Announcing the 2022 Campaign for GKTW

THE BEGINNING. This is my first fundraiser for Give Kids The World, and I’ve kicked it off with a donation of $428.18, a number which has profound significance to me and my family. On April 28th, 2018 (4.28.18), we were at our local children’s hospital when we received the life-changing news that our youngest son had an extremely rare form of Cancer. A malignant tumor the size of a grapefruit was growing between his bladder and spine. It had metastasized and spread to his lungs. His treatment proceeded effectively and efficiently, however, and he was declared Cancer-free after just four months of chemotherapy and a major spinal surgery. Thanks be to God! He was a tenacious warrior throughout his battle and was an inspiration to everyone.

RUN UNTIL IT DOESN’T HURT ANYMORE. Cancer treatment scarred my son in ways that can be seen (actual physical scars), but also in ways that cannot, like hearing loss and neurological deficits. He is also at high risk of secondary cancers like Leukemia. After his treatment we should have been celebrating Cancer’s defeat, but instead were overwhelmed with anxiety about these side effects we were learning to manage. My older brother encouraged me to burn off my stress and anger by “running until it doesn’t hurt anymore”. I am tremendously grateful for his advice. Running helped to ease the pain I was carrying with me.

COUCH TO DOPEY. I had never run further than a mile or so in my life, but I read about Jeff Galloway’s run-walk-run method and gave it a shot. It was great – I could go 2-3 miles without keeling over! I began increasing my running intervals (vs walking), then my total distance, and soon ran my first 5k and 10k. I had set my ultimate goal to run a half marathon, but a co-worker talked me into running the Dopey Challenge with him. This is a four-day race series including a 5k, 10k, half, and full marathon for a total of 48.6 miles! It was a crazy idea, but we actually did it! This year I’m doing it again, for Give Kids the World.

FINALLY, OUR WISH IS GRANTED! In late 2019 our family was granted a “wish” to visit Walt Disney World through Make-A-Wish. However, while still in the initial planning stages of our wish trip, the COVID pandemic roared into the world. All wish trips were put on hold. Finally, after almost 2 years of waiting, our trip has been approved and we are going later this year! The week after receiving that news, I learned that Give Kids The World is a charity partner for the Dopey Challenge event. I knew what to do: I joined their team and started training!

I’ll be posting videos from all four of the races on my newly-refreshed “Run Jordan Run” blog (www.RunJordanRun.com), where I’ll also be sharing more of my story and more about GKTW.

Will you please join me in the race to grant more wishes for others by donating today?

Please donate at give.gktw.org/JordanRunner22.

More About Give Kids The World Village

GKTW partners with over 250 Wish Granting Organizations (e.g., Make-A-Wish) around the globe that identify children with life-threatening illnesses whose one desire is to visit Central Florida’s popular attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Legoland.

GKTW accommodates that wish by providing lodging, donated attraction tickets, meals and much more.

Since 1986, GKTW has served over 175,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries.

The Village has grown significantly since it first opened; today it is an 84-acre resort complete with 166 Villa accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues, and fun specifically designed for children with critical illnesses.

GKTW maintains an administrative rate of just 8.1% – well below the national nonprofit average. GKTW has consistently earned Charity Navigator’s four-star rating and was named the most fiscally responsible charity by Worth Magazine and mainstreet.com.

Please learn more at www.gktw.org.