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Before I begin, I have to proclaim life is so very precious. We all must carry the cross for a time, be it big or small. I've seen my personal Jesus crucified. Now, he will rise again.
Someone very dear to me has been diagnosed with ALS. Her name is Page Parkhill. She was there to care for my mother during her time of need. I am going to extend my care in return. The following is a brief background to my motivation:
My mom passed away in 2005, due to Crutchfield Jakob disease (CJD). I was my mom's only son, and she raised me as a single-mother for a large part of my youth. It's one of those relationships where she was mostly all I ever had to expose me to life, love, and learning. My mom: she was there to take me to my first day of school, she was there when I lost my first tooth, and she was there to teach me how to ride a bike. My mom, Susan, was there through most of my life, until she wasn't.
Within the following months after my mom passing, more sentimental ties would be cut, and I would also lose my hometown home in Champaign, IL. Soon after, in 2008, I lost my grandfather (my mom’s dad, who lived to 100yr!), followed by my grandma (mom’s mom, at 98yr!) two years later, in 2010. In between, I lost my job in 2008, because of the economy. In 2013, my uncle Dave (mom’s brother) would lose his battle to an extremely unexpected, swift thyroid cancer.
At that point, it just seemed like everything around me was exiting from my life without warning, or without closing the door.
Page showed me she cared, by making an effort to stay in my - heart broken and grieving - life. When my grandfather passed, in a room full of attendees, I vaguely can remember more than three people at his funeral service: my Grandma, uncle Dave, and, to my astonishment, Page. For her to be there that day was so touching, it's something a fish couldn't forget.
Page was by my mother's side through her final days, and would often tend to my mother's grave in Champaign while I was away at Indiana University.
ALS is a devastating, wicked disease. I've seen it before in my mother, as ALS and CJD are eerily similar; it's something no one wants to have take over the ones we love, especially when there are many good years of life ahead. Page is a wonderful person who has been kind to others from before the day I met her.
I would like to bring awareness to Page's charitable cause. She is helping others' who suffer from ALS in Champaign, IL. In March, she received the Iron Horse award, through the Live Like Lou Organization, for her efforts in helping others with ALS.
In my support, I am making a monetary donation to Page's ALS Challenge. My hope is some of you might be encouraged to show your support, no matter the size. 100% of funds raised will go towards Page’s ALS Challenge.
In Page's honor, I am now setting off on an epic trek to provide my encouragement and inspiration to Page, her family, and others who may have to witness their personal Jesus suffer under the weight of the cross. I will be traveling through river systems via the Kankakee, Illinois, and Mississippi, until I arrive at my destination: the South Pass of the Head of Passes of the Gulf of Mexico, where I will raise a flag in Page's name, for she is the one true Saint to me.
Feel free to follow my trek on Facebook, and help Paddle for Page.
Someone very dear to me has been diagnosed with ALS. Her name is Page Parkhill. She was there to care for my mother during her time of need. I am going to extend my care in return. The following is a brief background to my motivation:
My mom passed away in 2005, due to Crutchfield Jakob disease (CJD). I was my mom's only son, and she raised me as a single-mother for a large part of my youth. It's one of those relationships where she was mostly all I ever had to expose me to life, love, and learning. My mom: she was there to take me to my first day of school, she was there when I lost my first tooth, and she was there to teach me how to ride a bike. My mom, Susan, was there through most of my life, until she wasn't.
Within the following months after my mom passing, more sentimental ties would be cut, and I would also lose my hometown home in Champaign, IL. Soon after, in 2008, I lost my grandfather (my mom’s dad, who lived to 100yr!), followed by my grandma (mom’s mom, at 98yr!) two years later, in 2010. In between, I lost my job in 2008, because of the economy. In 2013, my uncle Dave (mom’s brother) would lose his battle to an extremely unexpected, swift thyroid cancer.
At that point, it just seemed like everything around me was exiting from my life without warning, or without closing the door.
Page showed me she cared, by making an effort to stay in my - heart broken and grieving - life. When my grandfather passed, in a room full of attendees, I vaguely can remember more than three people at his funeral service: my Grandma, uncle Dave, and, to my astonishment, Page. For her to be there that day was so touching, it's something a fish couldn't forget.
Page was by my mother's side through her final days, and would often tend to my mother's grave in Champaign while I was away at Indiana University.
ALS is a devastating, wicked disease. I've seen it before in my mother, as ALS and CJD are eerily similar; it's something no one wants to have take over the ones we love, especially when there are many good years of life ahead. Page is a wonderful person who has been kind to others from before the day I met her.
I would like to bring awareness to Page's charitable cause. She is helping others' who suffer from ALS in Champaign, IL. In March, she received the Iron Horse award, through the Live Like Lou Organization, for her efforts in helping others with ALS.
In my support, I am making a monetary donation to Page's ALS Challenge. My hope is some of you might be encouraged to show your support, no matter the size. 100% of funds raised will go towards Page’s ALS Challenge.
In Page's honor, I am now setting off on an epic trek to provide my encouragement and inspiration to Page, her family, and others who may have to witness their personal Jesus suffer under the weight of the cross. I will be traveling through river systems via the Kankakee, Illinois, and Mississippi, until I arrive at my destination: the South Pass of the Head of Passes of the Gulf of Mexico, where I will raise a flag in Page's name, for she is the one true Saint to me.
Feel free to follow my trek on Facebook, and help Paddle for Page.
Organizer and beneficiary
Whitney Parkhill
Beneficiary