Cancer Archives - Feed Your Good Dog

13 year-old Emily Kirsche heard of the great work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help children with cancer. She also heard that the hospital relies on donations to keep the work going. So soon after becoming aware of this, she started a fundraising effort. Half way through last October Emily started raising money for St. Jude by asking friends and family for spare change. In no time, she had collected $200.

Emily decided to step it up and reach out to her surrounding community. In a fundraising letter to a potential donor she wrote: I would like to start an organization called ‘Give A Dollar, Save A Life’. I was wondering if you would be able to help me with this by encouraging students to bring in just a dollar (or more if they wish) to help raise money to save the lives of children battling cancer? St. Jude Hospital is a nonprofit organization that treats children with cancer who can’t afford operations. They also have a research program that is trying to find a cure for cancer. It takes a great deal of money for the hospital to do these things. They rely entirely on donations to operate and I would like to be a part of that with your help. Even if only 50 dollars was raised, that would be tremendous.

Due to policies in place, the donor was unable to help. Emily understood and quickly came up with another plan. With the help of her family, she decided to throw a holiday party. By December’s end she had raised over $600. 100% of which will go to help children battling life threatening cancer now, and for research to help those in the future.

Emily sent the money she raised to St Jude’s, and ended her letter to them with this: This has been an amazing experience for me and I have learned so much from it. I will definitely continue to raise more and more money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital each year. I thank you for taking time to read this letter and I hope I have helped.

We think Emily’s effort will help indeed! Congratulations, Emily, on a job well done! You recognized a need and took action to help find a way to fill it. And, as evidenced by your letters, did it with grace and humility! Feed Your Good Dog looks forward to hearing of your future service efforts.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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ACC FOOTBALL TEAMS SUPPORT EWING’S SARCOMA RESEARCH IN HONOR OF #94, BOSTON COLLEGE LINEBACKER MARK HERZLICH

Mark Herzlich Boston College Linebacker

In December, 2008, Boston College linebacker #94 Mark Herzlich was named the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In May of 2009, he disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue. After his diagnosis, Mark began an aggressive treatment and vowed to beat the cancer and return to the football field someday. On September 24, it was reported that Mark’s CT scan was clean, and the MRI was good. Congratulations Mark!

There are quite a few heartwarming accounts of how different communities have come together in response to the news of Mark’s diagnosis. Two such communities are his own beloved Boston College and ACC football.

On July 30, in honor of Mark, Boston College, together with Uplifting Athletes, held the 1st annual Lift for Life to support Ewing’s Sarcoma research. Uplifting Athletes is a group of Boston College football players working together to raise awareness and funds for rare diseases that attract little attention and, as a result, research for them may not be well funded. As college football student-athletes, they believe they are in a position to make a difference. Lift for Life and the Uplifting Athletes raised over $15,000 that day to support Ewing’s sarcoma research.

Not only are Boston College and its own football players showing support for Mark Herzlich, but so are other ACC football teams.

Clemson and Virginia Tech’s football teams followed suit and have raised, and are continuing to raise, money in support of research for this disease. From a blog post at Herznation, we learned the following:

Before kickoff on September 19, the Clemson Tigers presented Mark Herzlich with a check for $5,000 to aid in the advancement of Ewing’s Sarcoma research. This was an amazing gesture of love and respect for an amazing player and it looks like that trend will continue with Virginia Tech. HD reports that Virginia Tech will be selling “Team United” wristbands leading up to the October 10th showdown with Boston College. VT is hoping to raise $5,094 and present Mark with the check before the game. All money will be going to Uplifting Athletes.

Individuals or groups wishing to purchase a minimum of 100 “Team United” wrist bands can do so by emailing the Virginia Tech Football Office at [email protected]. Checks are to be made out to Uplifting Athletes and no credit card orders will be taken.

It would be great to see this trend continue throughout the ACC. Hats off to the ACC and its players, coaches and schools!

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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