Richard Holmes

 

 

 

HUMANITARIAN AWARD 2010

 

 

Goes to Richard Holmes

  

      In a world with so much to be concerned with, not all things are treated the same. While this seems unfair, that is to often the way it is. One such disease that may fit into this description is a cancer that totals 20% of all childhood cancers, Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas offers fewer treatment options and falls behind in cure rates when compared to other forms of cancer. The survival rate is 30% and those who survive are often left with life long debilitating side effects.

   At five years old Jake Maynard developed this form of cancer, over the next five years Jake went through ten surgeries, hundreds of procedures and a partial foot amputation. He is currently doing well. From this tragedy the Maynard Childhood Cancer Foundation was set up. Its purpose is to fund research for the prevention, treatment and cure of childhood cancers. The foundation also supports quality of life programs for the cancer patients and their families as well as raising public awareness. Books are also provided for cancer patients, hospice patients and their families. These books are age appropriate and deal with coping strategies, pain management, understanding and accepting death. These books are provided free of charge.

   On April 25, his two hundredth marathon, Richard Holmes took up the cause of the Maynard foundation and dedicated this milestone event to try to help the children afflicted with sarcoma. He set a goal of raising seven thousand dollars. Richard struggled through the heat to finish this marathon in Nashville, Richard and those who generously gave exceeded the financial goal that was set.

   A yearly 5k run/walk has been set up to raise funding and awareness for sarcoma, it is called Jake's Reindeer Run, for more information about the event or about the foundation,  visit www.jakesreindeerrace.com/foundation/.

   For the giving of his time and energies to raise awareness and funds for sarcoma Richard Holmes from North Carolina is presented with the 2010 HUMANITARIAN AWARD.

   Congratulation Richard on a job well done.

The amount of awareness raised or the impact that awareness may have on this disease can never be measured. That is giving at its best.

Richard also raised $10,000 dollars for this and beating his goal by $3,000 dollars.

 

By Frank Jobe