Charlie was 11 years old and so excited to start baseball for the first time in April of 2021. He had never played baseball and was swinging the bat every chance he could. By late April his side was hurting and he was bending over to take breaks from the discomfort while fielding pop-ups. Naturally, I didn't think much of it.  On May 1st we had a party at our backyard park in Arden Hills.  All the kids were running and jumping while Charlie sat in a chair nearby, out of breath and energy.  His mother feared something was significantly wrong after identifying changes in his skin that day.  On May 2nd, after an initial consultation with the urgent care doctor, blood tests showed something was indeed very wrong. Late that night, just before midnight, we understood he had some type of leukemia.  

Charlie's life story has a pre May 2nd, and a post May 2nd.  Post May 2nd, as unlucky as he was to have developed t-cell leukemia, he was a uniquely gifted and intelligent 11-year-old fighter and soon to be survivor.  Our family was onboarded into a world we never wanted to be a part of, but  became so thankful that world at Children's Minnesota existed.  We'll never be able to thank the nurses and the doctors and all the people that work there enough.  We are grateful for our community's support and in awe of the research that paved the way to destroy leukemia and save the lives of kids like Charlie.

The money you give whether it's $10 or $20 or $100 will go towards assisting the families that must enter the world of the children 's cancer and blood disorders department.  From parking bills to helping the families that can't pay their other bills, the funds go to families when they need it most. 

By the time we run the twin cities 10 miler in October, Charlie will have finished his treatment, scheduled for September 27th, after a 3 year, 4-month journey, leukemia free.  

THANK YOU,

Charlie's proud dad

(Spoken into the phone, June 29th, 2024)