16,726 yard run

Kris,

Thanks so much for your kind words. It really makes all of the work worthwhile knowing that we have support like yours.

Let me clear up just a few things that might be helpful. First, we have contacted the Payton Foundation. I talked with their director last year. We’ve read through their materials and looked at their numbers and talked about them at several board meetings. Does the foundation mind if any of you want to participate in the run/walk activities…absolutely not. What you want to be mindful of is the fact that the Payton Foundation does not do any research on cholangiocarcinoma. They have two wings of research, one does research for children’s cancers and assistance in that area and the other does “alternative” research. So any money you raise and anything that you do will go to their chosen causes.

Will we ever work with the Payton Foundation? Possibly, it really depends on what happens in this next year or so. As you all know Marion is involved at the NIH, this is very important as we are able to participate in ground level decisions that will affect research and research dollars going to cholangiocarcinoma. We hope to find an advocate that will be able to participate at the NCI for this same purpose. So, that we are working all possible avenues of research dollars for cholangio.

We are looking at a proposal right now that will continue funding for a young researcher who is focused strictly on cholangiocarcinoma. We are working with another foundation made up of Dr’s and researchers, they do not focus on advocacy at all. However, they can not get funding through the government without advocacy so we serve different purposes, but together we hope to make some wonderful things happen – however we want all the monies that we grant to be used strictly for cholangiocarcinoma, this is where our passion lies and this is where our focus will remain.

We will be participating in a symposium in April this coming year, which will be bringing together the best and brightest minds in cholangiocarcinoma in the US. We’ve want to work together to drive what is happening here in the US and we’ve got to get major cancer centers to work together. Next year we will open the symposium to the world and this is where things will really begin to happen. Once the US can come together and work together we will reach out to Asia, S. America, the UK, everywhere… Can you imagine?

We’ve just finished translations of our first brochure in Japanese and Spanish, they will be on the website soon and will be downloadable. The Thai version will be coming in the next few weeks. We hope to begin translation of informational pages of the website in the next few weeks as well, first in Japanese and then we’ll follow with other languages. We will also be doing general updating of all the pages.

There is a lot to do, but we are committed to making sure that you find the information you need and that you also find the support you need. We appreciate so much all the volunteers who are assisting us to make this happen, we certainly couldn’t do it without you.

Much love to you all

Stacie

You are right MArion. We can only represent ourselves, not the foundation. BUT, I do think someone from the foundation should get intouch with them about submitting something for the program and getting signed stuff for an auction. Raising awareness is so important…not for the any other reason than those patients who dont know about the foundation and are missing the love, support, and information that this forum offers. I cant imagine going through this without the forum the foundation supports. It has truly been a godsend and to think that there are people out there who dont know where to turn for knowledge, experience and support is heartbreaking.

In my prayers, I often thank God for Mark Clements family and the foundation. So many people came before them, suffering this disease. Yet, there they were in their darkest time as a family and did the most amazing thing and started this foundation that has come to mean so much to so many of us. Then there were people like you Marion, who lost loved ones and help to carry the flag. This foundation offers so much to us who feel alone, hopeless, and are left questioning doctors who often have no experience with this cancer. It isnt that I am glad your loved ones got this cancer, just that you had the strength and the foresight to organise and administer this foundation. That is what is amazing and you guys need to toot your own horn. Because this foundation has made a difference, will continue to make a difference and the more people who know about it the greater the ripple will be.

I hope I am not coming across as too bossy or melodramatic. Take it as a compliment that this foundation means so much to me and the warmness of the forum makes us all feel a certain “ownership” (wrong word, but cant think right now of a better one) to the foundation. You guys have us all lined up, as an army, waiting to do battle and help.

Kris

Ideas are great! Is it time for an action plan? How many could be in Chicago for the game day? Who will write the piece for the program? How many letters should be written to the team? Who should be addressed at the team? Who will write to the Payton Foundation? Lots of questions, but if we are going to get something done by November 1, shouldn’t we start now? I copied info from the Payton Foundation Website here. Since there is a name and e-address for an events planner we might want to start there, with Nancy Wilson, at end of copied info.
WCPF Phone Number:
847.605.0034
WCPF Email:
Information@Payton34.com
Fax Number:
630-552-7618

Postal Address:
1905 Marketview Drive, #234
Yorkville, IL 60560
(Letters & Small packages/boxes may be mailed to this address)

WCPF Warehouse
(Space donated by Leader Express)
Wood Dale, IL 60191

WCPF Staff:
Connie, Jarrett & Brittney Payton – WCPF

Kelly Woods – Director WCPF

Nancy Wilson – Office Manager & Event Coordinator
Nancy@Payton34.com

You want something big….Perhaps someone from the foundation could contact the Chicago Bears. November 1 is the 10 year anniversary of Walter Payton’s death AND the Bears play a home game that day. It would be wonderful for there to be a small article on cholangiocarcinoma and the foundation in that games program. Perhaps there could be collection boxes at consession stands and at the entrance. Perhaps the organization would LOVE to make a tax deductible contribution that matched the donations. Maybe the foundation could have a booth at the game. Maybe the team could donate signed items to sell or auction. I know it is short notice, but we have some amazing members who could get it together if the team agreed.

I think the 10 year anniversary of his death should be played on. Yes, it is mercenary and bad form, but sometimes that is just the way it is.

When the Olympic torch makes its way to the olympics, it is done as a relay. I doubt many people who come here regularly have the resources for a months-long event, but if the section for each individual involved only took a day, many of us could. Might be an organizational nightmare and we would need quite a symbol to carry as well as a great destination. If each participant were a patient or a primary caregiver honoring one specific patient, a log or diary of the event with signatures/stories from all, maybe including news reports from the towns visited, could be an ongoing marketing piece. Maybe even 3 simultaneous legs, converging on St. Louis, one from Maine, one from Florida, and one from California? Or could the destination be a famous cancer center?
I would love to be involved with such an event, but I do not want to take the lead in it.

Maybe if we can get everyone on this site to go to Oprah’s website and all submit a show idea for the topic of Cholangiocarcinoma, they will get the point. I just submitted one. It;s really easy and only takes a couple minutes.

Lisa, I was right with you until you asked if anyone was in shape? I always say I am in good shape for the shape I am in!!!! I wrote Barbara, Patty and Tess (they had written to me) that I am taking a breather on this opening the door thing. I would have to represent myself only and IF I got someone who would listen where would I go from there? I aways want things done yesterday and I guess I felt CC can’t wait. If anyone has any ideas feel free to jump in with some advice.