Mission

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="044d4c03.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Currently this is no cure for NF and most people have never even heard of it. I wish to increase public awareness of Neurofibromatosis as well as to raise money for research. </B></div> <div> Please send in a donation if you can. The money raised will benefit NF research through the <B>Children's Tumor Foundation.</B> Your generous, <B>tax deductible donation</B> will help to find a cure for NF through intensive scientific research which will lead to clinical trials for drug therapies and other treatments. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Please note:</B></I> Developmental problems and learning disabilities are five times more common in the NF population than in the general population. Accordingly, NF research may benefit an additional 100 million Americans (i.e. 65 million with cancer and 35 million with learning disabilities.)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM"><IMG SRC="05c50220.jpg" border=0 width="80" height="34" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><B>NF TEAM</B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >   |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM">home</A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Introduction">Introduction</A>   |   <B>Mission</B>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Neurofibromatosis?">What is Neurofibromatosis?</A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact me">Contact me</A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Help find a cure!">Help find a cure!</A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest Research">Latest Research</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Event Sponsors Page">Event Sponsor's Page</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Updates on Shannon">Updates on Shannon</A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming Events">Upcoming Events</A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery">Photo Gallery</A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF Heroes">NF Heroes</A></div> <div> Mission</div> <div> I have been told that there is basically nothing I can do except watch and wait. This is not acceptable to me, so I decided that raising money for research is the best way for me to help my cousin and the estimated 1.5 million people worldwide who suffer from (NF) Neurofibromatosis.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >At first I felt sick and helpless but soon I became focused on fundraising ideas and ultimately decided that I would train for a marathon. The training was very therapeutic. Participating in something that would directly benefit Shannon helped me to deal with her condition. It empowered me and I felt that I was able to make a difference.</FONT> </div> <bR> <div> On January 12<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> 2003 I ran<B> </B>in the Disney Marathon as a fundraiser and to help promote NF awareness. I had never attempted anything like this before and I am certainly not a runner. I knew that it would be extremely difficult but that it could not even compare to how difficult it must be to live with NF. I sustained a couple of minor injuries (bruised heals and a sore right ankle) just prior to the event which made for a very long <B>26.2 miles</B> on race day. I was exhausted and hurting but all along the route volunteers and other participants cheered me on. They shouted things like “you can do it, do it for Shannon”. As I grew tired it was the fuel from this encouragement that carried me on. At mile 22 I felt like I had nothing left, but my family and especially Shannon were waiting for me at the finish line. I could not fail them so I pushed on through the last 4.2 miles and made it across. My cousin Shannon is my hero and I ran this marathon to honor her.</div> <bR> <div> I want to thank everyone for praying for Shannon and for their generous donations. The many good wishes and prayers that were received really made the difference. I know that your continued support will help us get through this very difficult time. As for me, I will continue my training, fundraising, and the search for a cure. 1 Marathon down, ??? more to go.</div> <bR> <div> Darryl Chene</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="08284070.jpg" border=0 width="388" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Being an NF Marathon Team member has been an incredible experience. In Disney I was joined by 57 other runners, their families, and support teams. It was a very emotional reunion of a family that had previously only existed "online". That day I made friendships that will last a lifetime. <B>This is not the end, this is the beginning.</B> Thanks to the power of the Internet we are organizing, sharing information, and communicating better than ever before. We will continue to promote NF awareness, raise money, and push the research. </div> <div> We will find a cure together!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18600800.jpg" border=0 width="256" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NF TEAM"><IMG SRC="05c50220.jpg" border=0 width="80" height="34" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>