休士頓警察局自行車接力隊
此一車隊已成立33年,但並非為運動目的而設,而是為了籌募血癌、淋巴癌等重大疾病經費而設立。活動中由該局員警40人與患有重大疾病家屬共同騎乘腳踏車募款,截至目前為止,該局已成功籌募550萬美元的經費,作為防治疾病用途。
這是提升警察形象的重要作法,值得台灣參考。
2014
Houston Police Department Bicycle Relay Ride
Over
the past 33 years, the Houston Police Department has supported LLS by hosting
an event in which officers from all over the city participate in a bicycle
relay ride. In order for officers to participate, they are required to raise at
least $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission.
This
year, approximately 40 officers will leave from Discovery Green Park in
downtown Houston and head to Tacoma, Washington on their bicycles,
fundraising for LLS and the hope to one day cure blood cancers for good! They
will leave for their 2,000 mile journey on June 17th and arrive in Tacoma on
the morning of June 24th. During the course of their ride, they will have
vans accompanying the bicyclists for rest periods, water, snacks and First Aid
if necessary. The riders switch off over the course of the week to
prevent exhaustion.
Including
the donations from last year, the total contributions given through the Houston
Police Bicycle Relay Team have exceeded $5.5 million. Because of generous
giving like this, continuing research has resulted in survival rates for the
most common form of childhood leukemia rising from 4% in 1960 to 90% in 2010!
Further, leukemia researchers pioneered and developed most major cancer
treatments, including chemotherapy, transfusion and radiation therapies, bone
marrow and stem cell transplants- all made possible by donations given by The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Leukemia research is looked upon as the window
to the cure of all cancer!
You
can help the Houston Police Department arrest these blood
cancers by making a donation towards the fundraising goal of the HPD
Bicycle Relay Team by clicking HERE to donate to a rider or making a General
Donation!
Just the facts about the HPD Bicycle Relay:
- The 2014 Bicycle Relay
marks the 33rd anniversary of this event.
- Approximately 40 men and
women from Houston Police Department will ride as well as other civilians
closely associated with leukemia, such as patient family members, doctors
and survivors..
- Previous destinations
include Alaska (2 times) Canada (9 times) California, The White House,
Maine, and most other places in between..
- Each member of the relay
team wears a special "dog tag" bearing the name of an honored
patient/survivor to help encourage them throughout this trip.
- The HPD bicycle relay team
has been commended by former President Bush in his "thousand points
of light" program for their efforts and for helping to improve the
overall quality of life.
- In the past 32 years,
participants have raised over $5.5 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society and have pedaled almost 72,000 miles!
2014 HPD Team:
For
more information about the 2014 relay ride, contact Alex Franklin at
alexandra.franklin@lls.org
Donate
to a Rider
Make
a General Donation
or
send your tax-deductible donation to
The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 5433 Westheimer, Suite 300 Houston, Texas 77056
Why
we do it:
It
all started for me in June 2010 when I jumped in the shower to start my day
with a 6 A.M. roll call. While in the shower I noticed a lump had developed
under my right arm pit from one day to the next. There was no pain or
discomfort, and I trusted the Internet to have all the answers. I learned that
this was common for individuals who are fighting a body infection; I had just
begun my annual summer sinus infection a couple of days before. I waited a week
or two trying over the counter medications, but the continued residual effects
of the infection persisted and I finally made an appointment to see my personal
family physician. After my visit, it was determined that the cause of my
discomfort was my annual sinus infection, but my doctor was not comfortable
with the lump under my arm pit. He prescribed antibiotics and referred me to a
general surgeon to have it examined. That visit went well and the general
surgeon wanted to remove it for safety reasons and testing, resulting in a
scheduled surgical date for the following week. By Friday night, I thought I
was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic that was given to me, which
was causing a rash and difficulty breathing when I exerted myself. I
immediately stopped the medication and stuck it out through the weekend,
visiting my doctor first thing Monday morning. After a brief visit, I was sent
to a local emergency room for more extensive testing.
Preliminary
results from the emergency room showed I had a large buildup of fluid around my
right lung, an unexplained large mass on the right side of my chest and
remaining uncertain lump under my right arm pit. I was admitted to the hospital
and after several days of testing, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Acute
Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Doctors explained that my form of Lymphoma was a very
aggressive form of cancer that had already spread into my bone marrow, but had
not reached my spinal fluid or brain. As a result of this aggressive form of
cancer, my chemotherapy treatment would also be administratively performed in
the same fashion. The large amounts of chemotherapy treatment took a tremendous
toll on my body and has resulted in several months of missed work and the
stereotypical signs of a person going through cancer treatment (i.e. hair loss,
weight loss and body discomfort).
It
is at this time in my life I understand that I must stand strong against this
evil that has invaded my body and surround myself with strong willed family and
friends who will provide the spiritual and moral support I need. I am very
aware that if I had gone through the same treatment just ten years ago, the
results may have taken a very different turn in many different ways.
It
is my hope that we all continue to be advocates for cancer research by
supporting organizations such as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the
Houston Police Bicycle Relay Team.
Sgt.
Jason C. Leal
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