Over the past couple of weeks we have shared pictures of NFL Linebacker star Gary Guyton at the CURE Childhood Cancer office as well as visiting childhood cancer patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as part of our Open Arms program. We have been doing a lot of planning and are pleased to announce that Gary will be joining us for the 2012 Lauren’s Run and CURE Annual Picnic! Gary shared with us:
As an individual who has been directly impacted by cancer, it is important for me to give back to those families who are affected by this devastating disease. I have personally experienced the effects that cancer can have on families, having had both of my parents fight and beat it. Through those experiences, I learned how important remaining positive and never losing hope is throughout the process.
When I heard about the great works CURE was doing in the childhood cancer community, for not only the children, but also their families, I wanted to get involved. I understand the array of emotions during the transition, and I can only imagine the additional difficulties that come with it affecting a child. I said to myself I want to help raise awareness to the cause of curing childhood cancer any way possible. I understand that being a professional athlete is a privilege, not a right, and with this privilege comes a responsibility to serving those in need. I am committed to doing all that I can to assist CURE in their powerful mission of helping children and their families live the CURE!
We are thrilled that Gary has decided to join us for the 18th Annual Lauren’s Run! Not only will you have a chance to meet Gary at the race, but you are invited to join his 2K run team: Gary Guyton’s Give2Grow Defenders. Any individual who wishes to join his team must pledge to raise a minimum of $100. On race day, those who have met this requirement will be given a team t-shirt and will get to run alongside him in the 2K.
Gary will also be attending the CURE Annual Picnic where his team members will have a chance to:
- Get in the front of the line to receive a small, toy football signed by Gary
- Toss a football with this Super Bowl XLVI player
To join Gary’s team, simply register for Lauren’s Run, follow the instructions to set up your individual fundraising page, and when asked to select a team, pick Gary Guyton’s Give2Grow Defenders.
For step-by-step instructions on how to register for Lauren’s Run, click here.
To check out – or make a donation to – Gary Guyton’s personal fundraising page, click here.
We are so grateful that Gary has offered time out of his busy schedule to help CURE. We look forward to watching the Gary Guyton’s Give2Grow Defenders team grow over the next few weeks!
Paula is a native of Atlanta and brings a deep understanding of the overall functions of development and the importance of building and enhancing relationships with donors, prospects, and other constituent groups. Prior to joining CURE, Paula worked most recently for several non-profit independent schools in development, marketing communications, admissions, and database administration.
Funding for the NIH supports a massive, vital engine that improves our nation’s health,advances research, promotes medical education, and generates 1,000,000 jobs, in all 50 states. It has been funded at decreasing (flat or sub-inflationary) rate since 2003. Thousands of promising careers, research projects, and laboratories have been aborted or closed down because of this funding crisis. The proposed flat $30.7 billion budget will bring this crisis to a boiling point. Instead, this petition proposes a $33 billion NIH budget for fiscal year 2013.
I was hoping to post good news about Gus’s MRI. Unfortunately, we received some bad news, the cancer is spreading. The tumors that have remained on his spine and scattered throughout his brain have shown some growth. Of course this news is very scary for us and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified of our future. The good news is it is spreading very slowly right now and we have many treatment options. Treatment options include a more aggressive chemo regimen, a new drug in clinical trials specifically designed for medulloblastoma, and proton radiation. 
Copeland’s Buffet for CURE
Sips N’ Stokes is a fun, laid-back art class where all participants go home with an original piece of art. Guided by an instructor, you will go step by step to create your masterpiece. As the title implies, feel free to bring any beverage of your choice to enjoy while you’re creating your painting! Tickets cost $25 each (regularly $35) and a portion of each ticket sold will be donated to CURE.
