphomblastic Leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in children from infancy to age 19.  It's the most common form of cancer in children ages 1-7.  According to the National Cancer Society, there is an almost 91% rate of survival in children under the age of 5 and an amazing 66.4% in all ages!

Cole is the same age as my grandson Ben, Charlotte is a wee bit older than my grandson RJ.  It is hard for me to fathom not doing something if either of them or their brothers were diagnosed with any form of cancer or other illness. 

Like most runners, I think about things when I run ...

I think about the usual work and family stuff. 

I think about my commitment to the upcoming Light the Night Walk.  Actually, it was while I was running that I got the idea to use my running as a way to raise support for this year's walk. I remembered that I decided after my OBX Half-Marathon, that if I'm going to continue to run, I'm going to run for a purpose. 

I've received a lot of physical benefits from my running, but I really need more of a reason, one that's less self-centered than maintaining my weightloss or keeping my cholesterol down.  I don't want to belittle those things, my health is very important to me, but I want my training and my races to count for something other than a couple pounds or a few cholesterol points.

Tomorrow the plan is to run 5 miles with my training partner, Sue.  I was really hoping there'd be some movement on my donation page to motivate me, but it's early and I'm pretty sure I can get myself going fairly easily right now.  I'll need those motivators later in the training. 

Hmmmm..... maybe I could bank miles now and later, when the donations come in, I've already got them covered.  I could give into the little voice inside my head that encourages me to stay in bed and get more sleep.  No one would know, right?  Ha - you, dear readers, would know and I would know and I'm pretty sure that knowing that you know will be enough of a motivator to get my lazy butt up and moving.

Thank you for stopping by.  Please feel free to leave a comment or a message if you want to know more about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Light the Night.