Racing for Paxton at the Brewers Inaugural Mini Marathon

Paxton Andrews

Friends of FitMKE, we need your help.

Three month old Paxton was taken to his pediatrician on May 8th, 2012 for what appeared to be a common cold and possible eye infection. Within hours, the doctors had confirmed there is cancer throughout his tiny body.

Paxton’s got a tough road ahead, but he’s already proving to be a fighter. We want to join that fight by running for Paxton in the Brewers Inaugural Mini Marathon on September 22nd. We hope that you can help us with that fight. But first, a little backstory to bring you up to speed.

I think that this email from FitMKE contributor Sara Santiago sums it up best:

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Family, friends, awesome human beings, I need your help.

My dear friend, and former trainer and physical therapist, John Andrews’ 3 month old son, Paxton was brought to the pediatrician’s office on May 8th for what appeared to be a common cold and possible eye infection. The doctors found cancer in several areas of Paxton’s tiny body. He has tumors behind his eyes and in his abdomen.

John and Danna with Paxton

On his very first Mother’s Day, mom Danna held him as he received the first infusion of chemotherapy. Although his little body has been ravaged by biopsies and bone marrow tests, pic line, and drains behind his eyes, he is taking it all like a champion, his vitals remain strong, and he has eaten on his own a few times.

The doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin have been working with pathologists around the country to confirm a specific diagnosis. They want to be 1000% sure before they deliver the exact diagnosis and prognosis to the family. The “working diagnosis” is undifferentiated sarcoma. The chemo had to be started ASAP because the tumors behind Paxton’s eyes are fast growing and time is not on his side. As of 5/29 he was on round two of chemo.

Augie and I decided (with 100% support from Grace and Nora) that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is time for the villagers to report for duty to try and save this child, and other kids with cancer. We have started a group called Team Paxton to raise money for the family, raise awareness of childhood cancer and the need for research, and to raise money for the MACC Fund, The American Cancer Society, The Blood Center, Pablove, and St. Jude Hospital through a series of events and awareness campaign. We think that Team Paxton is going to help turn the tides in the fight against childhood cancer, and change the lives of many. We’re starting with Paxton, because we love him, and, as the villagers, he’s our baby, too.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Donate to Paxton’s Angel Network Fund. This fund goes directly to the Andrews family to cover out-of-pocket costs for treatment and care, lost wages, travel, second opinions, anything they need. Please, if you have it in your heart and in your budget, donate today: https://www.wepay.com/donations/paxton-s-angel-network

Like our “Team Paxton” Facebook page and/or follow @TeamPaxtonWI on Twitter. This is where we’ll keep you updated on other events and activities that you can volunteer time, resources, or funds to support kids with cancer everywhere. http://www.facebook.com/TeamPaxton (You can also visit Paxton’s CaringBridge site for updates from Uncle Jeff. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/PaxtonAndrews)

Share. Share this email, or the links, to your friends and family. Whether they can donate money, or they want to join Team Paxton, we want as many kind hearted folks as we can get!

Pray. Please pray for little Paxton.

Thank you. Thank you for being the wonderful family and friends that I love so much. And thank you for helping a little guy who needs an army to fight this battle.

I’ll eat you up, I love you so.

Sara

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In addition to the ways Sara listed in her email, we are running the Brewers Mini with Team Paxton!
Let’s stand together and beat cancer! You can run OR you can walk the 13.1 miles. The Brewers Mini requests that all participants be able to complete a mile in 16 minutes.

This IS a closed course, but only until 10:40 am. After that, all roads will be open, and you are required to adhere to all traffic laws and use the sidewalks, when available.

1. Please go to http://www.race-brewers.com/BrewersCampaign2012/TeamPaxton and become a part of our team and help us raise $10,000 for the MACC Fund!!

2. Once you register for the run (or if you’ve already registered as an individual), go to “Make A Donation” (left side), “Support a Team or Individual” (also left side), find “Team Paxton” and click on it, then click “Request to Join Team.” It’s that easy!

3. Fundraise. The entry fee goes to pay for the cost of the event and to the MACC Fund. We’re hoping to get at least 25 people to join our team. That leaves individuals to raise $400 each. Obviously, we’d like more people to join our group, but 25 is our goal. You can join the Facebook event here.

*Please note, if you want to get involved with the Mini but don’t want to run / walk, MACC Fund needs a lot more volunteers for the event.  http://www.race-brewers.com/volunteers

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We hope to have a huge team supporting Paxton and his family at the Mini Marathon, but more than that, to show kids with cancer everywhere that we are a village and we are fighting for them.