My Events
- May 22, 2010: Monticello Century Ride
- June 6, 2010: Tri for Real 1 Oympic-distance triathlon
- July 11, 2010: Tri for Real 2 Oympic-distance triathlon
- August 8, 2010: Tri for Real 3 Oympic-distance triathlon
- September 11, 2010: TBF HIT III Half Ironman
- December 5, 2010: California International Marathon
Mark Terry
I believe we are all here to make a difference in the world and together, our miles will add up to giant steps in the lives of many children.
I have taken on the challenge of completing several endurance events in an effort to help Endure to Cure Foundation win the fight against pediatric cancer. Endure to Cure Foundation is a pediatric cancer non-profit foundation that raises funds for organizations that research, treat, and provide support for pediatric cancer and pediatric cancer patients.
Over the next few months I will have covered thousands of miles throughout my training and event schedule. However, all the miles I manage to log don’t even compare to three steps a young child is able to make during his or her recovery from the effects of cancer treatment. These steps to recovery vary greatly depending on the type of cancer and the treatments used. Treatments can affect many parts of the body to include learning disabilities, vision, hearing, heart/cardiovascular system, development, muscle and bone growth…the list is long.
According to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, cancer remains the number one disease that claims the lives of our children. Each year, cancer claims the lives of more children under the age of 20 than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined. While it is true that the survival rate is getting much higher, do you know that 60% of pediatric cancer patients who become “survivors,” will still live life suffering from severe side effects? This is because many treatments these children undergo often cause health problems that may not show up until months or years after treatment.
This is where I am trying to make a difference. All the funds I raise will be dedicated to help Endure to Cure fully fund a survivorship study at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in 2011 & 2012. Post-survivorship is a very underfunded and under-examined area of study. What's even better, is that this study will have both an immediate and long-term impact with patients. In the near-term, kids will be getting one-on-one evaluation to help them. In the long-term, more data will be used to put new post-survivorship treatment methods into place.
I am inviting you to be a part of my journey and the journey of many children fighting this disease. Together, you and I can do our part in helping these children survive. Please join me by making a tax deductable contribution and helping improve the life of a child. Keep in mind that no donation is too small. I have found that one of the best ways to find happiness for ourselves is to seek and bring happiness to others.
Thank you.
