Dear Friends and Family, 

I am walking a half marathon to help and honor two very good friends of  mine.  Kevin and Kendel Stenstrom have really shown me what it is like to face adversity head on with grace and courage.  Seven years ago Kevin was diagnosed with melanoma.  Test came back and showed that it had spread to his lymphnodes.  They did surgury to cut out the melanoma but since radiation and chemotherpy do not work on melanoma they knew that it would return someday.  Two years ago it did.  The doctors cut it out again and they hoped that, that would be it.  Less than a year later the cancer returned which was very bad news.  It meant the cancer was becoming more aggressive.  Kevin started an experimental program called interlukin 2.  Kevin and Kendel refer to it as the Beast.  The drug is only administered in the hospital and suffice it to say the name speaks for itself.  It is horrible and harsh but his only chance to possibly beat this cancer.  Only 15% of patients respond.  Luckily Kevin's body has been responding.  We hope it will keep responding and kill off all cancer cells. Kevin and Kendel have three children ages 11,9 and 5.  They are an amazing family who through it all have kept the faith and their love for each other strong.

I am walking to raise money so that a real cure, that works in a larger percent of the population, can be found.  We all are in the sun all of the time.  We need to attack this problem the way breast cancer has been attacked.  Breast cancer is not always a death sentence anymore.  Lets make melanoma the same way.  Whatever you can give would be greatly appreciated.  No amount is to little and you will have my heart felt gratitude for being a part of something so special to me.

Sincerely,

Mia Cranford

 

 

 

 

 

 

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