Dear Friends
Twenty-nine years ago, my wife begged me to quit smoking. I called the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. They helped me quit. During the last week in July, I will ride more than 500 miles from New York City to Niagara Falls NY. I am not a medical professional, or a scientist, but I am blessed with the strength and stamina to ride my bike more than 100 miles a day. If Roswell and my Wife did not help me quit smoking, I would have squandered that gift. I am asking you to help me use my gift to fight cancer.
December 23, 2014, my wife Pamela felt a pinch in her right breast. Cancer. My wife fought the disease with the Roswell team. They fought like warriors with love, faith, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Now her doctors say she is cancer free. The love we feel at Roswell makes it different than any other place. Patients help each other. There are hundreds of volunteers, highly trained professionals, a school for scientists, and a research facility. The cures developed there came at the cost of many who did not survive. They are still helping others.
On April 27, 2018 our brother-in-law Page died from esophageal cancer. Our sister Penelope lost her battle with Leukemia on October 15, 2023.
Roswell’s mission is to “understand, prevent, and cure cancer.” The American Cancer Society says more than half of all cancers are preventable. They suggest avoiding tobacco, avoiding obesity, exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, avoiding alcohol, protecting skin, know your family risks, getting regular checkups and screenings. I believe that the vast majority of cancers are environmental. We should also avoid radiation; and man-made chemicals, like fossil fuels, plastics, pesticides, solvents, and others.
According to Roswell, every dollar donated can return $23 in matching funds. I have donated more than $5,000 to my ride so far. I will match every donation dollar for dollar up to another $5,000. My goal is to raise at least $15,000 in memory of Page and Penny and in Honor of my Wife Pamela. That can mean a total of $345,000 for cancer research.
No donation is too small.
Thank you for your generosity and kindness.
Love,
William D. O’Connor
My Personal Blog
Topics