JOIN THE FUN AND GET A SHAVE - THE KID'S WILL LOVE YA FOR IT

St. Baldrick’s Foundation

CHILDHOOD CANCER & NEUROBLASTOMA FACTS

Leukemia - Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers. They account for about 33% of all childhood cancers. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are the most common types of leukemia in children.

Brain and nervous system cancers - Brain and other nervous system cancers are the second most common cancers in children, making up about 21% of childhood cancers.

Neuroblastoma - Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that starts in certain types of nerve cells found in a developing embryo or fetus. This type of cancer occurs in infants and young children. It is most often found during the first year of life. It is rarely found in children older than 10. This tumor can start anywhere but usually occurs in the belly (abdomen) and is noticed as swelling. It can also cause bone pain and fever. It accounts for about 7% of childhood cancers.

Wilms tumor - Wilms tumor is a cancer that starts in one, or rarely, both kidneys. It is most often found in children about 3 years old, and is uncommon in children older than age 6.

Lymphomas - Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma (sometimes called Hodgkin disease, Hodgkin's disease, or Hodgkin's lymphoma), are cancers that start in lymph tissues, such as the tonsils, lymph nodes, and thymus.

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children.

Retinoblastoma - Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye. It is rare, accounting for just under 3% of childhood cancers

Bone cancers - Primary bone cancers (cancers that start in the bones) occur most often in children and adolescents.

Osteosarcoma is uncommon, accounting for almost 3% of all new childhood cancer cases in the United States. It often causes no pain or symptoms until swelling starts, but sometimes there is bone pain that keeps getting worse. .

Ewing sarcoma is a less common primary bone cancer which can cause bone pain. It is mostly found in adolescents. It accounts for a little more than 1% of childhood cancers
.

Neuroblastoma:

• Approximately 500 to 1,000 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the United States each year.

• Doctors have known about neuroblastoma for approximately 35 years.

• Neuroblastoma is primarily diagnosed in children ages 14 and under, with most cases in children younger than 5 years.

• The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, and it is more likely to occur in males than females.

• Neuroblastoma is difficult to diagnose in small children, and its progression is often rapid and painful.

• Neuroblastoma accounts for 8 percent of childhood cancer cases, but is responsible for 15 percent of all childhood cancer deaths.

• One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

• Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

• Each child in the U.S. diagnosed with cancer receives approximately one-sixth of the federal research support allocated to each patient afflicted with AIDS. Yet in 2004, 48 new cases of pediatric AIDS were diagnosed vs. more than 12,000 pediatric cancer cases.

• Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis

• Cancer accounts for the greatest number of disease deaths of children in the United States and kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined

Sources: American Cancer Society, Band of Parents, Texas Oncology Group

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_6x_Children_and_Cancer.asp http://www.bandofparents.org/neuroblastoma.html
http://www.texasoncology.com/about.aspxid=2750&terms=neuroblastoma

C.O.L.E.'s FOUNDATION

C.O.L.E.'s FOUNDATION
Caring Openly, Loving Eternally

In need of prayer, please click picture to go to C.O.L.E.'S

Grandpa John's Prayer for His Little Buddies

I hear no voice, I feel no touch,
I see no glory bright;
But yet I know that God is near,
In darkness as in light.
God watches ever by my side,
And hears my whispered prayer:
A God of love for a little child
Both night and day does care --- Anonymous

Angel's Honor Roll- A Forever Dedication

- Our Angels -

Austin Melgar, Courtney Saunders, Cooper Riley Proscia, Emily Adamson, Victoria Houston, John Eric Bartels, Kathy Ann Wilkinson, Alara Curran, Spencer Dolling, Marissa Monroe, Olivia Weber, Alexa Aigner, Joe Daily, Ryan Willians, Janie Kashino, Dustin Cobb, Alyssa Chappell, Addison Whipple, Amber Mastey, Katie Krize, Gustavo-Alexis, Kelvin Harper, Maggie Achuff, Kristin Hope, Kahlilla Blyss, Arden Quinn Bucher, Douglas Swift, Max Mikulak, Eliza S, Brandon Loose, Kody Edwards, Brody Hurt, Jay Jay LeBoeuf, Kyah Milne, Nicholas Pagano, Trooper Dante Tareboreli, Carter Wax, Zachary Finestone, Cora McClenahan, Little Roy Gutierrez, Chloe Smith, *Cody Johnson*, Emilio Gravez, Jacob Stovall, Noah Tyler Bell, Shu Qinpet (pet name Xinxin), Jenna Mussolini and Owen Lea, Carson Clark, Juan Santiago Wall, Erik Ludwinski, Layla Grace Marsh, Samuel Thomas Hutchison, Sydney Marie Dudley, Sophie Atay (And Our Big Warrior hero 1st Lt Joseph Helton, USAF - 8 Sept 2009),

-Race Dedication-

  • In Memory of: Samuel Thomas Hutchison, Layla Grace Marsh, Sydney Marie Dudley and Sophie Atay.
  • In Honor of: Jessica Trotter
  • Next Race - TBD
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Gj's Buddies & Angels - Lighting the Way

SAVE THE DATE AND JOIN ME


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

Circle the Lake for the Cure

Circle the Lake for the Cure
Houghton Lake MI - 36 hours for the Cure

Email Grandpa John

Friday, April 25, 2008

Too Great a Loss - Dedicated to Austin Melgar.

Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when it’s a young child. I wish I had the magical potion that would heal such wounds, but I don’t. Yet, being a man of faith I know where it can be found: Wrapped in the arms of true love itself - God.

May God Bless the Melgar family always and in all ways, especially during this most difficult of times and may His Peace flood their hearts. I know that Austin is looking down from Heaven, smiling and saying to us: “Please don’t cry, I am in His arms now. I wait patiently for you and look forward to our reunion…”

Grandpa John

I dedicate my first race of the season this Sunday, April 27, 2008, to the honor and memory of Austin Melgar.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The Game Plan, or How I ‘m gonna Gett’r done!

Whew! Raising $100K impossible….not!!! That is, not if you are willing to continue on when all of the odds say else wise, kindda like the children fighting this disease; regardless what, they continue on. Or like the marathoner, or ultra runner, they continue on even though their entire being says stop! Never! They continue on till the end; so too shall I. But to be successful, you need a plan; so here is a brief outline (not inclusive):

1. A writing campaign. Write letters requesting donations to everyone I know. Explain what I am doing and why.
2. Get an on-line donation account – this can also be done at the Band of Parents website.
3. Get a mail box number for mail in donations
4. Design and sell “Running thru Hell for those who Can’t” and “Say Yes to Grandpa John” Tech t shirt’s for the athletic among us, normal cotton t’s for those who aren’t.
5. Do a mass emailing to all businesses within my community and request a donation. Get the list of email addys from the local Chamber of Commerce.
6. Do Bucket Drives at local businesses. Just as the name alludes to just hold out a bucket and ask for donations to such a worthy cause. Get local government permissions if required and that of the business.
7. Never, Never Quit!!!!!!!!

Would you give up just one cup of your daily coffee or one serving of your favorite beverage today and donate its cost to the Band of Parents. Please follow my link to their web site and if you donate on line, please tell them that Grandpa John sent you.

Till Later

God Bless,

GJ

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Training update & Just a short note.

Training:

Training is going along rather well. This past Sunday and Monday I ran a 4.48 miles each day. At least that's what the course measured out to be using the "map my run" tool. So give or take a bit I just rounded it down to a 4 mile easy run for each day, which gives me the following mileage totals:

Weekly Mileage: 8

Total Mileage: 29.5

Note:

So all may see our progress, I've added a fund raising thermometer. And yes, I have established a goal of $100,000. I know that's a hefty goal, but it's surprising at just how quickly the pennies, quarters and loose change can add up. Besides, I am currently working on some fund raising ideas, which might add some significant sums to our total bar. But, it's just a tad premature to reveal what they are - Stay Tuned, the action is about to begin.

With that said, how about donating the cost of a cup of your favorite daily beverage to the cause. For round numbers I'll use $1.00. If 100,000 of you donate just $1.00 each, our goal will be met...now if 1,000,000 give each that amount, we'll be rocking....

Till Later,

God Bless

Gj