Grandpa John

My most gratifying and fondest memories come from serving others. Whether as a volunteer at Henry Ford Hospital, hugging a person suffering with Aids, or silently holding the hand of an elderly gentleman as he lay dying. Or, the feeling of love I experienced volunteering at an inner city soup kitchen. All else pales in comparison, but life situations change and we move on; still I couldn’t shake my desire to serve others.

Then something happened; my overwhelming desire to serve was ignited through the pain and suffering of a young boy I met through his dad via an on-line runner’s forum. Cody has neuroblastoma and his dad asked us to pray for him. He provided a link to his blog where we could read of Cody’s progress, and obtain information about neuroblastoma by following a link to the Band of Parents website. Cody has my prayers, but what is neuroblastoma? Research broke my heart:

• Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, affecting approximately 650 children in the U.S. every year.  It is the second most common solid tumor in infants.
• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer
• Childhood Cancer kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined.
• Research Funding — The relatively low number of diagnoses means that finding new treatments for childhood cancer is not profitable for drug companies…  Most drugs used on children today were developed for adults 20 to 30 years ago.
  

My name is Grandpa John and I dedicate my life to helping raise funds for the Band of Parents and I make them this promise:

I will run to raise donations for the cause until my legs get too tired or old to move, then I’ll ask my Heavenly Father to carry me onward till the cure is found.

That’s my promise to them and I’ll keep it.

Source: Band of Parents website, please visit: www.bandofparents.org

To follow Grandpa John on his quest, please visit: www.runningforthecure.blogspot.com