I Conquered Twenty-Six Floors for Jan
CLIMB, CONQUER, CURE CANCER!
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 16 secondsToday, I participated in the 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society‘s Big Climb NJ. Despite my age, I climbed twenty-six floors to the top of the Gateway Center in Newark for my wife, Jan, and all those who have been diagnosed with blood cancers, but any cancers. Although I walk daily and do extra stair work, climbing is always challenging. I was surprised to complete the Big Climb in eight minutes and forty-six seconds. But every time I wavered, I remembered the pain my wife suffered, lifted my legs, and persevered.
As I was climbing the stairs today, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. It felt like I was standing beneath a waterfall with no end in sight. I couldn’t help but think about Jan, my beloved wife, who had passed almost three years ago. I knew that crying wouldn’t bring her back, but my heart was heavy with grief and pain.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. I expected to see volunteers mopping up the stairway after me as if I were leaving a trail of sorrow behind me.
My tears were not just for Jan, though. They were for all the people who have been affected by cancer, for all those who have heard the words “You have cancer,” and for all those who have lost loved ones to this devastating disease. Every three minutes, a doctor tells someone they have cancer. Every nine minutes, someone loses their life to it.
When I reached the ninth floor, I paused to catch my breath and wipe away my tears. The “Why I Climb Photos” were on the walls. I looked at my wife’s photo and said the most powerful three words I know in the English language: “I love you.” These words were not just for Jan but all those who have suffered and continue to suffer.
As we find ourselves already a quarter of the way through the 21st century, it is disheartening to acknowledge that we still haven’t found a cure for cancer. However, this doesn’t deter me from my commitment to participating in the Big Climb, an event that raises funds for cancer research. No matter how much my legs might protest, I am determined to conquer this climb every year, even if one day it requires the assistance of my sons. The cause is too important to ignore. I am willing to push through any pain or discomfort to show my support for the ongoing efforts to find a cure for cancer.
CLIMB, CONQUER, CURE CANCER!
Today’s event raised a third of a million dollars, but I still need to achieve my goal. You can still donate to help fund a cure!
