Terry Fox Appeal letter
2
Dear Friends, After two outstandingly successful years, with the generous support of the Rotary Club and IIT Madras, the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research is coming to Chennai for the third time. I am writing to you again, for support and encouragement, requesting your generous help in spreading a message of hope. This year we aspire to reach out to a 100 million people about the importance of awareness and early detection saving lives. When I wrote my first appeal, my own life was in peril, my future uncertain. I was in the middle of my intense treatment for cancer. Scientific discoveries, generous supply of blood and platelets and care from well wishers nursed me back to life. Their support allowed me to focus on my studies and brought me to the threshold of a long cherished dream, of attending university. I will be enrolling at Stanford University this fall. Chennai gave me this chance to live, to explore new worlds, a debt I know I can never repay. My sincere hope is that my story will help others face their fears, and look forward to life after cancer. Last year I got a chance to work in cancer research, in the IIT M laboratories. I got to experience firsthand the excitement of following an idea. As well as the crushing frustration when your efforts fail to achieve hoped for results. I was inspired by the dedication of the researchers I found myself with, the way they worked tirelessly, giving up their days and nights for a discovery. Every breakthrough rides on several failures. Scientists spend the best years of their life looking for the smallest of clues. The process is slow and painstaking. I came away from the experience humbled, with a burning desire to support these unsung heroes. Let us strengthen their hands and make them feel it’s not their responsibility alone. I want to share a story of research’s triumph with you. In 1980 when Terry was diagnosed with bone cancer, he had to have his leg amputated. His cancer returned and he died tragically before he could complete his dream of running across Canada. His spirit lives on eternally in everyone who vows to fight this good fight. Five years ago, my friend Peter Bremberg faced the same diagnosis. Surgical advances however meant that while he also lost a part of his leg, they were able to ensure he has retained sensation and the ability to maneuver his prosthetic limb in every way as if it were the one he was born with. Last year another friend Nitin, found he had bone cancer in the leg but now surgery has advanced to the point where he has been able to avoid losing his leg.
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Come join us for the Third annual Terry Fox Run in Chennai and help support this cause.
Transcript of Terry Fox Appeal letter
Dear Friends,
After two outstandingly successful years, with the generous support
of the Rotary Club and IIT Madras, the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research is
coming to Chennai for the third time. I am writing to you again, for support and
encouragement, requesting your generous help in spreading a message of hope.
This year we aspire to reach out to a 100 million people about the importance
of awareness and early detection saving lives. When I wrote my first appeal,
my own life was in peril, my future uncertain. I was in the middle of my intense
treatment for cancer. Scientific discoveries, generous supply of blood and platelets
and care from well wishers nursed me back to life. Their support allowed me to
focus on my studies and brought me to the threshold of a long cherished dream,
of attending university. I will be enrolling at Stanford University this fall. Chennai
gave me this chance to live, to explore new worlds, a debt I know I can never
repay. My sincere hope is that my story will help others face their fears, and look
forward to life after cancer.
Last year I got a chance to work in cancer research, in the IIT M
laboratories. I got to experience firsthand the excitement of following an idea.
As well as the crushing frustration when your efforts fail to achieve hoped for
results. I was inspired by the dedication of the researchers I found myself with,
the way they worked tirelessly, giving up their days and nights for a discovery.
Every breakthrough rides on several failures. Scientists spend the best years of
their life looking for the smallest of clues. The process is slow and painstaking. I
came away from the experience humbled, with a burning desire to support these
unsung heroes. Let us strengthen their hands and make them feel it’s not their
responsibility alone.
I want to share a story of research’s triumph with you. In 1980 when Terry
was diagnosed with bone cancer, he had to have his leg amputated. His cancer
returned and he died tragically before he could complete his dream of running
across Canada. His spirit lives on eternally in everyone who vows to fight this
good fight. Five years ago, my friend Peter Bremberg faced the same diagnosis.
Surgical advances however meant that while he also lost a part of his leg, they
were able to ensure he has retained sensation and the ability to maneuver his
prosthetic limb in every way as if it were the one he was born with. Last year
another friend Nitin, found he had bone cancer in the leg but now surgery has
advanced to the point where he has been able to avoid losing his leg.
Research has brought us this far but we are not stopping here. New
targeted treatments will completely replace existing therapies and all their side
effects. Ground breaking studies into genetics are
isolating what specifically causes cancer to form and this
knowledge gives us something to fight with. Using a new
class of RNA called microRNA we can silence these genes.
Not only curing the disease but as a method of prevention
in those that have a genetic disposition towards it. In the
future cancer treatment will be akin to taking a flu shot.
Please help us support this cause by participating in the event. There is
no registration fee but if you wish to donate please make out all cheques to Tata
Memorial Hospital. The money collected will be used for cancer research.
Yours sincerely,
Akash DubeJune 2011
Run Date ........................................August 21st, 2011
Venue .............................................The Indian Institute of Technology campus Guindy, Chennai
Starting Point ..................................Open Air Theatre (OAT) inside campus
Route map ......................................Attached, length 6 Km
Start time .......................................8 am, Registration booths will open at 7 am
Website(s) ......................................www.terryfoxrunchennai.in
TFI website.....................................www.terryfox.org/cgi/page.cgi/InternationalRun/Run_site_listings.html
Email ..............................................terryfoxrunchennai@gmail.com
NDTV Hindu interview after the first Chennai run in 2009: ...............http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sjaBsbNSfyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eMObHhMY40&feature=related
“Today’s research is tomorrow’s cure, we can do it, together!!!”
- Akash Dube
