A Few Steps Lead to a Journey
Every person is touched by Cancer at some point in their lives whether it be themselves, a family member, a friend, a coworker, a neighbor. It is an unfortunate truth that Cancer is prevalent in our world, however, knowing this we can each make the choice to step up and fight as hard as possible.
I first learned about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a few years ago when I was managing a Caribou Coffee store in Madison Heights, Michigan. I was approached by one of the workers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Michigan Chapter to see if I could donate coffee to their Light the Night Walk. I decided not only to donate but to walk as well. The first year, we had just seven of us walking together. We didn't really have a team as much as a few people walking together for a good cause. We raised very little money. We decided to return for a second year, but this time I really wanted to create a team of people...I wanted to make a bigger impact. That year, we held a few fundraisers and had more members and wound up as one of the Top Teams in Michigan, raising over $7,000. In 2013, we vowed to start off our third year with a bang. We joined up early on to develop a team of people passionate to make a change and raise money for this amazing cause. Together, we formed Team Megan's Hero. We made our goal higher than the previous two years and immediately compiled ideas for fundraisers. In 2013, Team Megan's Hero raised over $14,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, making us the second place team at the Metro Detroit Light the Night Walk. In 2014, we hope to raise over $15,000.
I first learned about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a few years ago when I was managing a Caribou Coffee store in Madison Heights, Michigan. I was approached by one of the workers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Michigan Chapter to see if I could donate coffee to their Light the Night Walk. I decided not only to donate but to walk as well. The first year, we had just seven of us walking together. We didn't really have a team as much as a few people walking together for a good cause. We raised very little money. We decided to return for a second year, but this time I really wanted to create a team of people...I wanted to make a bigger impact. That year, we held a few fundraisers and had more members and wound up as one of the Top Teams in Michigan, raising over $7,000. In 2013, we vowed to start off our third year with a bang. We joined up early on to develop a team of people passionate to make a change and raise money for this amazing cause. Together, we formed Team Megan's Hero. We made our goal higher than the previous two years and immediately compiled ideas for fundraisers. In 2013, Team Megan's Hero raised over $14,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, making us the second place team at the Metro Detroit Light the Night Walk. In 2014, we hope to raise over $15,000.
The Hero We Walk In Memory Of
We started this walk as a Corporate Team walking as Team Caribou. So, you may ask where Team Megan's Hero came from? Team Megan's Hero is a team dedicated to James Raudabaugh, who passed away from Cancer in 2011. James left behind many who will remember and love him forever...in that group, a sister (Jackie) and daughter (Megan) who are captains of this walk team.
Megan had a very special relationship with her father...though anyone who was close to James had a special connection to him. James was a dedicated family man. Even as an adult, he spent a large portion of his time over his moms house and doing family activities. He was the best son, brother, husband, father, cousin, uncle, and friend anyone could ask for. But what he was best at, by far, was being a father. James and Megan had more than a father-daughter relationship. They had a true friendship. They were bonded in blood and in heart.
James battled Cancer the first time when he was 25. He fought hard and went into remission.
We never expected his Cancer to return. And, when it did return, it came full-force. There were good days, sure...days where we laughed and joked and saw his smile light up a room. Sure, there were days we held promise in our hearts and belief in our minds. But there were bad days as well, and those days came more frequently as that worst day ever approached...the day that James passed away.
It is important to know that James fought. Oh my did he fight. He faced Cancer twice and underwent more chemo, radiation, therapy, and testing than a human being ever should. He became paralyzed when he got Cancer the second time. He got discouraged at times but he was a fighter. He built up strength most he could in his arms and went through learning to move his body, deal with a wheelchair, live a life as normal as possible under his conditions. And he did that all, at least mostly, for Megan. He wanted to make her proud. He wanted to live a great life not for her but with her. He wanted to be her hero.
He was her hero. He always will be.
Megan had a very special relationship with her father...though anyone who was close to James had a special connection to him. James was a dedicated family man. Even as an adult, he spent a large portion of his time over his moms house and doing family activities. He was the best son, brother, husband, father, cousin, uncle, and friend anyone could ask for. But what he was best at, by far, was being a father. James and Megan had more than a father-daughter relationship. They had a true friendship. They were bonded in blood and in heart.
James battled Cancer the first time when he was 25. He fought hard and went into remission.
We never expected his Cancer to return. And, when it did return, it came full-force. There were good days, sure...days where we laughed and joked and saw his smile light up a room. Sure, there were days we held promise in our hearts and belief in our minds. But there were bad days as well, and those days came more frequently as that worst day ever approached...the day that James passed away.
It is important to know that James fought. Oh my did he fight. He faced Cancer twice and underwent more chemo, radiation, therapy, and testing than a human being ever should. He became paralyzed when he got Cancer the second time. He got discouraged at times but he was a fighter. He built up strength most he could in his arms and went through learning to move his body, deal with a wheelchair, live a life as normal as possible under his conditions. And he did that all, at least mostly, for Megan. He wanted to make her proud. He wanted to live a great life not for her but with her. He wanted to be her hero.
He was her hero. He always will be.