You may have seen Jon Larson running around the neighborhood and he has a lot of training yet in front of him. The North End/Waterfront resident has been selected to compete in this year’s Ironman in Kona, Hawaii and he is using the exposure to benefit the patients in the joint Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Care Program.
Follow Jon’s journey on his Facebook page, The Road to Kona 2009, for photos and videos of his journey. You can support Jon’s charitible efforts at Children’s Hospital website for the event.
Here’s an excerpt of his story:
After 15 years of entering the Ford Ironman World Championship Triathlon lottery, Boston-based businessman Jon Larson has won a coveted spot in this year’s competition in Kona, Hawaii.
Larson, his family, and his friends are embracing this opportunity not just as a chance for him to participate in the race of a lifetime, but also to raise money for a talented and amazing group of doctors working out of Children’s Hospital Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These Harvard-trained physician-scientists are on the leading edge of work to end childhood cancer.
Each dollar Team Road To Kona raises goes directly to the doctors who treat and care for patients in the joint Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Care Program.
The race is on October 10, 2009 and Jon has begun training more than 20 hours a week in preparation. To validate his Kona lottery slot, Jon competed in the Rhode Island Half-Triathalon on July 12, 2009 and was successful in securing his place in October coming in under 7 hours, so it’s on to Kona!
This page was set up to give support and information on those following Team Road To Kona’s progress and will be updated with ways others can support the young patients and the doctors and researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“Children’s Hospital Boston treats every type of childhood cancer – solid tumors, leukemias, lymphomas and brain tumors. For 60 years, we have jointly provided the world’s top care with neighboring Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Inpatient care – chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, surgery, radiation therapy – as well as emergency care and many other specialty services, from neurology and nutrition to pain management and family support, take place at Children’s Hospital Boston. Outpatient pediatric cancer care is provided at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Caring for children with cancer poses unique challenges, not only to the physical health of the child but also to the emotional, spiritual and economic wellbeing of the entire family. Few diagnoses carry as heavy a measure of anxiety and fear; few result in as extensive hospital stays (up to three months for stem cell transplant patients); few pose as great a challenge when children reintegrate into family and school life.”
“Children’s Hospital Boston. Life-changing care. World-changing research.”