Volunteering @ Malia's 5k & 10k Race!
A successful start to the campaign! My partners Jack, Jason, and myself had the awesome opportunity to volunteer a Malia Jusczyk's 5k & 10k Crush to Cancer 2016 race today!
For those who are not familiar with Malia and her story, here is an excerpt from Malia's website:
"On April 1, 2011, it was official: 2 ½-year-old Malia Dakota Jusczyk's carefree life of Disney World and pony rides, soccer practice and swimming pools, came to a grinding halt. A CT scan revealed that Malia's recent "tummy aches" were caused by a large tumor lodged in her abdomen. The solid mass wrapped around major blood vessels and pushed against her kidney and aorta.
A biopsy confirmed that Malia has a very aggressive childhood cancer known as stage IV (high risk) neuroblastoma. The cancer had metastasized into her bones and bone marrow (cranium, humerus, and femur). Immediately after the debilitating diagnosis, Malia's parents, Megan and Glen, left Orlando, Florida in order to provide their daughter with the best treatment currently available to her at the Children's Hospital/Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts.
To survive, Malia's little body had to endure six rounds of chemo, nine hours of tumor resection surgery, a stem cell transplant, removal of a kidney and an adrenal gland, twelve rounds of proton radiation, countless blood transfusions, and immunotherapy.
We are thrilled to share that as of July 2012, Malia has been declared NED (No Evidence of Disease). Yay!! However, since the rate of relapse with neuroblastoma is so high (and since there is no cure once a child relapses), we have entered her in a two-year-long remission trial, which utilizes a medication called DFMO 2/day and includes scans every three months as well as monthly oncology appointments." (Visit the website at: http://maliacrushescancer.com/)
We had met Malia's mother, Megan prior to the race to actually get to learn more about Malia and the hard truth of childhood cancer. She offered us the chance to volunteer at the race, where, we were able to direct runners to the correct route during the race. Something small, we know, but the chance to be there in a fun-filled atmosphere was the best part. Volunteering at the race also gave us the chance to take in the consideration how many came to the race, including: children, elders, companies, business, and many more. It truly shows how a community can come together and help those less fortunate. We hope to have the opportunity to volunteer again next summer!
Pictures copyrighted to: http://www.thesunchronicle.com/gallery/plainville/malia-jusczyk-road-race/collection_07e93194-3b21-11e6-b8dc-2bde8dfbb704.html (TOM MAGUIRE
