She’s just a little girl; little girl who should be wondering if there really was a maiden who once escaped from a tower by letting down her hair to a handsome prince. This little girl, however is wondering when her own hair will grow back, and if chemo-therapy can really cure the Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia that has taken away her strength and her ability to live a normal childhood. This child’s name is Canyon.
Her mom recently wrote to me and shared her photo, and her heart. She said “watching a child, your child, endure chemo-therapy for cancer, and only being able to observe from the sidelines tears at your emotions. It is calming to my mind and heart knowing that your team is raising money to assist in research to find a cure for this disease.”
Their story is all too common in Utah, and nationwide. Every five minutes someone is diagnosed with Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma. Every ten minutes someone loses their battle against these cancers. I know some of those people personally. My GM, David D’Antuono, our climatologist, Clayton Brough, his son Richard, and Jeff Mantle our senior audio technician are all now in remission thanks to treatments made available through research. Randy Ortiz, a dear friend, and engineer at ABC 4 was diagnosed with Myeloma. He did not make it. He’s been gone a year now and we still miss him.
ABC 4 has been a long-time supporter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, but this year we wanted to do more. We wanted to raise more money, create more awareness, and hopefully save lives by encouraging early detection, and funding more research and better treatments. I was asked to spearhead the movement by joining the Society’s Team in Training. I was a little reluctant in all honesty. I hadn’t run in years, and wasn’t even sure I still could if I wasn’t being chased by a large creature with teeth. I was, however, willing to try.
Training for my 13.1 miles began in the dead of winter on a frosty morning, well before sunrise at fourteen degrees. The run around Sugar House Park was only three miles but oh, it felt like so much more. I was comforted by the fact that we had great coaches to encourage us and show us how to stay injury free. The next Saturday was easier, and with each run confidence grew. As time progressed, I got to know my teammates: Dianna, who was diagnosed with Leukemia when her baby was just a toddler. She was too weak to hold him, but he would give her butterfly kisses in her sleep. Then there is Marsha, she’s a marathon runner, who was also diagnosed with blood cancer, she says she runs to live. Heather Smith runs for her little boy, he’s a toe-headed pre-schooler that will steal your heart in a heartbeat. He is still in treatment. There are way too many others with similar stories. Then there are my other teammates who were simply running to help, to help people they had never met. Each was raising money as they ran. Friends, families, and business associates came forward to aid in their efforts to fund a cure.
Our goal at ABC 4 was daunting: 30-thousand dollars. We first took our plea online, then on newscasts through the month of May. Thanks to many, many wonderful viewers who gave anywhere from two dollars, to thousands, we were able to achieve and surpass that goal. I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for caring. Thank you for contributing. Thank you for sharing your stories. Thank you.
I am headed off to do my part now. I will run with all of you in my heart. The miles will be shorter, and my feet a little lighter thanks to all of you who care enough to make the dreams of so many come true... including a little girl who just wants to be well enough to dream again. A little Utah girl named Canyon who now knows that there is a legion of support behind her in a state that never stops giving.
