9 Angels 9 Months
Yes, 9 angels over 9 months. With cancer, a child loses an average of 71 years of life, vs. an adult's 15 years. Cancer robs the world of children who would have been a class valedictorian, a teacher, a mom or a dad, a politician or a doctor - maybe the doctor who unlocks a breakthrough in cancer research. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Every 3 minutes a child is diagnosed worldwide. Yet, the federal government only spends 4% of its funds on childhood cancer research. That 4% has stayed the same since Connor's Heroes started 10 years ago! With your help, we can make pediatric cancer a priority!
We started with… some tennis greats
We started with... some tennis greats. Thanks to James Blake, Mardy Fish, Andy Roddick, and the Bryan Brothers, and our amazing corporate sponsor, Anthem, there is research in childhood cancer happening at VCU Massey Cancer Center. In 2007, Blake and Fish played in Richmond for the AnthemLIVE tennis challenge. The following year, Blake and Roddick took on the Bryan Brothers. Over $100,000 was directed to the Connor's Heroes Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. It was what we needed to jumpstart our campaign. We proved that Connor's Heroes was serious about childhood cancer research. Now, six years later, Richmond has Dr. Corey, a research oncologist in pediatric cancer. He is the first endowed chair named for pediatric cancer research in Richmond!
We started with a… song
We started with a... song. Connor absolutely loved Sam Bush and his music when he was going through treatment. Sam is the "King of Newgrass." He plays everywhere and with everyone, including Allison Kraus, Emmylou Harris and (gasp!) Taylor Swift. A cancer survivor himself, Sam was touched by Connor's story. He was even more amazed that Connor, at age three, knew the words to all his songs. Even now, he occasionally calls from the road to ask how Connor is doing. We know him as a friend. Connor still thinks of him as one of his heroes.
Much of what we know about treating adult cancers has been learned from childhood cancer research. Funding childhood cancer research will not only benefit cancer's youngest patients, like Connor and our Heroes currently in treatment, but also Sam and othera adults. Thank you to everyone who's made Dr. Corey and the research fund possible. Stay tuned to find out how you can help us reach an important milestone!
Check out this video of little Connor introducing Sam Bush at Music For Massey concert in 2009!
We started with a… check
We started with... $60,501.40. That was the first amount donated to VCU Massey Cancer Center strictly for childhood cancer research (after our opening grant of $10,000). I remember that moment. Steve and I, along with our board and passionate Hero parents, spent countless hours telling whoever would listen the story of Connor and the other children we met in the hospital. Our passion for making sure no child endures cancer was infectious. People donated. They wanted to help. I couldn't believe the amount we raised. Seeing that amount on that big check is very emotional. This year it's only going to get better! Thank you for being a part of our 10 year history. Because of you, more than 1000 families knew they did not have to face their children's cancer alone!
We started with a… parking pass
We started with... a parking pass. Parents tell us that Connor's Heroes "gets it." That's because we've been there. We know what it is like to navigate the infamous parking deck at the hospital. To wander the halls carrying a child who's too tired to walk after chemo. You bet, when Erin gives a parent a parking pass, she usually receives a hug in return. Same with a gift card for a decent cup of coffee and a nice lunch. Since our start, you've allowed us to spend time with a family. To get to know them. To understand how you can best help when you volunteer or give. Thank you.
We started with… a buddy!
We started with... a buddy. This is a photo of the early days of our Superheroes and Sidekick program. It's of Jillian with her hero, Mireya. Mireya was four years old when doctors diagnosed her with severe aplastic anemia. It was a life-threatening illness whose only cure was a bone marrow transplant. Jillian volunteered for our Superheroes and Sidekick program shortly after it started in 2010. Watching our hero families struggle with the ups and downs of a child with cancer, we realized that brothers and sisters are struggling too. We created the program so volunteers could be a buddy to all members of the family. Thanks to a grant from the Altria Companies Employee Community Fund, the idea became a reality. So far this year, our volunteers spent 220 fun-filled hours as sidekicks.
Funding for our Superheroes and Sidekick Programs allows us to train a volunteer as a buddy to a hero or his/her sibling. You commit to spending at least four hours a month with him or her doing fun things like going to the movies, a baseball game or spending an afternoon at the park. To volunteer in this wonderful program, tell us about yourself by filling out our application.
We started with… a backpack
We started with... a backpack. Connor gave out the first Heroes Backpack to his best friend, Owen. He filled it with toys, stuffed animals and many Legos - Owen's favorite! That one backpack launched our first program, Heroes Bags and Backpacks. We officially started in January 2007. Since then, you allowed us to give Heroes Bags and Backpacks to more than 1000 families who are in treatment at Children's Hospital of Richmond and with VCU Massey Cancer Center. With each one, I remember one of our first angels, Owen. He will always be a dear friend to my family. Thank you for allowing us to make sure that no child faces his/her cancer alone.
We started with… a family!
We started with a family: The Hardy Family in Fredericksburg. Little Josh, just 9 months old and diagnosed with stage 5 malignant rhaboid tumors, was the first patient to officially register with Connor's Heroes. Josh's journey with cancer is an incredible story. Not only has he tackled a rare, aggressive cancer, a bone marrow transplant, an adenovirus, tracheotomy and dialysis, but his parents took on the FDA and a major pharmaceutical company. Josh is still battling and he and his family continue to show incredible superhero faith. Since Josh registered, Connor's Heroes has helped more than 1,000 families. You can learn more about this amazing family in this recent article.
Meet Black Beulah
Her name is Black Beulah. She's a 33-year-old beauty. She's sporting rockin' rocker boxes, upswept fishtail exhaust pipes, rippled tail lights, ribbed rear fender and a ton of other custom-made features. She could be yours! Black Beulah is the motorcycle built by our friends hosting this year's Heroes Run III. On September 11, you could be riding off the parking lot of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery on this! Purchase your $25 voucher on the Connor's Heroes website. Joe, Justin, Rudy, and friends will donate the money to Connor's Heroes! The website, Chop Cult, featured Black Beulah. Here's an excerpt on how Joe and Justin came to be involved with Central Virginia's childhood cancer community. Read the complete article with detailed photos of the bike at www.chopcult.com
Back in early 2014, my phone rang and a new friendship began. Justin Spears was on the other end, asking for support with a new project, called Heroes Run, which he was spearheading with his longtime friend, Joe Davenport. The Heroes Run has grown over the past two years, thanks to the supporters and companies that have donated to the cause. Every cent raised by Justin, Joe and their awesome group of volunteers goes to the Connor’s Heroes Foundation, which gives support and companionship to families who have children battling cancer. What started as a meet and ride has turned into an event that has produced two bikes which have been donated the cause. This concept works for all as it brings people together for the greater good, someone in attendance rides off with a kick-ass bike, and Connor's Heroes receives the revenue. Last year Justin built a 1983 HD sportster that he named “Ol' Grammy,”and he just completed another home run, dubbed Black Beulah, that you see here. I would like to applaud Justin, Joe, and Rudy for continuing to shine the light on Conner's Heroes and for their dedication to the Heroes Run.
Pic cred: Mick Anders Photography
We started with… a boy
We started with... a boy. A sweet, 22-month old boy named Connor. My oldest child. What I thought was a persistent ear infection was actually Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. Doctors told me that it was the "good kind" w/ a high rate of survivorship. No cancer is the "good kind." For the next 2-1/2 years, we spent days and nights in and out of the hospital, clinic, and emergency room. Finally, on March 7, 2006, Connor finished treatment. Our journey with Connor's cancer inspired us to start Connor's Heroes 10 years ago. You allowed us to help more than 1,000 families. We established the only endowment fund at VCU Massey Cancer Center that is dedicated to childhood cancer research. Now, I would say that is more than "good."