The Shirt
Inspiration from My Heroes
It has been an honor to collect the autographs of my heroes on the Running4 marathon shirt, and whenever fatigue sets in during a 26.2-miler, all I have to do is look down for inspiration.
Running4 Nick
Nicholas “Nick the Brave” Parscale
“There is not a parent out there that is prepared to hear the words “Your child has cancer’. The devastation, heartache and fear take over. Fear of the unknown, fear of the pain your child is in, fear of the financial burden that you have heard about but could have never experienced. The whirlwind of emotions that you have are like no other but most of all, you just want your child to be okay.
While there are no good words to help the parent, I want to tell you about two organizations that aid in this extraordinary time of need: BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope and Rock Chalk Roundball Classic.
My son, Nicholas, was diagnosed with a pinealblastoma on July 9, 2016. Immediately BabyJay’s found out about him and reached out, offering support. From financial aid to gift cards at Christmas to a shoulder when I needed it most, they were there for me, often before I knew I even needed the help. The kindness and the outpouring of love from all in this organization was amazing to me. As the years passed and we went on the journey of cancer with Nicholas, the BabyJay’s organization was there for him and for us as a family every step of the way.
Because of BabyJay’s, we had an opportunity to learn about The Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, a yearly event that honors kids with cancer. Nicholas was chosen as one of the Starting Five in 2019 and to say that it was nearly the highlight of his life is not far off the mark. The event, the people, the players and everything associated with Roundball was focused on his needs, the cancer patient.
The financial gift we received from this fabulous weekend allowed our family to pay bills that we had incurred over the course of his treatment and to be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel when there was none prior to Brian Hanni and the Roundball team.
Nicholas earned his angel wings on June 15, 2021. However, the memories we have of these past five years, thanks in large part to BabyJay’s and the Roundball Classic, will help carry us through until we see him again.
Please, know that your donation to BabyJay’s and the Roundball Classic on behalf of Running4 is THE BEST DONATION YOU WILL EVER MAKE.
The funds help an untold number of families to see that light, just like our family did.
Please, take a moment of your time, and make this difference.
I promise, you will never be sorry you did.”
~ Geri Parscale
Running4 Tinley
Tinley Benyshek
“On New Years Eve of 2019, our 4 year old daughter Tinley was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. When a child faces cancer, there are no words to describe the heartbreak. Cancer and the grueling treatments that come with diagnosis rob children of a normal childhoods outside of hospital walls and change family dynamics instantly.
My husband and I found ourselves grappling with what it meant for Tinley to have a blood cancer, what treatments would look like and how we would survive this new way of living. Every single part of our lives changed. I ran an in-home daycare and had to close those doors due to the high risk of infections for Tinley. I became the full time caregiver for her and her younger brother.
The emotional toll of trying to help your child survive and thrive with cancer is a roller coaster and the ever mounting costs associated with a significant loss of income left us feeling helpless in many ways.
We learned that 1 in 9 pediatric cancer families faces bankruptcy and we could have easily been the 1 in 9 as the average treatments for childhood cancer costs upwards of $833,000. Thankfully, through amazing local childhood cancer foundations, our family did not become another statistic.
The generosity of others saved our family from selling our home and has allowed us to focus on healing.
They say it takes a village to raise a child and never have those words meant more to us than they do now.
We are forever grateful for the love and generosity shown to us through the works of BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope and the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic. From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you!”
~ Tia Benyshek
Running4 Grit
Grit Henderson
“What has BabyJay’s and Roundball meant to our family?
When your doctor says the word “cancer” and the diagnosis is your own precious child’s it turns a loving parent’s world upside down. It wasn’t soon after our 3-month-old son’s diagnosis that Erica and Jason with BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope swooped in to provide encouragement and support which has not wavered over the past four years. They understand the difficulties we face because they have been here too. Erica has provided me with a caregiver’s perspective and remained always sensitive to my emotional fragility.
Without hesitation BabyJay’s helped us financially when we needed it most. But the organization goes far beyond financial assistance. BabyJay’s makes a special effort to recognize and honor the brave cancer warriors while at the same time bringing awareness to pediatric cancer.
One of the biggest efforts BabyJay’s puts forth is partnering with Brian Hanni and his Rock Chalk Roundball Classic charity game. The year Grit was selected as one of the starting five was a very difficult one for Grit and our family. Grit had surgery to remove the tumor, his prostate and bladder, ⅓ of his lung and underwent two rounds of radiation all while receiving chemotherapy treatment.
All of that said, the Roundball events were a welcome reprieve. Every year Brian manages to successfully recruit former players from the University of Kansas men’s basketball team in raising money for the five honorees.
Looking back, we would not have financially survived these past four years without the generous gift we received from the charity game. This has allowed us to focus on Grit’s care rather than worrying about how we will pay next month’s bills.
Brian, Erica, and all those involved made this experience extra special for not only Grit, but everyone in our family. I cherish the family photos we took on Media Day and the charity game will forever live as one of the greatest memories of our lives.
For this and so much more, we will be forever grateful to Brian Hanni and BabyJay’s Legacy of Hope.”
~ With gratitude,
The Hendersons
Running4 Sarah
Sarah Emory
“I was hesitant to ask for help when my daughter was first diagnosed with cancer, largely because I did not know what we needed or what exactly we were in for at that point, but I also blindly believed that somehow I’d make it all work on my own because I’d always done so in the past.
I knew of Baby Jays Legacy of Hope and Rock Chalk Roundball Classic prior to my daughter’s diagnosis, but I never understood the impact they had on families until they both came alongside of us and met us where we were at, offering financial assistance, emotional support, prayers and hope.
I never had to seek them out, as they were there following along on my daughter’s Facebook page and ready to help whenever I was ready to receive. As a single parent and caregiver, that meant the world to me.
As we came to know the people behind the organizations, I began to feel less alone in the world and more confident that we would be okay somehow. Not only did they pay my rent and utilities and helped us get back on our feet, but they also restored my faith in humanity.
I sincerely hope that everyone gets a chance to feel the kind of love and support that is offered by the caring and generous people behind these two organizations.”
~ Carah Emory
Running4 Matt
Matthew Martin
“The financial assistance that we’re going to get from the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic this year is going to help me stay afloat and stay on our feet a little longer.
It’s going to help us with my car payments and our house payments.
We are so, so very grateful and thankful and it means so much to us.
And I know that Matthew doesn’t understand the financial burden because I try to let him be a child, but it really is going to make him live a happier life without his parents being stressed out.”
~ Mandy Moore
Running4 Riley
Riley Howell
“Here lately we’ve been kind of struggling to keep food at the house, and then at home trying to keep our electric bill and rent paid has been a huge challenge.
With this Roundball Classic, what they’re going to do for us is be able to get us back on solid ground and not have the huge financial burden and stress from everything.
It’s definitely a huge relief knowing that there’s people out there that’s willing to help support us.
Thank you from the bottom of our heart.”
~ Kristen and Matt Howell
Running4 Briella
Briella Hase
“Hearing once that your child has cancer is scary enough, but then to hear it a second time is devastating.
The Rock Chalk Roundball Classic will help tremendously with all kinds of things. We had to make a couple of trips up to Mayo Clinic, which was very expensive.
We’ve had some help with other organizations as well, but everybody can only do so much. We’ve had to pay for hotels when we were there for a while, gas, just everything adds up so quickly.”
~ Brandi Mae Hase
Running4 Easton
Easton Base
“BabyJay’s has been an absolute game changer and Godsend to our family during Easton’s diagnosis.
They would come visit us while inpatient and just talk with us. This in itself was therapeutic. They provided our entire family with gifts cards over the holidays and have just overall been a fantastic foundation!!
Being a part of Roundball was an experience we will never forget and filled us with hope!! It provided much relief during a dark time in our lives.”
~ Chalene Skinner
