June 27th, 2005
A Tiny Little Push to Celebrate Cancer Diagnosis
As of this posting, Spencer has raised $6,071.13 towards his $25,000 goal of fundraising for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I’ve been tracking against a plan of raising $15,000 through soliciting donations and $10,000 through events. To stay on target for the donations through solicitations, we need a tiny little push of $56.03 by Wednesday night. Your small donation could help Spencer achieve his dream of supporting cancer survivors, obtaining a Peloton Project Yellow Jersey, and riding 40 miles in the Ride for the Roses to celebrate his one year anniversary of being diagnosed with leukemia. Donate to support cancer survivors and Spencer’s Ride for the Roses.
Why does one celebrate the anniversary of a cancer diagnosis? It seems crazy at first glance, and yet it is common. There are other dates one could celebrate. Spencer’s first biopsy that shows him in remission was on October 29, 2004. He will end his last intensification chemotherapy cycle about August 5, 2005, subject to delay based on side effects. If he has no relapse, sometime in late 2007 or early 2008 (again depending on delays caused by side effects) he will end chemotherapy completely. Yet, the date that sticks in mind is October 22, 2004. Celebrating is a way of thumbing our collective noses at “stupid cancer” and proving the modern medicine and Spencer’s will are stronger than some ridiculously mutated bone marrow cells.
This year, it’s extra special. The Ride for the Roses weekend is October 21-23, 2005. The Ride for the Roses is the annual grass roots fundraising effort for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and I’ve done it the last 3 years. The first few days in the hospital with Spencer after his leukemia diagnosis, I made a deal that we’d do the 2005 Ride together and raise $25,000. I’m pulling Spencer with me and aiming to ride 40 miles on October 23. If we make Spencer’s goal, we also get to be in a private ride with other fundraisers and Lance Armstrong. The actual day of Spencer’s diagnosis anniversary is the Kid ride at Zilker Park and the health expo. It’s going to be a great weekend of celebration.
