Connie Owens - Helping Beat Leukemia
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." - John F. Kennedy, June 28, 1963
As you may know, I have registered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training to complete the Olympic distance King’s Trail Triathlon on June 13, in Maui.
You may be wondering what possessed me to sign-up for this. Initially, it was for the excellent coaching and training TNT participants receive. But then I started reading articles dealing with leukemia and other blood-related cancers. And I learned something – it could happen to me or my family or my friends. Leukemia and its related cancers will strike 106,300 Americans this year. It is the cause of more deaths than any other cancer among children under 20, yet it affects 10 times as many adults. This disease could affect anyone of us at anytime.
My heroes have always been athletes -- Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Lance Armstrong, Brett Favre – but thanks to TNT, I’ll have a chance to know real life heroes -- ordinary people who face the types of challenges and difficulties on a daily basis that most of us will never know. These eight individuals have all been diagnosed with some form of leukemia: Colbi Jordan, 4; David Rucker, 12; Elizabeth Collins, 7; Jeff Burchard, 35; Haden Curtis, 11; Jeshua Barnes, 8; Maura Mangan, 7; and, Nitia Collins, 35. These folks are just like us – Colbi enjoys finger painting and blowing bubbles; David loves pizza and cars; Elizabeth enjoys swimming and playing soccer; Jeff is a husband and father; Haden likes hanging out with his friends; Jeshua rides dirt bikes; Maura loves to color and play dress up; and, Nitia is a former TNT triathlete. The challenges I face in preparation for completing this triathlon are nothing compared to what these folks face daily and will for the remainder of their lives.
While the cause of leukemia remains unknown, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and advances in research bring medical science closer each day to finding the cause of leukemia and related cancers, and probably cures. This is why I am asking for your support.
I have a personal goal of $5800 for the Society. More than 75% of this goal will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for research, patient services, advocacy and education. Please know that no donation is too great or too small – every dollar helps and will be appreciated.
All of us need dreams and goals. As President Kennedy said so many years ago, we need to dream of things that never were. Together, we can find a cure for leukemia and other related cancers; together, we can give others hope and a reason to dream.
Thank you for your support. I am so excited to be a part of this program, and want to keep you updated on my progress and news from the Society. Please contact me at any time with questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Again, thank you – I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my friends and family.
As you may know, I have registered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training to complete the Olympic distance King’s Trail Triathlon on June 13, in Maui.
You may be wondering what possessed me to sign-up for this. Initially, it was for the excellent coaching and training TNT participants receive. But then I started reading articles dealing with leukemia and other blood-related cancers. And I learned something – it could happen to me or my family or my friends. Leukemia and its related cancers will strike 106,300 Americans this year. It is the cause of more deaths than any other cancer among children under 20, yet it affects 10 times as many adults. This disease could affect anyone of us at anytime.
My heroes have always been athletes -- Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Lance Armstrong, Brett Favre – but thanks to TNT, I’ll have a chance to know real life heroes -- ordinary people who face the types of challenges and difficulties on a daily basis that most of us will never know. These eight individuals have all been diagnosed with some form of leukemia: Colbi Jordan, 4; David Rucker, 12; Elizabeth Collins, 7; Jeff Burchard, 35; Haden Curtis, 11; Jeshua Barnes, 8; Maura Mangan, 7; and, Nitia Collins, 35. These folks are just like us – Colbi enjoys finger painting and blowing bubbles; David loves pizza and cars; Elizabeth enjoys swimming and playing soccer; Jeff is a husband and father; Haden likes hanging out with his friends; Jeshua rides dirt bikes; Maura loves to color and play dress up; and, Nitia is a former TNT triathlete. The challenges I face in preparation for completing this triathlon are nothing compared to what these folks face daily and will for the remainder of their lives.
While the cause of leukemia remains unknown, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and advances in research bring medical science closer each day to finding the cause of leukemia and related cancers, and probably cures. This is why I am asking for your support.
I have a personal goal of $5800 for the Society. More than 75% of this goal will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for research, patient services, advocacy and education. Please know that no donation is too great or too small – every dollar helps and will be appreciated.
All of us need dreams and goals. As President Kennedy said so many years ago, we need to dream of things that never were. Together, we can find a cure for leukemia and other related cancers; together, we can give others hope and a reason to dream.
Thank you for your support. I am so excited to be a part of this program, and want to keep you updated on my progress and news from the Society. Please contact me at any time with questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Again, thank you – I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my friends and family.