Hugh Freund

I believe defeatists and champions are made of our own volition; I strive to be the latter.

I have seen too many good lives shortened by cancer. Amazingly, those who fought the hardest were those with the most grim outlook and who had little medical chance of success.

In early 2007, during the winter break of my freshman year of college, cancer intervened in my life. My diagnosis was an early stage of a rare but treatable form of bone cancer called osteo sarcoma. The treatment protocol included a chemotherapy cocktail administered in 26 hospital visits over ten months. After six rounds my right leg was amputated at mid-calf to remove the degraded tibia bone and provide enough clearance for a prosthetic leg to be fit in the following months.

Compared to the people I was close with who had no opportunity for a successful treatment, I was the fortunate one. Though I endured prolonged discomfort for nearly a year, I had an established finish line that I was able to work toward day by day. My mentors had nothing as definite to live for, yet their resolve to continue their lives was unsurpassed. They exemplified all of the qualities we aspire toward as individuals and athletes. They are the people I draw inspiration from.

With my recovery I felt the desire to foster in others that same resolve to always keep on living that my mentors had epitomized in their lives. In part that goal required I challenge myself to push my body and mind further than I had ever previously done. That challenge brought me to Endure to Cure. I joined because I believe in the cause, I believe in the tenacity of these athlete’s, and above all I believe in the one good reason to do something that can overcome the limitless excuses not to.

I am currently working toward qualifying in the three person keelboat sailing event for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. My induction into the world of Paralympic sports was like opening Pandora’s box of inspiration: it is chock full of athletes who challenge the assumption of what ‘disability’ is. Disability is a mindset, not a physical state of being.

Believe in what you are capable of achieving and join us in promoting research that will save and better young lives.