SpencerWon

We are planning a cancer advocacy event here in Austin in September and need your help. Please visit the Spokes of Hope LIVESTRONG Army Austin signup page to join us.

In September, 2009, we are going to hold an event to send bicycle riders on their journey to Washington, DC, where they will join cancer advocates from all over the country in a day of visits to Representatives and Senators to promote improvements in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Riders from all over the country will be participating in other local Spokes of Hope events all leading up to the October 2, 2009, LIVESTRONG Day.

Currently, we are in the very early planning stages and this is your opportunity to help shape the event. We need people who can help locate an appropriate venue, contact potential sponsors, ride (or recruit riders), recruit participants in the kickoff event, and assist with other logistics. We are planning this as a small ride with the event focused on cancer diagnosis and survivorship. Please join Spokes of Hope LIVESTRONG Army Austin signup right now.

Mashable is doing a fundraiser to fight leukemia. The have partnered with 12 Seconds to do 12 to fight leukemia. Spencer just did his:

#teammashable 12seconds Charity Challenge on 12seconds.tv

If you had the chance, what would you say to cancer?

On January 21, Spencer and I got to head to East Austin and drop into a cool little studio to do some filming for a LIVESTRONG Challenge promo. Today, the results are out.

We’re up for a Challenge in Seattle in June and another Challenge in Austin in October. Are you up for Challenge? My nine year old leukemia survivor son is targeting 90 miles in October. Seattle is part of training, either 70 or 100 depending on the course and which bike(s) we bring. By the time he’s twelve, he’ll probably want to do all four. Sign up for a Challenge today. See you in Seattle or Austin.

In October of 2004, I was in the hospital with my four year old son explaining that chemotherapy would make his hair fall out (and make him sick and make him fat, but those are stories for another time) and he just didn’t quite believe me. I offered to shave my head when his hair started to fall out and somehow that made him both believe and feel better about it.

A year later in 2005, his hair was just starting to grow back when he announced that he wanted to shave his head to help other kids with cancer. In March of 2006, he participated in St. Baldrick’s for the first time. St. Baldrick’s raises money to fund the fight against pediatric cancer. They fund fellowships to train new oncologists and research to help find and improve cures.

Improving cures is a big focus for me. Spencer had it “easy”. He went through three years and two months of chemotherapy to treat his acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He had side effects including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight gain, loss of coordination, and a weakened immune system. His immune system weak beats mine strong. He was hospitalized twice during his treatment with a fever. Both time it resolved quickly without complications. Other kids spend months in the hospital and return frequently. Long term effects of the chemotherapy can include bone necrosis (a fancy word for death - the chemo can kill bones), learning disabilities, and (my favorite) cancer. Kids who have radiation (which Spencer did not have) and chemotherapy are more likely to get a second cancer over the next 30 years.

So for us, “March Madness” isn’t about NCAA round ball, it’s about an annual right of renewal. We go baldly into Spring. We shave our heads to celebrate life and to raise money to fight pediatric cancer. Please join us in the fight against pediatric cancer by making a donation to shave Spencer’s head or to shave Rob’s head.