A date in Corr History September 29th 1994
• Got a phone call at work from a Nurse at Leicester General Infirmary ( England) that I needed to come home immediately and pick up my 3 year old from Nursery on the way
• Got home with said child, where the Wife (Sandy) told me our new born (Aidan) had tested positive for Cystic Fibrosis
• Subsequent Tests on his big Sister (Anna) confirmed she also had Cystic Fibrosis.
The Rub
• Our lives were changed forever
The Plan
• To do what we need to do as a Family to deal with this disease
• To fight every day to manage and control this illness until the day they find a cure (That day is coming)
The Good News
• Anna is now 20
• Aidan is 17
• They both still live at home (that is sarcasm)
• Life Expectancy for CF patients continues to increase
• Research continues to push forwards to an eventual cure
• Both our kids continue to be incredibly brave in the face of tremendous daily physical and mental challenges ( challenges that we can only try to imagine)
The Bad news
• After 17 years the Battle is taking its toll on all of us
• Money will be the determining factor in how quickly a cure is found
• Even in these tough economics times I am asking you to put your hand in your pocket (Sorry as we know the generosity many of you have already shown over the years – for which we will always be grateful by the way)
The Challanging Bit
I will attempt to complete ‘Iron Man Wales’ Sept 16th 2012 in Tenby Wales (Coincidently our 23rd Wedding anniversary)
• 2.4 mile open water swim (cut off 2:20)
• 112 mile bicycle course (cut off 10.30)
• 26.2 mile run (cut off 17 hours)
http://www.ironmanwales.com
The Request
Is to donate what ever you can, to help fund the research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis
• Through 'First Giving 'to the Boomer Esiason Foundation
The Conclusion
Attempting this race is absolutely about raising both awareness and obviously funds to help in the battle against Cystic Fibrosis, but is also from a selfish perspective about me.
As the kids move quickly into adulthood they are making their own decisions about compliancy to their treatments and how hard they will continue to fight their illness, although this is a healthy natural progression for them , it is very difficult for Sandy and I to let go and not to be as actively engaged in the fight on a daily basis, nagging about treatments, making sure medicines are taken, making hospital appointments, providing a diet to suit CF requirements and so the list goes on.
I had hoped that attempting this race would make this feeling of being redundant easier and still able to contibute daily to their fight
So not only are you helping Anna and Aidan and the whole Cystic Fibrosis community but you are certainly helping Sandy as if I was not doing this I would be even more impossible to live with
The Update
.With less than 4 weeks I have 2 more weeks of hard training before its time to taper down for the race (not actually sure what that means but it sounds good) Recently completed a 1/2 IM in New Hampshire, so at least I know I can swim 1.2 miles 56 miles on the bike and 13.1 miles on foot. (The smell of constant dirty kit, smelly husband and Dad is actually something Sand's and the kids have got use to and I like to think come to enjoy)
In all seriousness I am actually starting to get both nervous and excited as race day approaches and knowing that I could not have prepared any harder is very satisfying (once again thanks to Sandy, Anna and Aidan for their patience during this preparation process
The Really good news, continues to get better as we close in on $10,000 raised and are confident we will rach the magnificent goal of $15,000 - so a big thanks to all who have donated (it does make sweating like a beast and swallowing lots of sea water a bit easier.)
Many thanks for your continued support
Mike
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
(don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!)