Running for Their Lives

Parents all have the same worst fear - something happening to their kids. We all seem to know someone, whether in person or online, who has gone through the devastating experience of having a child with a life threatening illness. And most of us have cried for them, prayed for them, hoped and wished that we could do something to help them. Some of us have walked and marched and fund-raised and donated to help the charities that help these families, all the while trying to fathom the unfathomable - the possibility of losing a child.

Even if we can't understand what it it like, we can imagine it - while we don't intimately know the worry and pain and terror, the mere thought of it brings tears to our eyes - sympathy for the children themselves, for the parents, for the siblings who don't understand.

But if you thought that having a child with a life threatening illness was the worst thing a parent could endure, just imagine if you had it happen to two of your children. At the same time.

That's what happened to Laura Boyd, back in 1999. In mid-December 1999, the unthinkable happened - her son Adam was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. And then the just a week later - the even more unthinkable happened - her daughter Amanda was diagnosed with Stage III Neuroblastoma. One moment, they were a normal family, getting ready for Santa to visit and the next, they were a family going through every parent's worst nightmare TIMES TWO.

Amanda is now a healthy, happy teenage girl. But sadly, Adam lost his battle on January 8, 2004. And since then, Laura has made it her life's work to raise awareness and support of The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation. It is her sincere hope that one day, no one will ever have to endure what her family did, and if her work helps contribute to that goal, then it is not in vain.

So what does she do?

She runs.

She runs to raise money. She runs to raise awareness.

She runs for their lives.

She started a running group, which has developed into Team Odyssey. And on May 15th, Team Odyssey will be running in the Pittsburgh Marathon to help The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation help families like her own.

If you have a few bucks to spare, visit Team Odyssey's donation page and help them reach their goal.

Here is a segment on Pittsburgh Today Live that featured Laura and Team Odyssey (and another parent running for the same cause):



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