May 18 08
Throughout this painful journey, we have come to meet so many nice people. One family that God has brought into our lives is the Lewandowski family. Michael Lewandowski, the Dad (and a Salesianum alum), passed away following a battle with cancer. The Lewandowski children, Alicia and Brandon, have started an organization called “Kids Kickin Cancer” and they will be holding their 2nd Annual 5k this Wednesday in Wilmington, DE. Please pray for good weather for them and come out and support Alicia, Brandon, and Renee (Mom) on Wednesday. For more information about their organization, please visit www.kidskickincancer.org. The key details are as follows:
Race Time: 6:30 PM (Registration opens 5:00 PM)
Location: St. John the Beloved - 907 Milltown Road (Rear Parking Lot)
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We’d like to give a very big ‘thank you’ to Ali’s classmates at Ursuline Academy. They raised $2,000 from sales of B+ gear and donations. Simply amazing! Thank you Maria Agra, Ms. Kane-Smith, and everyone who supported this effort. What you did will have a significant effect on families in need! THANK YOU!
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As you know, medical research is one of our objectives. The bottom line is that too many people - children and adults- are suffering and dying. We must do more. Period! As I said last week, my friend Denni Ferrara (head of the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware www.lrfde.org) and I toured the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research (NCCCR). There is some really exciting work being done. We’ll keep you updated as go further into our discussions.
I had the privilege of speaking to the Delaware and Central PA Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training (TNT) folks yesterday at their pasta dinner prior to today’s Delaware Marathon. I shared with them the story of a group of young kids that I spoke to last June. I asked “which one of you guys is going to cure leukemia?”. One girl’s hand shot up. I then asked “who knows what polio is?”. They all looked blankly at me. I told them that my hope and prayer was that someday, when they were older, they would ask the question “who knows what leukemia is?” and they would get a blank stare in return. God willing, we will get there soon!
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 months since I’ve seen my buddy. I miss hearing his voice, hugging him, watching Phillies games with him, seeing he and Ali hanging out, seeing him hug his Mom with the best hugs ever…I just miss everything about him. Life will never be the same! I know it doesn’t make sense, but I wish there was a way that we could spend even just 1 hour with him once a year. (And, you know what I mean…here in person, physically.) As I left the gym at his old grade school tonight after playing basketball, I felt like I hit a brick wall when I looked down and saw his face on the plaque in the ground at his tree. It’s still so hard to believe that it’s real.
Please make it a good week. Good luck to all the students, like Ali, who are taking final exams this week.
Live Like Andrew - try your best, that’s all anyone can ask of you.
B+
Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad