Although none of us had ever been runners prior to the 5K, we were elated to have finished in less than 38 minutes. More importantly, we raised ever so important funds that were donated in Dylan's name. Please, let's never forget. His story is below.
Please send all contributions to DYLAN WITSCHEN FOUNDATION in C/O of WEBCO Security; 901 W Hwy 10, #B104, Anoka, MN 55303 Thank you in advance!
DYLAN WITSCHEN FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT
The Dylan Witschen Foundation has been created to celebrate and honor the life of Dylan Witschen. Motivated by Dylan's passion for life and love of sports, the mission of this foundation is to support his dreams and maintain his legacy by providing scholarships for local football and baseball college bound students. Along with Dylan's hopes for finding a cure for cancer, funds will also be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In November 2009, two days after his sixteenth birthday, Dylan stood before a crowd at Minnesota's Mall of America. He encouraged the assembled group to put their hearts into the Give thanks. Walk.® fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that they were about to start. He thanked them for their goodness. "All we have to do is walk," Dylan told the crowd. "It's a miracle we can do this for St. Jude." Dylan hoped he could adequately explain to the walkers the importance of their goal that day-how their support would help patients just like him.
In August 2008, numbness in his left hand and a seizure prompted his family to take him to their local hospital. There, an MRI revealed a golf ball-sized tumor in Dylan's brain. It was a rare and deadly form of cancer known as a supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor. Surgeons at his local hospital removed the tumor, but Dylan needed follow-up care to prevent the cancer from returning. For that, his parents turned to St. Jude-the hospital they felt gave their son the best chance at beating the disease.
"We saw that the success rates are better at St. Jude than at other hospitals, and that was one of the contributing factors as to why we chose St. Jude," said his mom, Debbie. Another factor was that, at St. Jude, Dylan's parents would never have to compromise on Dylan's treatment. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. That's why events such as the Give thanks. Walk. are so important and why Dylan and his family participated.
Dylan told the crowd about the doctors and nurses at St. Jude, the patients, the wonderful care and treatment. When Dylan finished speaking, cheers filled the air. He smiled as the crowd sang him happy birthday. Only a few people that day, including his parents and his sister, Megan, knew about the overwhelming news he had just received. Dylan's cancer had returned. He walked that day knowing he had only months to live. On June 8, 2010, Dylan lost his battle.
"Dylan arrived at St. Jude thinking he was bigger and stronger than everyone, and when he saw the little kids going through treatment, he said they motivated him," Debbie said. "His love for St. Jude was enormous. He wanted a cure to be found. He didn't want any other children to have to go through what he did."
Your donations can help support LOCAL kids who may not otherwise be able to participate in some of the sports that Dylan loved most. Additionally, monies may go to St. Jude. We ask today to find it in your heart to contribute as Dylan would with and participate in community while helping find a cure to childhood cancer.
Thank You,
Chris Thompson
WEBCO Security
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