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Thanks Bisnow for promoting our story

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Thanks for MAVA for inviting me to kick off the fall meeting tonight

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Very cool story from my son at, celebrating 10th anniversary of completing treatment foe leukemia

My life changed forever when I was nine years old. Before I found out about my diagnosis, life was very simple. I got to wake up in the morning, get on the bus, talk with my friends, and basically have no worries. At school I was very social, vibrant and was friends with my entire class. I can...

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Len Forkas is competing in the Leadman challenge this year to raise funds for his nonprofit, Hopecam, which connects children w/cancer to their friends in school

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Hopecam Child Alex Eisenstadt likes the book "what spins the wheel" even though it's a little bit above his reading level

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In 2012 I met Joe Barr competing in the solo division of Race Across America ("RAAM"). Joe is a retired pro cyclist from Northern Ireland.  We passed one another for the first three days of the race until I finally caught up with Joe on the way to the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. I pulled up next to Joe and said "Joe my great grandmother was born in County Mayo, and her name was O'Donnell".  He said "Yea...lots of O'Donnell's from County Mayo".  We talked for 15 minutes and I proceeded up the mountain, wishing Joe and his team well.

Next time I saw Joe Barr was near Wichita KS two days later. He and his crew were standing outside of the RV they had rented and were outside drinking beers and cheering...for ME.  Joe had to drop out of RAAM because hours after I saw him, he was hospitalized.  His Lungs almost collapsed from oxygen deprivation.  He came very close to dying in Colorado.  Here is a guy who was forced to drop out of the race, and instead of driving to Denver and flying back to Ireland, he and his crew members were cheering for other athletes as they drove 2,000 miles east toward Maryland. What a classy guy I thought.

The day after I arrived at the finish line I attended the Race Across America banquet for the athletes in Annapolis and had a moment to say hello to Joe and his crew. He had learned about my charity "Hopecam" and told me that his son had brain cancer when he was a year old, and like my son Matt, he had survived and completed treatment.   He also mentioned that he would like to someday return to RAAM and raise enough money to bring Hopecam to Ireland. Over the course of the past two years I developed a friendship with Joe Barr, and supported his goal to return and race RAAM.  We funded the expense to "Wrap" his follow van with the Hopecam logo and helped him pay for the race registration fees. In exchange any proceeds that Joe would raise in fundraising were earmarked to help launch "Hopecam Ireland".

Our team also supported Joe and Team Ireland with medical supplies from Dr. Allen Delaney, including a tank of oxygen to assist him in the rockies. The Fromm & Ing families hosted Joe and his seven member crew in California at their homes before the race, just as they did for me and my crew in 2012. Susan Koehler Hopecam's executive director and I met Joe at the starting line in Oceanside.  

Each day Joe raced for a child with cancer and called each child during his race day to share with them where he was and why he was dedicating his day to that child. During his race he developed many friendships with these children and their families.  At the finish line at 5:30 pm Saturday June 21st many of these children welcomed Joe and his support crew when he came across the finish line after 11 days and 1 hour of racing 3,000 miles averaging 270+ miles per day, when he placed 2nd in his division.  Monday June 23, Governor Martin O'Malley proclaimed "Race Across America - Team Ireland - Hopecam Day" and Joe has raised to date over $35,000 for Hopecam Ireland. The Photograph in this picture was taken at the finish line by his crew member Rose Mcilhone. 

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Matt is interviewed by Emmy award winner Randi Kaye of CNN. Interview about Hopecam and Matt's climb to Kilimanjaro last summer to raise resources for children with cancer.

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The fifth grade class at Sunrise Valley elementary school in Reston VA likes "What Spins the Wheel"

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Post race celebration with Hopecam children Alex,Chris and Tara celebrating with Race across America solo finisher Joe Barr, who dedicated each of his 11 day bicycle race to children with cancer

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Hopecam child Miss Shannon Eastman celebrates graduation from Shrevewood elementary school last night. She starts middle school cancer free

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Congratulations to Stefano Rocca, Hopecam child honored on day 7 of our race who completed his treatment for cancer TODAY

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Christof Strasser, 2014 record holder and winner of “Race across America” likes the book: What spins the Wheel"

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Spokes Bicycles has invited me to speak 7pm Thursday night in the Alexandria store about the book "What Spins the Wheel" and the Race for Hope, 2012 Race Across America Story. Spokes sponsored the race, helped order two Trek bicycles and all the gear needed to complete the race. 

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Jason Bertsch, head of development at the American Enterprise Institute invited me to share the story of What Spins the Wheel with staff Thursday.

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Ms Gingrich wrote a very nice review of my book this week

http://m.townhall.com/columnists/jackiegingrichcushman/2014/06/12/dive-deep-to-find-the-gift-of-connection-n1850526

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Hopecam child Justin Condoluci was honored in my book during race across America, justin received a bone marrow transplant in September. His donor was his triplet 13 yr old sister. He is recovering and getting stronger every day

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Balfour Beatty Construction's $10,000 honorarium for Hopecam after the presentation of the leadership lessons in "What Spins the Wheel" at its annual team building conference at the Wintergreen resort.