Another Angel; Prayer a Most Wonderful Blessing

Another Angel - Yesterday I learned that another Little Buddy warrior lost the battle to this horrible disease. It saddens my heart, and while we deal with the pain of such great loss, we most assuredly should take comfort in knowing that the angelic choirs singing songs of praise welcomed home Zachary Combs. May we too sing songs of praise with an unending love as we wait impatiently for that glorious day when we shall join him. My most heartfelt condolences, love and prayers are with the family of Zachary Combs

Prayer a Most Wonderful Blessing: During my web travels searching for answers to my many questions, I found a most wonderful website for all with sick ones battling pediatric cancer, or any other illness in need prayer warriors. As all of you have my unending prayers, yet I believe that unlike my favorite cookies, you can never have too much prayer or too many people praying for you. Please check out this most wonderful site – C.O.L.E’.s Foundation and since I believe with my whole heart in the efficacy prayer and its importance to our entire life, the link to the Foundation is above just under Childhood Cancer and Neuroblastoma facts.

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. - Mother Teresa



Till later remember that though we may never meet, YOU are loved by me. I Love You.



Grandpa John

Quick Post - Childhood Cancer & Neuroblastoma Facts

Childhood Cancer Facts - This morning after my training run I went back to read of last year’s adventure (From the Border to the Bridge - http://fightingchildhoodcancer.blogspot.com/ ) and noticed that some had made a comment back in Dec 2009, one which I failed to see earlier. The comment was that since I am promoting awareness of Childhood cancer I should put more about the topic in my writings. I thought that links provided would be enough to lead anyone to sources with much more knowledge than I. But, in today’s’ fast paced society maybe the writer is correct. So I am correcting that oversight and will add more info on childhood cancer to our blog site. But it will only be copied from the other web sites I visit. To ensure proper acknowledgement is given, source are identified.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt


Till Later -

Gj

New Angels & Assistance Requested to update Angels Honor Roll Memorial

New Angels: So much time has passed since I last updated our Angels list that it is almost overwhelming to know that I have so many Little Angels to add. Yet, there is a comfort in knowing that they no longer have to endure the paining and suffering that comes with fighting neuroblastoma, childhood cancer.

Today I know the heavenly hosts welcome Juan Santiago Wall and Erik Ludwinski to the angelic choir. May they forever sing songs of joy that only our creator can hear and we in our hearts wait patiently for a blessed reunion sure to occur.

Assistance Requested to update Angels Honor Roll Memorial: Over the next week or so I will attempt to recover many of my emails over the months past and update our Angels Honor Roll memorial accordingly. However, I fear that many of the notices may be unrecoverable. So I ask for your assistance - would you please send me the names of our angels that I have missed or over looked.

"Love can make you do things that you never thought possible"
Phil Collins

God Bless Gj

Circle the Lake for the Cure -

Please click title ^above^ to go to the new blog site for Circle the Lake for the Cure

The war is not Over! Many Little Buddies and their families still fight bravely on to beat the foe neuroblastoma. And sadly others have become angels …Therefore

While I have been absent for far too long I am BACK! And planning and preparations for this year’s big running event is under way.

The run will be called:

“Circle the Lake for the Cure - Fight Childhood Cancer:
A Memorial to All Warriors Big & Small”

Date: September 7 & 8, 2010 (tentative)
Location: Houghton Lake MI.
Length of Event: 36 hours. – How far will ol’ Gj go in 36 hours is anybody’s guess, but I bet it will be farther than a mile…. :)

Over the course of 36 hours I intend to run walk or crawl around Houghton Lake MI and cover as many miles as I possibly can. One lap of the lake is approximately 32 miles – can I make 3 or more laps in that time frame? Who knows? Regardless of distance traveled I will be doing all I can to raise awareness of Childhood cancer neuroblastoma, the entire distance. ….I am figuring on some crazy stunt , but not sure what just yet… and hopefully let’s see if I can do better in the fund raising department this year as opposed to last year.

As most of you know my son made it safely home from Iraq last Sept. However, such is not the case for his group or wind commander 1st Lt. Joseph Helton, USAF. On September 8, 2009 he was KIA while defending and protecting us from those wishing to do harm to the innocents. That is the run is a tribute to the Big warriors too. The big warriors are all of those defending and protect us where ever they may be serving. It is to their honor and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice a memorial – Thank a vet if you cherish your freedom. ..

Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can.
Thomas Carlyle


Till later, God Bless

Grandpa John

Dedication The Big Race - Sept 26, 2009

Dedication: My Family, I am overjoyed to let you know that my son made it safely back stateside from his year's tour of duty in Iraq. Yet, I am very sadden too. Approximately 4 days after he arrived at his duty station my son was informed that his former Wing Commander in Iraq, became an Angel on 8 September, 2009. And like my Warrior Buddies, a true hero indeed.

This weekend I am running my first 50 mile race and in addition to dedicating this race to all of my Little Warriors and Buddies, I am making a special dedication to honor the memory of 1st LT Joseph Helton, USAF. And for my son and for all who serve in the USAF Security Forces, I will carry you and your comrades with me in spirit to honor the memory of all fallen Security Force warriors. All of you have my unending gratitude - God Bless you.

I will provide a more comprehensive update after the race this weekend. Until then I again reitterate my promise to you, my Little Buddies and Families:

"I promise that I shall not stop running till the cure is found. If I should become too old or weak to run, it is then I will ask our Heavenly Father to carry me to the finish line - The Cure Gj

Till later God Bless.

Grandpa John.

PS: Carson Clark: I just have to let you know that you are my hero Little Buddy and this race is especially for you too.

I AM BACK; NEXT RACE; THE BIG RUN NEXT YEAR

I’m Back: Wow! It’s been far too long since I provided an update. Truth be told, since the long run I have been somewhat lazy, but now is the time be reenergize and continue of fighting the good fight and running for my Little buddies. Over the course of the next couple of weeks or so I’ll be getting our Angel's Honor Roll- A Forever Dedication updated and updating oterh areas of the Blog as necessary.

NEXT RACE/DEDICATION: What is new on the near horizon? Well I am glad that you asked that question, I am going to be a hippie (again or is it for the first time since I was in the army during that period) that is I am “Running Woodstock;” no not in New York, but right here in Michigan. It will be a far out weekend just choke full of running and wild times (not too wild for ol Gj) and may be just a flash back to the younger days. The race I will run is a 50 miler. Yep, you read rightly. I am going to do the Peace Love 50 Miler, my first. Now mind you there is a 15 hour time limit for this run and should make it. I know 15 hours seems like an awfully long time and the trail is the very difficult 12.5-mile loop of the Potawatomi trail in the Pinckney MI recreation area. But I just ain’t gonna quit till I get the 50 in for my Little Buddies. They will help me thru the difficult areas and times - I will be carrying all of the pictures I had with me on our journey run the entire distance.

Dedication: I dedicate this race to all of my Little Buddies, especially Noah Scott Biorkman who is having a pretty rough go at it right now, and his family and to the memory of all of our Angels. I know I’ll never hit a major league home run Noah, but I do promise you that I will finish this50 Miler for you. My prayers are with all of you.

THE BIG RUN NEXT YEAR – In planning stages...will it be “From the Border to the Bridge Part II???” Who knows? Stay Tuned.

Special Note of Love: Even though most of us have never met and probably never will have the opportunity to do so, I just can’t put into words just how much I love every one of you – I promise I won’t stop running till the cure is found.

Grandpa John

“It is not wise to win a battle for the sake of glory just to lose the war. We will complete the race before us and will not stop till the cure is found” Grandpa John

The 330 Mile Run Report - Fighting Neuroblastoma - Childhood Cancer

Please follow this link to our other blog to read the report on the run to the Mackinaw Bridge:

http://www.fightingchildhoodcancer.blogspot.com/


God Bless you till Later,

Grandpa John

PS: If you'd like to see the pictures please send me an email and I will send you the link to my MySpace account wherein the pictures reside - Thanks, Gj

Newest Sponsor; Countdown to the Run - T minus....

Newest Sponsor - Folks if you're ever in the Mount Pleasant , MI area, please stop by our newest sponsors hotel, "The Comfort Inn & Suites University Park" Just click on the picture of the Bridge above and follow the links on the other blog site for the run. And please be sure to tell them that Grandpa John sent you :)

Countdown to the Run: T Minus 010:14:10 and counting....

Till later I am off and getting ready for the run...see you soon..

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Morrie Schwartz

God Bless

Gj

Letter from Governor of Michigan-Well Wishes; Count Down & New shirt; New Sponsor; Say Who Is This fellow?

Letter from Governor of Michigan-Well Wishes: I’ve been writing so many letters to so many people to be honest, I cannot for the life of me remember if I wrote to our governor explaining the who, what, and why of the upcoming 330 mile run. Yet, somehow, I received a letter from her expressing her well wishes for the upcoming run and an Irish blessing J I am forever grateful for that letter as I now know that one more person is aware of neuroblastoma and its horrors; thank you Governor Granholm your letter and blessings means very much to me. Here is a picture of it:

Count Down: All Systems are Go! As of 11:30am Sunday, May 3, 2009 we are in countdown mode. We are at T minus 11 days, 20 hours, 30 minutes and 0 seconds until Friday, May 15, 2009 at 8:00:00 AM (Detroit time) See our count down timer above

New Shirt – Here is a picture of one of the shirts I be wearing while I run the “From the Border to the Bridge” run.

Front:

Back:

As you can see I did not distinguish between our Warriors and Angels. If anyone asks who is who I’d be able to tell them, but that is not the point I am trying to make. “Anyone’s child could be stricken with this horrible disease - do you know which one?” That is the same for our Poster board pictures….which one??? Our Warrior and Angels look very health…but looks are deceiving, aren’t they? Hopefully, those meet during the run feel the impact of what is not being said.

New Sponsor: (See "From the Border to the Bridge Blog"- click on picture of bridge above) My thanks and appreciation goes out to Quality Inn of Gaylord Michigan for providing me and my support crew (Missus Gj and Babee) one of our nights lodging. So folks if you’re ever traveling through the Gaylord MI. area please plan on spending the night at one of our most wonderful sponsors. If you cannot stay then please stop to let them know you heard about them from Ol’ Gj.

Last Two Weeks – Action packed; that is all I can say! First we continued finding lodging for our nightly slumber and then last weekend Missus GJ, Babee and myself traveled the last 130 miles (or so) of the route.

Early last Saturday morning we left for Clare Mi.; the city where we stopped our route verification the previous weekend. Traveling northward we drove through Harrison, and verified one of our sponsors addresses (meaning - could we find it) and there approximately 200 yards off our route stood Lakeside Motel and Cottages...how beautiful, right on Budd Lake. Missus Gj and I will most definitely plan a few days vacation here later in the summer.

Out of Harrison we continued north going through Higgins Lake, and onward to Grayling MI. About 12 miles or south of Grayling we got lost, or should I say the map was mismarked giving directions without actually names the roads we should take. What is really surprising is that we actually found our way to Grayling just by following the road we were on till it dead-ended and turned right ….

Leaving Grayling we made our way to Gaylord without much ado. As we traveled north of Gaylord we passed a little park we stopped and took a few pictures (see previous posting.) Pressing on we made our way to Indian River (our final night before Mackinaw City). We didn’t spend any time there as it was starting to get late and we needed to make our destination at a reasonable hour. Finally we arrived in Mackinaw City - the finishing point of this year’s run for of love (all of my runs of love J ones (Again the picture are in the previous post.)

No one will have to tell me to go and jump in to the lake. I will jump into the lake when I arrive – I will do so willing as a refreshing break from the many miles….I just hope Missus Gj get pictures of the shocked look I’ll have on my face…that water is very, very cold.

Say Who is this fellow?

I’ll give you 3 guesses, and the first two don’t count…I was rummaging through some old pictures and found one of me from my late of coming hippie days (Actually, I was in the Army during the 60’s/70’s hippie movement.) This picture was taken at Jacob’s Ladder Folk Music Festival in Kiryat Shmona, Israel circa 1991 – I was a late bloomer for sure and loved every minute of it

God Bless, Till Later,

Gj