The Reason Behind the Madness

I recently had to write a letter asking for sponsorship. To be honest, I thought I'd pop out a bit of fluff that made me seem like some charitable powerhouse bent on saving the world. Once I started writing, I started thinking about the real reasons why I chose to run the triathlon. The following is why I'm running and why I've chose to fund raise to the American Cancer Society.

I will be running the New York City Triathlon on behalf of the American Cancer Society on July 18, 2010. I am part of the ACS DetermiNation team and have committed to raising at least $2,500 for their cause. My reasons for undertaking this grueling physical competition range from pushing my own physical and mental limits as well as the opportunity to provide support to those who need it in their darkest hours. Even if we don’t know someone personally who has been affected by cancer, we don’t usually have to dig very far into our social networks to find someone who has been touched by some form of this disease. Nobody is exempt from this threat. Cancer affects both the young and the old, across every type of lifestyle imaginable. A few months ago, I met a woman named Karen. Karen was a happily married mother of two with an intense passion for endurance events. She competed in several marathons and triathlons a year. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer three months before a national triathlon competition. If she had decided to put her athletic goals on halt and focus on recovery and treatment, I don’t believe anyone would have faulted her. Instead, she chose not let cancer stop her from attaining her goals. She continued training even through her chemotherapy treatments and eventually completed the triathlon. When she spoke to the group I was with, she said what kept her going was the determination that nothing would stand in her way. Even though she had cancer, she never saw herself as a victim. She never gave up hope, and with that tenacity, she became an inspiration to everyone around her.

Most of us will never know what Karen went through, but her struggle is one of the reason I’ve chose to run for the American Cancer Society. In addition to funding for research, cancer screening, and prevention awareness, ACS provides a practical service for those affected by the disease today. Their network of Hope Lodges provide housing near the nation’s premier cancer treatment facilities for patients currently receiving treatment. Depending on the length of treatment, lodging can cost thousands of dollars that many people simply cannot afford. This service provides hope for those facing overwhelming odds. I believe when you give someone hope, amazing things are possible.

I am asking for your support in helping me raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. I have a personal webpage set up to track my progress in both training and meeting my fundraising goals. Any type of support is welcome and I hope you will join me in their cause. Thank you.

Patrick Satterfield