For many years, cancer has affected me and many of the people in my and my extended families. Luckily, as far as I know, there hasn't been anyone with diagnosed with childhood cancer. My Dad died in 1990 of colon cancer. He was diagnosed in 1980, so, at the time, that was long time to live with colon cancer. My Mom also had cancer. She had a benign cancer in the roof of her mouth. It was removed, and she was fitted with a dental obturator so she can be understood when she speaks. Thanks to God, she is still alive.

I have also have many friends and family members who have been diagnosed with cancer who beat it, some who are still fighting it, and, unfortunately, some that were taken from this world way to early.

Myself, I was diagnosed with late stage testicular cancer in 1995. The cancer had spread to my lymph system. I was receiving five different types of chemo for five days, and then rested for a couple of weeks, receiving one chemo treatment on the Wednesday following the treatments; I did this four times. Then while waiting to get a CT scan, my right foot was falling asleep, and all the tapping in the world couldn't wake it up. Once the numbness had reached the middle of my shin, I called for a nurse. Apparently, I went into a grand mal seizure caused be a tumor on the left side of my brain. The tumor was not brain cancer, rather, it was a metastasis from the original cancer. The tumor was removed, and three more courses of chemo, and 25 days of radiation to my head, I am close to being a 25-year cancer survivor.

This is why I am raising money for children's cancer research. I hope that someday all cancer will be eradicated. I also feel that children should never have to suffer through the ravages of cancer; they are simply way too young.