July 8, 2011 10:45 PM

15 minutes and growing!

Andy Warhol's claim that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame seems to be extending itself for me. I have received 3 e-mails recently asking for my participation in various events...

The first concerns my being willing to have my story and photo featured along the golf course at the Elbit Systems Light The Night Golf Tournament. They plan on having me be one of ten people to be featured. The idea is to take the issue of blood cancer and personalize it for the golfers.

The second involves my being a "Patient Ambassabor" as part of the Team in Training project for two New Hampshire women who are running in the NIKE Woman's Marathon in San Francisco. Again, it involves my sharing my story with them and attending one practice at the end of their training. (I hope that they are not looking for me to keep up with them during their practice - walking on a treadmill isn't quite the same kind of training that they do!). Similar to the golf event, it personalizes blood cancer and gives them another purpose for running.

Lastly, I have been asked to be part of another Team in Training project whereby my photo and story would be part of a postcard project. A graphic designer is going to create postcards as part of the marketing for the Tufts 10K running event coming in the fall. The postcards will be mailed, handed out, and placed in race bags for the runners. Again, the purpose is to personalize blood cancer and help the runners realize that they are raising money for "real people".

I find this all very ironic as I have never really been an athlete. Golfing and running are most certainly not my favorite activities. Bowling is about as strenuous as it ever got for me. Today, the most exercise that I get is dealing cards when we play bridge. But, in truth, I am honored to do it and my initial thought at the beginning of all of this that there was a greater purpose for my contracting leukemia seems to be bearing fruit. I can't and I won't say no because if there is anything that I can do to help others who have contracted some type of blood cancer - count me in.

My journey always seems to be taking new and wonderful turns into a life that I never would have imagined just three short years ago.

A life that I can't imagine being any other way today...

Bob