“The mind has exactly the same power as the hands: not merely to grasp the world, but to change it.” – Sidney Sheinberg
Life Members continue to ‘be the change’ that the world so desperately needs. That said, I never tire of hearing stories of people doing good. The Life on Life Initiative is all about making a difference in society for people who need it most. That is why we are proud to feature this fun and heartwarming story of a team of people who gathered in Wisconsin and Illinois to raise money for a very worthy cause. Check out the story, written by Steve Sager:
Life Members Participate in a Warrior Dash to Benefit St. Jude’s Hospital
In 2010 the first event, called the Great Urban Race, formed a partnership with St. Jude to help raise funds for proton therapy to help cancer patients. That race is now named The Warrior Dash, which takes place all over North America.
Since 2013, these yearly events have raised over $12.5 million dollars to help fund a $25 million dollar facility named the “St. Jude Proton Therapy Center.” This facility officially opened its doors on December 14, 2015. Proton therapy is the most advanced form of radiation technology available to cancer patients because it allows doctors to precisely target cancerous cells with high doses of radiation while sparing nearby healthy cells and vital organs located beyond the tumor. Proton therapy offers a great benefit for children with brain tumors and other cancers treated with radiation therapy, as it reduces harm to the child’s developing body and lessens the risk of secondary tumors later in life.
A person who signs up to participate in the Warrior Dash understands ahead of time that there will be physical challenges on the 5 kilometer obstacle course. Yet, the greatest challenge is the mental one, as is always the case in any battle that we face. Whether it’s fighting cancer, climbing over a muddy-wet wall, or jumping over a blazing fire, the primary motivator to finish the race varies from person to person. However, in the end, we have all been given the power to make a difference in our life and in the lives of others.
Several Life Members were willing participants for this Life on Life event, which took place in two locations – Illinois and Wisconsin. Together we helped raise $1,000 to donate to St. Jude’s!!
“This Life on Life event gave me the opportunity to help the kids of St. Jude. My Husband and I want to adopt a child in the near future with health challenges, so any cause that helps children is close to our hearts.” – Kimberly Maly (Life Member)
“I love participating in fun and a challenging Life on Life events that I can do with my friends. It motivates me to do more for my community, while also supporting a great foundation like St. Jude’s. We hope more people choose to participate next year so that we can raise more funds for the kids being treated!” – Dana Blakely (Life Member)
What also made this event so enjoyable was that it didn’t matter what your age or physical condition was, or even how fast you were. The purpose was to finish the race while raising money for a good cause with your teammates right beside you. Even if we got a little dirty, giving up a few hours of our day to have fun and make a difference was worth it!
Life is proud to have Members who care so much about helping others. Thank you to everyone from the Stealth United Forces organization who participated in the Warrior Dash to support St. Jude’s Proton Therapy Center. Your sacrifice truly made a difference!