Joy Ronstadt's Tri-ing to Save Lives
TEAM EVAN
This is Evan, also known to many as Evan the Warrior. He is 8 years old and has been in a major battle with Pre B High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since he was diagnosed with it in May of 2007. He will be undergoing chemotherapy for the next three years.
I met Evan on a trip to the LA Children’s Hospital. My Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training Team went as a group to talk with some of the children. From the moment I met Evan, I could tell that he was different from the rest of the children we visited. He seemed more mature, despite his young age of 8. There was something both fierce and fragile behind his eyes. He seemed stoic. I could tell that his parents had talked to him about everything. He was aware of the cancer he had and the battle he was going to be going through. It was this knowledge that made him seem braver than the rest. He was fully aware of the fragility of his life and had decided to face it head on and fight.
His mother told us how he had donated extra bone marrow so that they could do more research. Taking bone marrow is an extremely painful process, and here is Evan giving EXTRA! He had taken the time to fill out a 60 page survey to help the hospital improve the rooms for future patients. While he’s in the battle of his life, he finds time to do completely selfless things. Amazing, absolutely amazing.
While I had already dedicated my triathlon I was training for at that time to other people, I decided then that I had to do another one, just for Evan. To honor his bravery, to inspire his fight, to be inspired by his fight, and most of all to honor the life he is fighting for and the life he will win back because he is that strong… at 8 years old.
So, I’m doing what I can do to help him. I’m dedicating 6 months of my life to train and raise money and ultimately, to race in the Lavaman Triathlon on April 6, 2008. It is an Olympic distance triathlon (.93 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and 6.3 mile run).
What can YOU do to help?
Grab your credit card and your mouse (or keypad for those of you on laptops) and click on the donate button. It is that simple and easy for you to take a step (and even the smallest steps help) toward finding new treatments and even cures to help Evan and thousands of other children and adults who suffer from blood cancers. If you are uncomfortable donating online and would prefer to send a check, simply email me at rjpowder@yahoo.com, and I will let you know where to send the check. All donations are tax deductible.
Thank you for your support!
In 2006, LLS invested $61.6 million in research on the genetics and development of blood cancers, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, and clinical drug trials. Each participant in TNT commits to a minimum goal in fund raising, of this 75% goes to research and 25% supports training and participation in marathons, half-marathons, cycling centuries, and triathlons (half-Ironman, Olympic, and sprint). Many participants surpass their minimum goal—the great thing is that 100% of funds raised above the minimum goes to support research. My minimum goal is $5400; with your help, I’m hoping to complete my personal goal of $7500.
$2000 pays for a one month supply of Gleevac (chemotherapy).
$400 pays the 20% co-pay on a month’s supply of Gleevac.
$300-$400 pays for transportation for an out-of-state bone marrow donor.
$240 pays for parking for 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments at UCLA.
$100 pays for 10 Kaiser visit co-pays.
$90 pays for parking for 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments at Children’s Hospital.
You can check on Evan's progress by visiting:
Evan The Warrior's Carepage
You can check on my progress by visiting:
Joy's Training Blog
